A Visit to Stafford Castle

Stafford Castle is built on top of a great vantage point and on a clear day you can see Cheshire, Derbyshire, Shropshire, and the Welsh Hills. Although the castle itself doesn't have the most exciting history, it was owned by some very colourful characters from Tudor history! It has also hosted two very important visitors: Henry VII secretly met Lord Stanley at Stafford Castle, where they plotted Richard III’s downfall at Bosworth Field. And Queen Elizabeth I visited Stafford castle where she and her court were entertained during her royal progress in 1575.

Stafford Castle was originally built from wood in the 1070s and it sat in a different location not far away from where it is now. In 1347 Ralph de Stafford was the one responsible for commissioning a castle on the mound where it stands today. Stafford was a great military commander and he was one of the founding members of the order of the garter. Following his victories over the French, he was made Earl of Stafford.

Henry Stafford, the Second Duke of Buckingham, did not use Stafford castle when he inherited it but he is one of the castles most famous owners. Henry Stafford was married to Catherine Woodville, sister of Elizabeth Woodville. When Edward IV died, Henry Stafford allied himself with Richard III and it is possible that he knew what happened to the Princes in the Tower, but this is heavily debated! Although he was highly favoured by Richard III, Stafford began to plot against him. He even led an unsuccessful rebellion in favour of Henry Tudor. The Second Duke of Buckingham was later arrested and executed. However, his heir, Edward Stafford escaped, disguised as a peasant girl.

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Henry Stafford has been depicted in works of fiction, most notably one of the major characters in Shakespeare’s play Richard III and as a supporting character in Phillipa Gregory’s 2009 historical novel The White Queen.

When Henry VII was crowned, he gave Edward Stafford his Fathers estates back. Edward is also another of Stafford Castles most famous owners!

Edward Stafford was Henry VIII’s childhood friend and first cousin once removed. He was given titles; privileges and he was one of the wealthiest men in England. Unfortunately, his downfall came when rumours circulated that Edward was involved in potentially treasonous actions and had listened to prophecies of the Kings death. His ancestry didn't help either! In 1521 Edward Stafford, Third Duke of Buckingham was placed in the Tower of London and later executed.

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Edward Stafford has also been depicted in works of fiction such as Shakespeare’s play Henry VIII, and the Tv shows The Tudors and The Spanish Princess. Among others.

In July 1531 Henry Stafford, Edwards son, was granted the castle and was in residence the following year. In 1547 he was created First Baron Stafford and had his Fathers lands and titles restored.

During the English Civil War, Lady Isabel Stafford occupied the castle. King Charles I and his entourage passed through Staffordshire while en-route to the royalist stronghold in Shrewsbury. When the Parliamentarians captured Stafford, some of the Royalist garrisons fled to Stafford Castle. The castle became a possible bridgehead from which to launch an attack to recapture the town. When Colonel Brereton rode to the castle and asked Lady Isabel Stafford to surrender, the proud royalist refused. His men then set alight a series of small fires which were met with retaliation shots fired from inside the castle. However, when Colonel Brereton’s men set more fires which still had no affect, they retreated. Later Lady Isabel left, but a small garrison stayed behind to defend the castle, however, when a greater effort to capture the keep was carried out, they fled. Once Stafford Castle was in Parliamentarian hands, it was ordered that ‘The castle shall be forwith demolished’. And so, the castle was destroyed.

Sir William had the top of the castle hill cleared of rubble in 1783 to reveal the full extent of the castle ruins. Some of the surviving walls were rebuilt and whitewashed, so they could be seen for miles around and the grounds were made into a public park. Following Sir Williams death one of his sons, an amateur architect, rebuilt the castle in the gothic style using its old foundations.

In the 1820s work ceased with only the front towers and living accommodation having been completed. A series of caretakers occupied the castle until 1950 when it was then deemed unsafe to stay there. It was a good job the caretakers left because in 1960 part of the castle collapsed and the towers had to be reduced in height to make it safer.

The site was re-evaluated in 1978 and after archaeological excavations had taken place, a trail and visitor centre was opened in 1991.

Inside the visitor centre is a lovely giftshop, which leads to a small museum area full of information and artefacts. There is also an area for children where they can dress up in replica helmets and hold shields. Next to the visitor centre is a pretty medieval herb garden with herbs that would have been used in medieval cooking and apothecary.

The trail takes you on a walk around the base of the mound and up to the castle itself. There are information boards scattered around the trail to help paint an exciting picture of the history. The castle ruins can be walked around and explored and seem bigger than they look on approach.