SOUTH WINGFIELD MANOR

Derbyshire

This handsome house is a Castle in everything but name.

The Manor was built by Lord Cromwell, the builder of Tattershall Castle in Lincolnshire. Whereas Tattershall has one eye on defence, South Wingfield is far more comfortable.  The gatehouses into the courtyard both have a small pedestrian entrance and the 'tower' is quite small. Shortly before he died Lord Cromwell sold the Manor to John Talbot and it remained in the Talbot family for over a century.

Mary, Queen of Scots spent several periods of her imprisonment here, in some discomfort. In 1643 the Roundheads were ousted from the Manor by the Earl of Newcastle. The Manor, although not really a Castle in the most traditional sense, put up continued resistance to Parliamentarian attacks and in 1644 a full blown siege was initiated.  Eventually the garrison surrendered and the Manor was badly slighted, leaving a ruin which was in very poor condition until a few years ago when it was acquired by English Heritage.  They undertook lengthy repairs and the Manor is now open to the public.

Back to Castles of Derbyshire Page

© Text copyright - Raving Loony Productions, Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton
© Photos and Artwork - Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton
© Web Design and Layout - Andrew J. Müller
2001