Description

HERTFORD

TL3212NE HERTFORD CASTLE
817-1/17/310 Bailey Walls, north-east range to
10/02/50 Hertford Castle (Hertford Castle
demolished)
(Formerly Listed as:
Hertford Castle: SE range Bailey
Walls, N range Bailey Walls)

GV II*

Curtain wall along north-east side of Castle Bailey. Late C12,
c1171-4, with later repairs and alterations. Flint rubble with
clunch blocks, and extensive repairs and rebuilding in red
brick laid to English bond. At south-east corner is a screen
totally rebuilt in red brick, on the site of the angle
bastion, finally destroyed by the Marquess of Downshire
together with a house built in the angle between the walls,
visible in Sparrow's engraving of 1776. The wall attains its
greatest height of 15 -18 ft, without later crenellations. The
north gateway has a pair of C20 iron gates between circular
castellated flint rubble gate piers. The return run of the
curtain wall towards the motte has a 6 ft top section rebuilt
internally in red brick, with flint faced outer wall.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Hertford Castle reputedly originated as a
Saxon fort built by order of King Alfred against the Danes
encamped at Ware. The castle was built (or reconstructed) by
William I shortly after 1066 as a motte and bailey - the motte
mount, 22 ft high, remains in the north angle of the castle
precinct overlooking the river. In 1171-4, at the behest of
Henry II »171 was spent, probably on the replacement of the
wooden palisade by the flint rubble curtain wall. The castle
was periodically improved and had a double moat, the outer
moat following the line of the north side of Castle Street,
and the east side of Parliament Square and The Wash. An
embankment separated the two moats, broadening into the Outer
Ward to the west of the Gate House. The inner moat ran the
perimeter of the curtain wall. Long since infilled, the
vestiges of the moats can be seen in the undulating land forms
of the approach to the south postern from Castle Street, and
in the hollow behind the properties in Castle Street and
Parliament Square. The Bailey occupies an area of 2.3 acres,
and the castle precinct 7.75 acres.
Hertford Castle Gate House, curtain walls, motte and bailey
and precinct (qqv) are a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
(Turnor L: History of Hertford: Hertford: 1830-: 16-52,
308-12; Victoria History of the Counties of England:

Hertfordshire: London: 1902-1912: 501-6; Royal Commission on
Historical Monuments (England): An Inventory of the Historical
Monuments of Hertfordshire: London: 1910-: 113; The King's
Works: London: 1963-: 678-71; Hertfordshire Countryside:
Davies HG: 'From Royal Palace to Council Offices': Letchworth:
1946-1971: 34-38; The Buildings of England: Pevsner N:
Hertfordshire: Harmondsworth: 1977-: 187).

Listing NGR: TL3253212552

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Hertford Castle at Wikipedia
• Hertford Castle official website
• Wikidata Q2363520

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)