Tamworth Castle and Gardens
Tamworth Castle, Holloway, Tamworth, Staffordshire.
Late C11 motte and bailey castle with later additions.
Grade l listed.
The castle has been inhabited since the Norman conquest, with a break in the mid C19, when it was used in connection with the nearby mills (since demolished). It was bought by the local council in 1897 and opened to the public. King James I stayed at the castle; Sir Walter Scott referred to it in his poem Marmion.
------------------------------------------
Tamworth Castle
Step back through almost 1000 years of history with a visit to Tamworth Castle. Uncover the secrets held within the chambers and hallways of this unique building and get a real sense of how the Saxons, Normans, Tudors and Victorians lived.
Enjoy a tour of the castle at your own leisure, or check the website for any events to get involved in. You will be able to explore all aspects of this ancient building and the people who have lived there. Regular Living History days bring the past to life by transporting visitors back to a different time period and you can even try your hand at some of the day-to-day tasks of previous castle households. There really is something for the whole family to enjoy.
New for 2021 - An interactive Anglo-Saxon exhibition - Battle & Tribute - which features a mead hall, unique touch-table game, immersive combat film and pieces from the Staffordshire Hoard. Also new - Tamworth AR Explorer - An Augmented Reality trail that brings history to life! Free to download on your smartphone from the app store.
Visitors can also explore the stunning surroundings of the Castle Grounds park with its magnificent raised flower beds and iconic bandstand. There are plenty more activities to keep you busy for a great day out, from river walks and picnics to cycle hire and tennis, as well as the brilliant adventure play area which is perfect for children who love climbing and tearing around!
www.visittamworth.co.uk/tamworth-castle
-------------------------------------------
TAMWORTH CASTLE, HOLLOWAY
Heritage Category: Listed Building
Grade: I
List Entry Number: 1197020
Details
TAMWORTH
SK2003NE HOLLOWAY 670-1/9/75 (East side) 11/05/50 Tamworth Castle (Formerly Listed as: TAMWORTH The Castle)
GV I
Castle, now museum. Late C11 motte and bailey castle; rebuilt C12,early C13 repairs or reconstruction; C12-C13 north wing, probably with 1st floor hall; early C15 hall range; C16 warder's lodge; early C17 south wing; c1800 alterations. Stone rubble with ashlar and brick with ashlar dressings; tile and flat lead roofs. Shell keep with north-east tower with warden's lodge to south, and later ranges forming H-plan house. Curtain walls have embattled parapets. Tower has battered base, flat buttresses and rounded turrets; C14 two-light traceried window and top window with label mould over 3 round-headed lights with transom. Warder's house to left has C14 pointed entrance in canted bay under gable; late C16 double-chamfered-mullioned windows of 3 and 4 lights. South wing has c1800 facade; ashlar; ground floor windows of 3 pointed lights; 5- and 7-light 1st floor windows with transoms, similar 3-light windows to 2nd floor. North range has 2 square projections forming bases of bay windows demolished c1800; 3-light transomed windows in splayed surrounds with brattishing; 6-light and 3-light windows above; similar windows to right, with French window, and to left, over corbelled base to oriel. Inner court has warder's lodge to south east: 2 storeys with attic; renewed double-chamfered-mullioned windows with leaded glazing; coped gable with kneelers. South range: brick with ashlar dressings; 2 storeys; 2-window range; quoins, plinth, platt bands and C19 embattled parapet; entrance to right in doorcase with 4-centred head, remains of paired pilasters to entablature with cresting and armorial panel; ground floor has 3-light windows with pegged casements; 1st floor 4-light transomed ovolo-mullioned windows; 2nd floor has 3-light double-chamfered-mullioned windows. Hall has brick plinth, exposed wall post and large C17 wood-mullioned and transomed windows with leaded glazing, forming glazed wall; stair turret to right has 2-light hollow-chamfered-mullioned windows; east end of north range mostly brick; blocked 1st floor door to west end.
INTERIOR: Hall has tie beam and double collar trusses with struts and wind braces, ovolo-mouldings with fillets to posts and soffits of trusses; enriched doorcases and fireplace with Mannerist detail, moved from house in Kent, c1822. Tudor-headed main entrance with studded door. Closed-well stair to north wing, which has 3 rooms with fireplace and doorcases from house in Kent. South wing has two 1st floor rooms with C17 panelling and contemporary fireplaces with pilasters and entablatures and enriched overmantels, one with flanking figures and relief carving of biblical scenes; armorial panels, c1800. Warder's house has similar 1st floor room with panelling and fireplace overmantel. Tower has stair with strapwork panels and top splat balusters; room with panelling and Tudor-arched fireplace. The castle has been inhabited since the Norman conquest, with a break in the mid C19, when it was used in connection with the nearby mills (dem); it was bought by the local council in 1897 and opened to the public. James I stayed at the castle; Sir Walter Scott referred to it in his poem Marmion. (Ballard E: Tamworth Castle Museum: Tamworth: 1987-; The Archaeological Journal: Meeson R: The Timber Frame of the Hall at Tamworth Castle, Staffs: London: 1983-; Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Staffordshire: London: 1974-: P. 277-8).
Listing NGR: SK2061303913
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number: 386500
Legacy System: LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Ballard, E , Tamworth Castle Museum, (1987)
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Staffordshire, (1974), 277-8
'Archaeological Journal' in Archaeological Journal, (1983)
historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1197020
Tamworth Castle and Gardens
Tamworth Castle, Holloway, Tamworth, Staffordshire.
Late C11 motte and bailey castle with later additions.
Grade l listed.
The castle has been inhabited since the Norman conquest, with a break in the mid C19, when it was used in connection with the nearby mills (since demolished). It was bought by the local council in 1897 and opened to the public. King James I stayed at the castle; Sir Walter Scott referred to it in his poem Marmion.
------------------------------------------
Tamworth Castle
Step back through almost 1000 years of history with a visit to Tamworth Castle. Uncover the secrets held within the chambers and hallways of this unique building and get a real sense of how the Saxons, Normans, Tudors and Victorians lived.
Enjoy a tour of the castle at your own leisure, or check the website for any events to get involved in. You will be able to explore all aspects of this ancient building and the people who have lived there. Regular Living History days bring the past to life by transporting visitors back to a different time period and you can even try your hand at some of the day-to-day tasks of previous castle households. There really is something for the whole family to enjoy.
New for 2021 - An interactive Anglo-Saxon exhibition - Battle & Tribute - which features a mead hall, unique touch-table game, immersive combat film and pieces from the Staffordshire Hoard. Also new - Tamworth AR Explorer - An Augmented Reality trail that brings history to life! Free to download on your smartphone from the app store.
Visitors can also explore the stunning surroundings of the Castle Grounds park with its magnificent raised flower beds and iconic bandstand. There are plenty more activities to keep you busy for a great day out, from river walks and picnics to cycle hire and tennis, as well as the brilliant adventure play area which is perfect for children who love climbing and tearing around!
www.visittamworth.co.uk/tamworth-castle
-------------------------------------------
TAMWORTH CASTLE, HOLLOWAY
Heritage Category: Listed Building
Grade: I
List Entry Number: 1197020
Details
TAMWORTH
SK2003NE HOLLOWAY 670-1/9/75 (East side) 11/05/50 Tamworth Castle (Formerly Listed as: TAMWORTH The Castle)
GV I
Castle, now museum. Late C11 motte and bailey castle; rebuilt C12,early C13 repairs or reconstruction; C12-C13 north wing, probably with 1st floor hall; early C15 hall range; C16 warder's lodge; early C17 south wing; c1800 alterations. Stone rubble with ashlar and brick with ashlar dressings; tile and flat lead roofs. Shell keep with north-east tower with warden's lodge to south, and later ranges forming H-plan house. Curtain walls have embattled parapets. Tower has battered base, flat buttresses and rounded turrets; C14 two-light traceried window and top window with label mould over 3 round-headed lights with transom. Warder's house to left has C14 pointed entrance in canted bay under gable; late C16 double-chamfered-mullioned windows of 3 and 4 lights. South wing has c1800 facade; ashlar; ground floor windows of 3 pointed lights; 5- and 7-light 1st floor windows with transoms, similar 3-light windows to 2nd floor. North range has 2 square projections forming bases of bay windows demolished c1800; 3-light transomed windows in splayed surrounds with brattishing; 6-light and 3-light windows above; similar windows to right, with French window, and to left, over corbelled base to oriel. Inner court has warder's lodge to south east: 2 storeys with attic; renewed double-chamfered-mullioned windows with leaded glazing; coped gable with kneelers. South range: brick with ashlar dressings; 2 storeys; 2-window range; quoins, plinth, platt bands and C19 embattled parapet; entrance to right in doorcase with 4-centred head, remains of paired pilasters to entablature with cresting and armorial panel; ground floor has 3-light windows with pegged casements; 1st floor 4-light transomed ovolo-mullioned windows; 2nd floor has 3-light double-chamfered-mullioned windows. Hall has brick plinth, exposed wall post and large C17 wood-mullioned and transomed windows with leaded glazing, forming glazed wall; stair turret to right has 2-light hollow-chamfered-mullioned windows; east end of north range mostly brick; blocked 1st floor door to west end.
INTERIOR: Hall has tie beam and double collar trusses with struts and wind braces, ovolo-mouldings with fillets to posts and soffits of trusses; enriched doorcases and fireplace with Mannerist detail, moved from house in Kent, c1822. Tudor-headed main entrance with studded door. Closed-well stair to north wing, which has 3 rooms with fireplace and doorcases from house in Kent. South wing has two 1st floor rooms with C17 panelling and contemporary fireplaces with pilasters and entablatures and enriched overmantels, one with flanking figures and relief carving of biblical scenes; armorial panels, c1800. Warder's house has similar 1st floor room with panelling and fireplace overmantel. Tower has stair with strapwork panels and top splat balusters; room with panelling and Tudor-arched fireplace. The castle has been inhabited since the Norman conquest, with a break in the mid C19, when it was used in connection with the nearby mills (dem); it was bought by the local council in 1897 and opened to the public. James I stayed at the castle; Sir Walter Scott referred to it in his poem Marmion. (Ballard E: Tamworth Castle Museum: Tamworth: 1987-; The Archaeological Journal: Meeson R: The Timber Frame of the Hall at Tamworth Castle, Staffs: London: 1983-; Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Staffordshire: London: 1974-: P. 277-8).
Listing NGR: SK2061303913
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number: 386500
Legacy System: LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Ballard, E , Tamworth Castle Museum, (1987)
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Staffordshire, (1974), 277-8
'Archaeological Journal' in Archaeological Journal, (1983)
historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1197020