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TimeRef.com
  • Episodes
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    Key Dates Timelines
    By Category
    This day in history
  • People
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    Kings and Queens of England Kings of Scotland Kings of France Kings of Denmark Emporers of Byzantine Popes and Antipopes Crusader States and their Rulers
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  1. Home
  2. Medieval Places
  3. Beeston Castle
Location
Location
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Beeston Castle

 County

Cheshire (4 castles) 

 Categories

Stone / Cliff-top

 Remains

Not complete but much survives

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Comments

The view from the castle at the top of the hill is worth the climb. But take your time its a long way up.

 Location53.1289,-2.6934 (Google Maps) DirectionsDirections via Google Maps
 County

Cheshire (4 castles) 

 Categories

Stone / Cliff-top

 Remains

Not complete but much survives

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Comments

The view from the castle at the top of the hill is worth the climb. But take your time its a long way up.

 Location
53.1289,-2.6934
 Directions
Directions via Google Maps
eeston Castle's construction was started by Earl Ranulf, the sixth earl of Cheshire, in 1225 on the 500ft summit of the outcrop of rock after he returned from the Holy Land to find his lands being threatening by the Welsh. The location was originally the site of a settlement dating back to the Bronze Age. The design of the walls that Ranulf built being possibly based on the walls of Constantiople. Two sides of the castle's inner bailey on the summit of the hill are protected by sheer cliffs and the other two sides are protected by a deep ditch cut into the rock. The inner bailey is defended by a large gatehouse with two round towers and two more round towers in the inner walls. Every castle needs a well at its centre to supply fresh water and the well at Beeston is oen of the deepest examples in England.

The castle became the property of the Crown and improvements were made to its defences. In 1399 Richard II is supposed to have hidden treasure somewhere within Beeston Castle before being captured by the future Henry IV. Some treasure was discovered and handed over to Henry but some believe that there is more treasure to be found and the well is suspected to be the most likely location.

During the English Civil war the castle was commanded by a group of Parliamentarians who believed the castle could not be captured. But several skilled Royalist managed to scale the sheer cliffs on the northern side and took the castle by surprise. The Royalists held the castle until the end of the war at which point the Parliamentarians took control of it and ordered that it should be destroyed, and it has remained in a ruined state ever since.

Location

See Also

People

  • Ranulf (the Crusader)
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

Related Information

  • Why build and live in castles
  • Castle development timeline
  • Keep and bailey castles
  • Castles of William the Conqueror
  • Motte and bailey castles
  • Shell-Keeps
  • Square keeps
  • Polygonal Keeps
  • Castles of Edward I
  • Parts of a castle
  • Location of lots of castles
  • Castle construction timeline

Related Maps

  • Map of Castles

Location Map (click to explore)

Timeline

1225
...
Beeston Castle construction

Returning from a spell crusading in the Holy Land, Ranulf, the fifth Earl of Cheshire started the construction of the castle at Beeston.

1237
...
Beeston Castle claimed by Henry

With the death of the last male heir of the Earldom of Cheshire, the earldom and castle at Beeston are claimed by Henry III. The castle was too important not to be in the hands of the crown.

1264
...
Beeston Castle occupied

During this year forces belonging to Simon de Montfort occupied and controlled the important Beeston Castle.

1399
...
Treasure found at Beeston Castle

In this year Beeson Castle, which had belonged to Richard II, was handed over to Henry IV. In the castle a hoard of Richard's treasure was found.

1644
...
Beeston Castle under Royalist control

A Royalist army controlled Beeston Castle during 1644 and held out against a siege by a Parliamentarian army.

1645
Nov
Beeston falls to the Parliamentarians

The siege at Beeson Castle came to an end when the commander of the Royalists led his men out. The castle was deliberately damaged in 1644 so that it could not be used again.

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Selection of references used:

  • 1. John Kinross, Discovering Castles in England and Wales

    Location

    See Also

    People

    • Ranulf (the Crusader)
    • A .. Z List of Medieval People

    Related Information

    • Why build and live in castles
    • Castle development timeline
    • Keep and bailey castles
    • Castles of William the Conqueror
    • Motte and bailey castles
    • Shell-Keeps
    • Square keeps
    • Polygonal Keeps
    • Castles of Edward I
    • Parts of a castle
    • Location of lots of castles
    • Castle construction timeline

    Related Maps

    • Map of Castles

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