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The Archaeology of Castle Slighting in the Middle Ages

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The Archaeology of Castle Slighting in the Middle Ages The Archaeology of Castle Slighting in the Middle Ages Submitted by Richard Nevell, to the University of Exeter as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Archaeology in October 2017. This thesis is available for Library use on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement. I certify that all material in this thesis which is not my own work has been identified and that no material has previously been submitted and approved for the award of a degree by this or any other University. Signature: ……………………………………………………………………………… Abstract Medieval castle slighting is the phenomenon in which a high-status fortification is demolished in a time of conflict. At its heart are issues about symbolism, the role of castles in medieval society, and the politics of power. Although examples can be found throughout the Middle Ages (1066–1500) in England, Wales and Scotland there has been no systematic study of the archaeology of castle slighting. Understanding castle slighting enhances our view of medieval society and how it responded to power struggles. This study interrogates the archaeological record to establish the nature of castle slighting: establishing how prevalent it was chronologically and geographically; which parts of castles were most likely to be slighted and why this is significant; the effects on the immediate landscape; and the wider role of destruction in medieval society. The contribution of archaeology is especially important as contemporary records give little information about this phenomenon. Using information recovered from excavation and survey allows this thesis to challenge existing narratives about slighting, especially with reference to the civil war between Stephen and Matilda (1139–1154) and the view that slighting was primarily to prevent an enemy from using a fortification. The thesis proposes a new framework for understanding how slighting is represented in the archaeological record and how it might be recognised in the future. Using this methodology, a total of 60 sites were identified. Slighting often coincides with periods of civil war, illustrating the importance of slighting as a tool of social control and the re-assertion of authority in the face of rebellion. Slighting did not necessarily encompass an entire site some parts of the castle – halls and chapels – were typically deliberately excluded from the destruction. There are also examples which fit the old narrative that slighting was used to prevent a fortification falling into enemy hands, but these cases are in the minority and are typically restricted to Scotland during the Scottish Wars of Independence. Given the castle’s role in shaping the landscape – acting as a focus for seigneurial power and precipitating the creation and growth of towns – it is important to understand how slighting effected nearby associated settlements. The evidence suggests that larger towns were able to prosper despite the disruption of slighting while smaller settlements were more likely to decline into obscurity. Importantly towns themselves were very rarely included in the destruction of slighting. 1 Contents List of Tables ...................................................................................................... 5 List of Charts ...................................................................................................... 5 List of Illustrations ............................................................................................... 6 List of Abbreviations ......................................................................................... 10 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................... 11 Chapter 1 – Introduction ................................................................................... 12 1.1 Introduction: exploring slighting .............................................................. 12 1.2 What is a castle? .................................................................................... 12 1.3 Destruction through the ages .................................................................. 13 1.4 Destruction as a phenomenon ................................................................ 19 1.5 Defining slighting .................................................................................... 20 1.6 The archaeology of slighting ................................................................... 24 1.7 Chronological and geographical scope ................................................... 26 1.8 Thesis arrangement and research questions .......................................... 28 Chapter 2 – Slighting in its Archaeological and Historical Context ................... 32 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 32 2.2 Castle studies ......................................................................................... 32 2.3 Medieval warfare and ritual ..................................................................... 36 2.5 Approaches to slighting........................................................................... 41 2.6 The archaeology of medieval towns ....................................................... 43 2.7 Landscape studies .................................................................................. 46 Chapter 3 – Methodology: mapping destruction ............................................... 50 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 50 3.2 Torches, picks, and spades: means to an end ........................................ 50 3.3 Identifying slighting ................................................................................. 54 3.3.1 Excavation ........................................................................................ 54 3.3.2 Standing buildings ............................................................................ 61 3.3.3 Landscape/measured/earthwork survey (topography and geophysics) .................................................................................................................. 64 3.3.4 The missing witness ......................................................................... 66 3.4 The landscape evidence ......................................................................... 67 3.5 Towards a typology of slighting ............................................................... 68 3.6 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 69 Chapter 4 – Patterns of force: the archaeological evidence ............................. 72 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 72 2 4.2 Great towers ........................................................................................... 74 4.2.1 Discussion ...................................................................................... 101 4.3 The treatment of mottes and their associated features ......................... 105 4.3.1 Discussion ...................................................................................... 121 Chapter 5 – The treatment of perimeters and gatehouses ............................. 124 5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................... 124 5.2 Perimeters ............................................................................................ 124 5.2.1 Discussion ...................................................................................... 151 5.3 Entrances and mural towers ................................................................. 153 Chapter 6 – Castles, slighting, and domesticity .............................................. 161 6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................... 161 6.1.1 Discussion ...................................................................................... 176 6.2 The castle as a unit – discussion and summary ................................... 179 Chapter 7 – Urbanism and slighted castles .................................................... 195 7.1 Introduction ........................................................................................... 195 7.2 Pleshey and Saffron Walden – two Mandeville castles ......................... 197 7.3 Bedford and Leicester – county towns and rebel strongholds............... 204 7.4 Degannwy and Roxburgh – slighted royal castles ................................ 216 7.5 Ludgershall and Dryslwyn ..................................................................... 223 7.6 Framlingham and Wareham – castles of the 12th century ..................... 227 7.7 Conclusion ............................................................................................ 231 Chapter 8 – The lordly medieval landscape and slighting .............................. 235 8.1 Introduction ........................................................................................... 235 8.2 Parks and the medieval landscape ....................................................... 237 8.3 Three cases studies of destruction in the landscape ............................ 239 8.4 ‘The Anarchy’ ........................................................................................ 239 8.5 Revolting Peasants: 1381 and all that..................................................
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