BAILEY WALLS, SOUTH EAST RANGE TO HERTFORD CASTLE (HERTFORD CASTLE DEMOLISHED)

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Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1268985
Date first listed:: 10-Feb-1950
List Entry Name:: BAILEY WALLS, SOUTH EAST RANGE TO HERTFORD CASTLE (HERTFORD CASTLE DEMOLISHED)
Statutory Address:: BAILEY WALLS, SOUTH EAST RANGE TO HERTFORD CASTLE (HERTFORD CASTLE DEMOLISHED)

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Date:: 2000-09-04
Reference:: IOE01/03124/13
Rights:: © Mr A. Gude. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1268985
Date first listed:: 10-Feb-1950
Date of most recent amendment:: 09-Sep-1996
List Entry Name:: BAILEY WALLS, SOUTH EAST RANGE TO HERTFORD CASTLE (HERTFORD CASTLE DEMOLISHED)
Statutory Address 1:: BAILEY WALLS, SOUTH EAST RANGE TO HERTFORD CASTLE (HERTFORD CASTLE DEMOLISHED)

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: BAILEY WALLS, SOUTH EAST RANGE TO HERTFORD CASTLE (HERTFORD CASTLE DEMOLISHED)

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Hertfordshire
District:: East Hertfordshire (District Authority)
Parish:: Hertford
National Grid Reference:: TL 32484 12433

Details

HERTFORD

TL3212SE HERTFORD CASTLE 817-1/19/311 Bailey walls, south-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 south-east side of Castle Bailey. Late C12, c1171-4, with later repairs and alterations. Flint rubble with clunch quoins, with repairs in Portland stone and red brick, English bond. At left (SW corner) is ruined polygonal tower, known as the postern, flint with clunch quoins, with early C19 crenellations with Portland stone caps. To the north is the truncated spur of the west wall which was originally linked to the gate house, and was demolished by the Marquess of Downshire c1791. To the east is a postern gate, with an unmoulded pointed arch and vault in clunch, C13, restored. The main run of the wall extends north-eastwards, 1.7-2m thick, 4-5m high max, externally much repaired in brick with early C19 crenellations. This run of walls terminates in a late C18 gateway constructed on the site of the angle bastion, the remains of which were demolished, and the curtain wall was substantially reconstructed to accommodate a broad Tudor headed skew arch, with twin leaf gates, east with 4 long raised panels, nail studded stiles and moulded caps. 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 around 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: TL3248412433

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 461233
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Doubleday, AH, The Victoria History of the County of Hertford, (1902), 501-506
Pevsner, N, Cherry, B, The Buildings of England: Hertfordshire, (1977), 187
Turnor, L , History of Hertford, (1830), 16-52
Turnor, L , History of Hertford, (1830), 308-312
'Hertfordshire Countryside' in Hertfordshire Countryside, (1946-1971), 34-38
Allen Brown, R, Colvin, H M, Taylor, A J, 'History of The Kings Works' in History of the Kings Works the Middle Ages, (1963), 670-671
Other
Inventory of the Historical Monuments of Hertfordshire, (1910)

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.