Information for record number MWA5383:
14th to 16th century Kenilworth Castle, Castle Drive, Kenilworth

Summary The third phases of development at Kenilworth castle included the Great Hall with cellars below, the 'Strong Tower' which housed the treasury, and the 'Saintlow Tower'. This phase of building began in about 1391 and continued into the 1570s.
What Is It?  
Type: Castle, Gatehouse, Building, Tower
Period: Medieval - Post-Medieval (1066 AD - 1750 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Kenilworth
District: Warwick, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 27 72
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Scheduled Monument (Grade: 04/01/1996)
Sites & Monuments Record
Picture(s) attached

  
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Under the wealthy and ostentatious John of Gaunt the castle was first repaired and then, from 1391 onwards, converted from a feudal stronghold into a palace. To this period belongs the Great Hall, which occupies the West side of the inner court, with the Hall on the first floor and cellars below. To the North was the 'Strong Tower' which acted as a treasury and to the South the 'Saintlow Tower' which gave access to the state apartments in the South of the court. Further alterations were conducted in the 1570s and a new main gatehouse built at the Northeast corner of the outer court. The Leicester Building was also constructed at this time. There were various later alterations. In 1649 the castle was slighted.
2 An excavation was conducted across the inner and outer ditches and curtain wall of the outer court. This revealed the sequence of construction of these features.
9 excavation revealed traces of defensive curtain. Inside the defences, complex stratigraphy of the medieval period was recorded in the kitchen range beside the Norman keep. 15th century pottery was recovered.
11 Recording during unblocking of the 17th century fireplace in the Oak Bedroom at Kenilworth castle gatehouse revealed no early fittings. The sides of the fireplace were painted red and the back black during the latest phase of use as a full width fireplace. The fireplace was initially reduced in size presumably to take a coal grate, probably in the early 19th century, and then completely blocked during the 20th century.
12 excavation within the gallery Tower examined deposits down to the 16th century layers. The wall profile below the present turf level comprised "stepped out" wall footings and coarser masonry suggesting that the intended occupation surface of the Tower was most likely at present turf level. No evidence was found for internal cross walls, and it is suggested that the Gallery Tower was either floored and roofed with large single spans or that it was an open courtyard space. Late 17th century pot and tile fragments were recovered but no earlier layers were investigated due to it being a condition of Scheduled Monument Consent that the 16th century and earlier deposits be preserved.
13 A single trial pit was opened to investigate the footings of a medieval wall believed to date to the 14th century in Kenilworth castle kitchen. The trial pit demonstrated that the wall has substantial offset footings, reaching at least 0.68m below ground level. Finds included the bowl of a clay tobacco pipe from the 17th century in the charcoal fill of the pit, attesting to the use of this area of the castle in the 17th century, before the castle was slighted.
14 Investigations between 2004-2008 in the area of the Elizabethan Gardens at the castle revealed further evidence for the medieval castle. The outer bailey curtain wall had an additional two Towers and evidence was produced showing that the wall was 1.10m thick and the south face was finished with dressed ashlar blocks. The central Tower appears to have extended north from the curtain wall and foundations of the Tower were excavated. Part of the inner bailey ditch was also excavated, however, truncation and a lack of finds meant that the backfill of this feature could not be dated. A square sectioned drain, a probable cess pit containing 13th century pottery, a length of stone wall were also identified and are all of a medieval date.
16 Between 1373 and 1380 John of Gaunt, the son of Edward III added a Great Halland associated apartments which became the centre piece of the castle's inner court and by the 15th century it was a favourite residence of the Lancastrian kings. It was further turned into a palace when it was given to Robert Dudley in 1563.
17 Investigations of a culvert south of Lunn's Tower, Kenilworth castle were carried out in March 2009 by Warwickshire Museum. The excavations revealed an original passage through the 13th century curtain wall leading to a small external doorway or 'sally port'. Following the disuse of the sally port a garderobe was constructed on the exterior of the curtain wall with a stone culvert below leading to the moat. The lower part of the garderobe passage was infilled with midden material of a largely 16th century date. At a later date stone steps leading to the passage were constructed, which were subsequently overlain by further midden deposits.
 
Sources
Source No: 11
Source Type: Archaeological Report
Title: Archaeological Recording of the fireplace in the Oak Bedroom, Leicester's Gatehouse, Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire
Author/originator: C Coutts
Date: 2007
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 16
Source Type: Article in serial
Title: Symbols of Status in Medieval Warwickshire (1000-1500)
Author/originator: Hook D
Date: 2014
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 117
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 6, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1951
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: VI
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: DoE
Author/originator: DoE
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Survey of Documentary and Pictorial Sources
Author/originator: Booth G M D
Date: 1992
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Drawing
Title: Survey of Documentary and Pictorial Sources
Author/originator: Booth G M D
Date: 1992
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Descriptive Text
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: TBAS vol 81
Author/originator: Rahtz P
Date: 1963
Page Number: 81
Volume/Sheet: 81
   
Source No: 12
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Kenilwoth Castle Gallery Tower Evaluation: Archive Summary Report
Author/originator: Cromwell, T, English Heritage Centre For Archaeology
Date: 2004
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 13
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Kenilworth Castle kitchens, Kenilworth, Warwickshire: Archaeological Evaluations
Author/originator: Catherine Coutts
Date: 2015
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report No 1511
   
Source No: 14
Source Type: Monograph
Title: The Archaeology of Kenilworth Castle's Elizabethan Garden, Excavation and Investigation 2004-2008
Author/originator: Dix B, Parry S & Finn C
Date: 2017
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report 15/53
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Serial
Title: TBAS vol 84
Author/originator: Drew J H
Date: 1967
Page Number: 148-59
Volume/Sheet: 84
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMA vol 34 (1991)
Author/originator: Darlington, J (ed)
Date: 1992
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 34
   
Source No: 15
Source Type: Serial
Title: West Midlands Archaeology Vol 57
Author/originator: CBA West Midlands
Date: 2015
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: No 57
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Kenilworth Castle Phase Three
Author/originator: EH
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 10
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: SAM County List
Author/originator: English Heritage
Date: 1996
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 21576
   
Images:  
Kenilworth Castle
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1997
Click here for larger image  
 
Map from 1905 showing Kenilworth Castle
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1999
Click here for larger image  
 
Leicester's Gatehouse at Kenilworth Castle
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1860s
Click here for larger image  
 
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
none Scheduled Monument Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs) are those archaeological sites which are legally recognised as being of national importance. They can range in date from prehistoric times to the Cold War period. They can take many different forms, including disused buildings or sites surviving as earthworks or cropmarks.

SAMs are protected by law from unlicensed disturbance and metal detecting. Written consent from the Secretary of State must be obtained before any sort of work can begin, including archaeological work such as geophysical survey or archaeological excavation. There are nearly 200 SAMs in Warwickshire.
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source LBL Listed Building List. Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a list. Buildings placed on the list are protected through various planning and conservation acts which ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them. The Listed Buildings List is compiled and maintained by English Heritage. It includes details of where the building is, when it was built, a description of its appearance, and any other special features. back
source TBAS Transactions of the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society is a journal produced by the society annually. It contains articles about archaeological field work that has taken place in Birmingham and Warwickshire in previous years. Copies of the journal are kept by the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
source WMA West Midlands Archaeology. This publication contains a short description for each of the sites where archaeological work has taken place in the previous year. It covers Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire. Some of these descriptions include photographs, plans and drawings of the sites and/or the finds that have been discovered. The publication is produced by the Council For British Archaeology (CBA) West Midlands and is published annually. Copies are held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
technique excavation Archaeologists excavate sites so that they can find information and recover archaeological materials before they are destroyed by erosion, construction or changes in land-use.

Depending on how complicated and widespread the archaeological deposits are, excavation can be done by hand or with heavy machinery. Archaeologists may excavate a site in a number of ways; either by open area excavation, by digging a test pit or a trial trench.
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period Medieval 1066 AD to 1539 AD (the 11th century AD to the 16th century AD)

The medieval period comes after the Saxon period and before the post medieval period.

The Medieval period begins in 1066 AD.
This was the year that the Normans, led by William the Conqueror (1066 – 1087), invaded England and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in East Sussex.
The Medieval period includes the first half of the Tudor period (1485 – 1603 AD), when the Tudor family reigned in England and eventually in Scotland too.

The end of the Medieval period is marked by Henry VIII’s (1509 – 1547) order for the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the years running up to 1539 AD. The whole of this period is sometimes called the Middle Ages.
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monument LAYER * An archaeological unit of soil in a horizontal plane which may seal features or be cut through by other features. back
monument GARDEROBE * A small latrine or toilet, usually built into the thickness of the wall of a castle or great house, with the waste dropping into a cess pit or straight to the outside. back
monument GREAT HALL * A large communal room often occupying the full height of the building, used for functions such as meetings, entertainments etc. Traditionally found in medieval buildings but also found in later buildings emulating medieval architecture. back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument CULVERT * A drainage structure that extends across and beneath roadways, canals or embankments. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument CESS PIT * A pit for the reception of night-soil and refuse. back
monument KEEP * The major tower of a fortification, often acting as its last defence. back
monument MIDDEN * A refuse heap. back
monument FLOOR * A layer of stone, brick or boards, etc, on which people tread. Use broader site type where known. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument KITCHEN * A building or room where food is prepared and cooked. back
monument TOWER * A tall building, either round, square or polygonal in plan, used for a variety of purposes, including defence, as a landmark, for the hanging of bells, industrial functions, etc. Use more specific type where known. back
monument CELLAR * A room or group of rooms usually below the ground level and usually under a building, often used for storing fuel, provisions or wines. back
monument DRAIN * An artificial channel for draining water or carrying it off. back
monument APARTMENT * A room or suite of rooms used as dwellings, eg. in private houses, hotels or tenement houses. back
monument MOAT * A wide ditch surrounding a building, usually filled with water. Use for moated sites, not defensive moats. Use with relevant site type where known, eg. MANOR HOUSE, GARDEN, etc. back
monument CASTLE * A fortress and dwelling, usually medieval in origin, and often consisting of a keep, curtain wall and towers etc. back
monument PALACE * A substantial house in a town or the country (particularly associated with medieval London). Use more specific monument types where known. back
monument PIT * A hole or cavity in the ground, either natural or the result of excavation. Use more specific type where known. back
monument COURTYARD * An uncovered area, surrounded or partially surrounded by buildings. back
monument GATEHOUSE * A gateway with one or more chambers over the entrance arch; the flanking towers housing stairs and additional rooms. Use with wider site type where known. back
monument TREASURY * A free-standing building or a room used as a storage place for valuable objects. back
monument MUSEUM * A building, group of buildings or space within a building, where objects of value such as works of art, antiquities, scientific specimens, or other artefacts are housed and displayed. back
monument DEFENCE * This is the top term for the class. See DEFENCE Class List for narrow terms. back
monument DITCH * A long and narrow hollow or trench dug in the ground, often used to carry water though it may be dry for much of the year. back
monument SQUARE * An open space or area, usually square in plan, in a town or city, enclosed by residential and/or commercial buildings, frequently containing a garden or laid out with trees. back
monument DATE STONE * A stone commemorating the date of a specific event. back
monument GARDEN * An enclosed piece of ground devoted to the cultivation of flowers, fruit or vegetables and/or recreational purposes. Use more specific type where known. back
monument PORT * A settlement area that combines a harbour and terminal facilities at the interface between land and water transportation systems. back
monument CROSS * A free-standing structure, in the form of a cross (+), symbolizing the structure on which Jesus Christ was crucified and sacred to the Christian faith. Use specific type where known. back
monument BAILEY * The courtyard of a castle, ie. the area enclosed by the rampart or curtain. Use with wider site type where known. back
monument STEPS * A series of flat-topped structures, usually made of stone or wood, used to facilitate a person's movement from one level to another. back
monument CURTAIN WALL * A wall between two towers or pavilions, usually surrounding a building, and often forming a major part of the defences. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record