Tutbury Castle
Tutbury Castle is a largely ruinous medieval castle at Tutbury, Staffordshire, England, in the ownership of the Duchy of Lancaster. It is a Grade I listed building.
Tutbury Castle became the headquarters of Henry de Ferrers and was the centre of the wapentake of Appletree, which included Duffield Frith. With his wife Bertha, he endowed Tutbury Priory with two manors in about 1080. It would seem that Tutbury at that time was a dependency of the Norman abbey of St Pierre‑sur‑Dives.[1]
The castle was destroyed by Prince Edward in 1264 after the rebellion of Robert de Ferrers, 6th Earl of Derby. In 1269, after a further rebellion the lands were given to Edmund Crouchback and have remained part of the Duchy of Lancaster.[2]
Apart from the 12th century chapel the ruins date from the 14th and 15th centuries when the castle was rebuilt. Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned in the castle in the 16th century.
Lesley Smith and her husband, Christopher moved into this building in 1999. She is the lessee and Curator. The Duchy of Lancaster granted her this position for which Smith works as Public Relations Officer.
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[edit] Mary, Queen of Scots at Tutbury
Mary came to Tutbury on 3 February 1569. From there, she complained of the damp, wet plaster, and draughty ill-fitting old carpentry, and the location, although she found it reminiscent of the Bois de Vincennes. It is believed that she completed many of her embroideries with Bess of Hardwick at Tutbury. She moved to Wingfield Manor in April.[3] Mary was returned to Tutbury in September with increased guard and a reduced household. In November 1569, following the Catholic Rising of the North, Mary was rushed south to Coventry.[4] Following the defeat of the rebels, Mary was once more sent north to Chatsworth in May 1570. In January 1585 she once again returned to Tutbury,[5] and the care of Sir Amyas Paulet, who curtailed her charitable activities in the town. On Christmas Eve 1585, she finally moved to Chartley Hall.[6]
[edit] Hauntings
Tutbury Castle is said to be haunted by many ghosts. There is the ghost of a soldier seen wandering the parapets and also the ghost of the white lady who appears in the window of the Tower. Many paranormal investigations have been carried out here over the years. The most serious activity is thought to be in what is described as the King's bedroom where people were feeling overcome and fainting even in daylight hours. This room became closed to the public for a period whilst it was being investigated by paranormal investigators. Interestingly there have also been many sightings of what appears to be the ghost of Mary Queen of Scots who as we know was imprisoned here for a period of time.[7]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Marios Costambeys, 'Ferrers, Henry de (d. 1093x1 100)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, May 2007 [ 61, accessed 28 Oct 2007]
- ^ J. R. Maddicott, Ferrers, Robert de, sixth earl of Derby (c. 1239–1279), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [ accessed 28 Oct 2007]
- ^ Fraser , Antonia, Mary, Queen of Scots, Wiedenfield, London (1969), 409-414.
- ^ Marie Stuart Society Mary, Queen of Scots: England
- ^ HMC, 12th Report & Appendix, part 4, Duke of Rutland, vol. 1 (1888), 171, Ralph Sadler to John Manners.
- ^ Fraser, Antonia, Mary, Queen of Scots, Wiedenfield, London, (1969), 419, 422, 474, 477, 479.
- ^ Hauntings of Tutbury Castle
[edit] External links
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