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__NOTOC__ Coventry Castle () was a
motte and bailey A motte-and-bailey castle is a European fortification with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised area of ground called a motte, accompanied by a walled courtyard, or Bailey (castle), bailey, surrounded by a protective Rampart (fortification ...
castle A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word ''castle'', but usually consider it to be the private fortified r ...
in the city of
Coventry Coventry ( or ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. It is on the River Sherbourne. Coventry has been a large settlement for centuries, although it was not founded and given its ...
, England. It was demolished in the late 12th century and
St Mary's Guildhall St Mary's Hall is a municipal building in Bayley Lane in Coventry, West Midlands (region), West Midlands, England. It is a Grade I listed building. History The building was built in the Medieval architecture, Medieval style between 1340 and 134 ...
was built on part of the site.


History


Construction

It was built in the early 12th century by
Ranulf de Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester Ranulf II (also known as Ranulf de Gernon), 4th Earl of Chester (1099–1153), was an Anglo-Norman baron who inherited the honour of the palatine county of Chester upon the death of his father Ranulf le Meschin, 3rd Earl of Chester. He was des ...
. Its first known use was during
The Anarchy The Anarchy was a civil war in England and Normandy between 1138 and 1153, which resulted in a widespread breakdown in law and order. The conflict was a war of succession precipitated by the accidental death of William Adelin, the only legiti ...
when Robert Marmion, a supporter of King Stephen, expelled the monks from the adjacent priory of Saint Mary and converted it into a fortress from which he waged a battle against the Earl. Marmion perished in the battle. In 1147, those loyal to the king retreated to its defences during a siege by
Ranulf de Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester Ranulf II (also known as Ranulf de Gernon), 4th Earl of Chester (1099–1153), was an Anglo-Norman baron who inherited the honour of the palatine county of Chester upon the death of his father Ranulf le Meschin, 3rd Earl of Chester. He was des ...
whilst he tried to recapture the castle after he had handed the castle over to King Stephen. This was because whilst he was captured by the King in 1146 he was forced to give his castles over, although he only yielded a number of which Coventry was one. After the siege was lifted, King Stephen destroyed the castle, however it was probably later repaired as it was described as a viable fortification in 1182.


Tudor period

In November 1569,
Mary, Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legitimate child of James V of Scot ...
was detained in Caesar's Tower, by which time
St. Mary's Guildhall St Mary's Hall is a municipal building in Bayley Lane in Coventry, West Midlands (region), West Midlands, England. It is a Grade I listed building. History The building was built in the Medieval architecture, Medieval style between 1340 and 134 ...
had been built onto it. The room in which she was detained is disputed. A room in Caesar's Tower nicknamed the "Mary Queen of Scots" was originally thought to be the location due to its cell-like appearance however it is likely she was held in the " Old Mayoress's Parlour".


Present day

Today, Caesar's Tower – which is thought to be all that remains of the castle – still exists as part of
St Mary's Guildhall St Mary's Hall is a municipal building in Bayley Lane in Coventry, West Midlands (region), West Midlands, England. It is a Grade I listed building. History The building was built in the Medieval architecture, Medieval style between 1340 and 134 ...
. It was rebuilt after bombing during the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. On the bottom floor of the tower is "the Treasury", and above it is what is known (though, it is thought to be incorrectly) as the "Mary Queen of Scots room". The Cathedral Lanes Shopping Centre was constructed over part of the castle.


See also

*
Warwick Castle Warwick Castle is a medieval castle developed from a wooden fort, originally built by William the Conqueror during 1068. Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England, situated on a meander of the River Avon. The original wooden motte-an ...
*
Castles in Great Britain and Ireland Castles have played an important military, economic and social role in Great Britain and Ireland since their introduction following the Norman invasion of England in 1066. Although a small number of castles had been built in England in the 10 ...
*
List of castles in England This list of castles in England is not a list of every building and site that has "castle" as part of its name, nor does it list only buildings that conform to a strict definition of a castle as a medieval fortified residence. It is not a li ...


References

;Notes ;Bibliography *


Further reading

*Fry, Plantagenet Somerset, ''The David & Charles Book of Castles'', David & Charles, 1980. {{ISBN, 0-7153-7976-3 Castles in Warwickshire Buildings and structures in the West Midlands (county) Buildings and structures in Coventry Castles in the West Midlands (county)