Maxstoke Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Maxstok

In the civil parish of Maxstoke.
In the historic county of Warwickshire (Modern Authority of Warwickshire, 1974 county of Warwickshire).

Fortified manor house or Castle, built circa 1345, and partly remodelled by the Earl of Stafford a century later. The surviving remains consist of a restored Medieval gatehouse, curtain wall and angle towers. A range of buildings dating from C15-C19 are enclosed within the walls. the surrounding water filled moat measures 110m north to south by 100m transversely. The steep-sided arms average 20m in width. The entrance is over the east arm. Sir William Clinton obtained licence to crenellate in 1345. The castle was built on a new site and a completely new layout was possible, and a perfectly symmetrical planned building was the result. It is rectangular, measuring about 55m from N-S and about 49m E-W. At each angle there is an octagonal tower 9m across, and in the centre of the E side is a gatehouse (PRN 351). The main building, of which part of the original walls still remain in the modern residence, was along the W side, and on the N and S there were subsidiary buildings, the evidence for which is to be seen in the corbels and other features on the main wall. Castle partly remodelled by the Earl of Stafford a century after its construction. A private residence maintained in excellent order. The castle has survived intact and the fabric has been skilfully restored so that it presents an outstanding example of its period.

This site has been described as a;
Masonry Castle.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Major remains.

A Royal licence to crenellate was granted in 1345 Feb 12.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
This site is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law*. (Images of England number 309007)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SP22398910

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 334084

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 349, 351

• Web site links
  • http://www.courts.fsnet.co.uk/maxstoke.htm
    http://timetrail.warwickshire.gov.uk/detail.aspx?monuid=WA349
    http://timetrail.warwickshire.gov.uk/detail.aspx?monuid=WA351
    http://www.btinternet.com/~timeref/hpl1344.htm
• Books
  • Emery, Anthony, 2000, Greater Medieval Houses Vol2 (Cambridge) p415-21
    Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) p259-61 [plan]
    Salter, Mike, 1993, Midlands Castles (Birmingham) p62-3
    Salter, Mike, 1992, Castles and Moated Mansions of Warwickshire (Malvern) p40-1
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p483
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p259
    Eric Mercer, 1975, English vernacular houses: a study of traditional farmhouses and cottages p214-5
    Pevsner, Nikolaus and Wedgwood, Alexandra, 1966, The buildings of England: Warwickshire p348-9
    Salzman, L.F. (ed), 1947, VCH Warwickshire Vol4 p14, 133-6 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=42669
    Braun, Hugh, 1936, The English castle (Batsford) p95-6
    Tipping, H.A., 1921, English Homes, period 1 Vol1 (London) p220-38
    Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (Methuen and Co)
    Andrews, 1908, in Dryden, Memories of Old Warwickshire (London) p238-40
    Timbs, J. and Gunn, A., 1872, Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England and Wales Vol2 (London) p390-2
    Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p241, 414
    Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1853, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol2 p246-8
    Buck, Samuel and Nathenial, 1774, Buck’s Antiquities (London) Vol2 p301
    Grose, F., 1756, Antiquities of England and Wales Vol8 p138-40
• Journal Articles
  • Hislop, M.J.B., 1993, 'Master John of Burcestre and the Castles of Stafford and Maxstoke' Transactions of the South Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society Vol33 p14-20
    Thompson, M.W., 1986, 'Associated monasteries and castles in the Middle Ages: a tentative list' Archaeological Journal Vol143 p319
    Alcock, N.W., Faulkner, P,A. and Jones, S., 1978, ‘Maxstoke Castle, Warwickshire' Archaeological Journal Vol135 p195-233 [illus]
    Binney, M., 1974 April 11, 18, 'Maxstoke Castle' Country Life
    Fetherston-Dilke, 1971, Archaeological Journal Vol128 p244-5
    Chatwin, P.B., 1947-8, 'Castles in Warwickshire' Transactions of the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society Vol67 p29
    1920, Country Life Vol67 p140-7, 170-8
    1906, Country Life Vol19 p54-65
• Guidebooks
  • Fetherston-Dilke, C.B. and M.C., n.d. [post 1990], A Short History of Maxstoke Castle and its Owners (privately published)
• Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
  • Calendar of Patent Rolls (1343-45) p444
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/warkseng.html#warks11]