Monument record 179/2 - Nantwich Castle

<1> Williams B, 1981, Nantwich - Archaeological Implications Survey (Paper Archive). SCH2236.

Nantwich Castle stood near to the Welsh Bridge. The castle was built by Hugh Lupus who left it to one of his daughters. The site of the castle is preserved in the name of Castle Street and the curve in the north end of High Street may echo edge of the site of the bailey.

<2> Hall J, 1883, A History of the Town and Parish of Nantwich or Wich-Malbank in the County Palatine of Chester, p.22 (Book). SCH80.

The earliest mention of it is in an Inquisition of 1288 and there are occasional mentions in the Cheshire records of the 14th and 15th centuries.
" A third part of the Wich-Malbanck and the castle of the same" is recorded in manuscripts of 1288 as being left by William Malbank, The last Norman Baron of Wich-Malbank to the eldest of three daughters,Phillipa.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, Smith D, 1960, SJ65SE5 (Index). SCH2487.

Ordnance Survey Field Investigation comment, D.Smith, 27/07/1960: 'The supposed site of the Castle is occupied by a disused chapel. No trace of the castle was found.'

<4> Platt J W, 1818, The History of Nantwich, p.73 (Book). SCH3154.

<5> McNeil Sale, R., 1980, Archaeology in Nantwich Cheshire: Crown Carpark Excavations, Interim Report (Report). SCH370.

The castle ditch may have been found in excavations in 1974-5, unpublished (National Westminster Bank site CHER 180/3), but further evidence was found in 1978 revealing a ditch 5m wide and 2m deep with an associated bank. Study of the topography also indicated castle site between Castle Street, High Street and Water Lode. Within the ditch the site was terraced later for gardens. The fill of ditch was very rich in finds, including wooden objects, leather and 2,600 sherds of pot.

<6> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, Issue 3, p.52, 'National Westminster Bank', Williams S R, 1975 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

During excavations in 1974-5 at the National Westminster Bank site a substantial ditch some 4m deep and of indetermined width was recorded; it was filled with black organic matter containing pottery and glass dating from the 14th century, fragments of leather shoes and other pieces of leather and large quantities of animal bones and horns, indicative of leather-working. Constructed within the ditch was a channel of wooden boards with wattle sides, held in place by birch stakes. This was associated with wooden weirs of upright boards. Possibly represents a channel for transporting brine. Similar range of finds to those made later on Crown Car Park.

<7> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, Issue 7, 1980, p.30-33, 'Nantwich, Three Years of Excavations and Observations', R.McNeil-Sale (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

The location/extent of the medieval castle is unknown, however, in 1978 excavations behind the Crown Hotel recorded part of a massive ditch and bank of dump construction swinging downhill towards the river. Also, examination of sections during construction of the ring road in Mill Street, Castle Street and behind Rooster's disco (ST79) has led to the theory that at least two different ditches were present - one round-bottomed, the other v-shaped. Together with the find of the substantial ditch at the National Westminster Bank site, these ditches imply that there was a complicated defensive network of ditches, comprising an inner and outer ditch, belonging to the former castle. Although there is no trace of the Castle now, it is likely to have been sited in a prominent position such as the top of Castle Street where the ground rises from the river. High Street has a pronounced curve from its crossing with the river to its junction with Mill Street which suggests it followed/overlay the course of the outer ditch of the castle.

<8> R. McNeil, 1978, Nantwich Archaeological Project 1978 Newsletter No 1, April 1978 (Newsletter). SCH7378.

<9> Collens J, 1989, Watching Brief - 8 High Street (Book). SCH3698.

Observations were made during development work at the rear of 8 High Street in February and March 1989. A ditch c.4m wide, cut into red clay, was observed in the contractors trenches. The upper fills contained charcoal, bone and medieval pottery with a capping of rubble makeup containing 17th century pottery. There was evidence for a timber revetment including at least one stake in situ. Comparison with previous excavations suggests this ditch is probably part of a complex series of defensive ditches around Nantwich Castle.

<10> Gifford and Partners, 1995, Report on an Archaeological Evaluation and Excavation at Bowers Row Car Park, Nantwich, R2064 (Client Report). SCH4133.

Archaeological desk-based assessment and trial trenching undertaken in 1994-5 in advance of re-surfacing of the Crown Hotel Car Park, Nantwich. Four trenches were excavated one in the northern section of the site, one in the southern, one on the line of a proposed drainage trench (trench 3) and one covering the area of a proposed interceptor tank (trench 4).

The lowest part of the archaeological sequence recovered in trench 4 indicated a horizon at a depth of 2.5m upon which a single piece of early Medieval pottery was recovered. Above this was a 1m thick deposit of clay and sand with a clay capping which, by analogy with excavations undertaken in 1978 just to the west of this site, may be part of the platform for the early Medieval castle; the clay platform did contain early medieval pottery. Embedded into this platform were the remains of wattle fencing indicating Medieval enclosures of industrial/agricultural use. The correspondence of the more northerly section of fencing with the edge of the clay platform may indicate that this represents the southern boundary of the castle motte with the moat lying immediately to the south. Overlying the clay platform were a series of dark organic deposits, apparently laid down by standing or slow-moving sewage. Cut through these deposits in an apparent effort to drain them, was a large wooden culvert formed by two massive radially-split planks laid on edge and held into place by stakes; on dendrochronological and artefactual evidence it was in use from the 13th to 16th century (see also record 179/0/47). This appears to have formed part of the 'Lothburne', the main town sewer mentioned in texts dating to the 14th-16th centuries.

<11> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 1996, An Archaeological Watching Brief at 10-16 High Street, Nantwich, Cheshire., R2129 (Client Report). SCH4082.

Archaeological watching brief undertaken in 1996 during groundworks (strip footings) associated with the construction of a link extension to the rear of 10-16 High Street, Nantwich. The results demonstrated that deep, well stratified archaeological deposits, rich in both organic and ceramic material and datable to the medieval and early post medieval periods, survive. A potential substantial ditch feature, perhaps dating from the 12th century, was recorded and may relate to the Castle moat. The dimensions of the cut indicate a feature on a similar scale to the ditch located during the 1978 excavations on the west side of the car park which was tentatively interpreted as part of the moat. The fills of the cut contained 13th/14th century pottery, these could conceivably represent the date of the primary fills of a castle ditch that had fallen out of use. However, this cut lies approximately 20m to the south of the potential moat alignment, so may have had a different function.

<12> Cheshire County Council, 2002, Cheshire Historic Towns Survey: Crewe & Nantwich Borough Part 1: Archaeological Assessments, Nantwich (Report). SCH6691.

p.5 The castle at Nantwich was certainly in existence by 1160-70 when it was bequeathed by William Malbank to one of his daughters (Hall 1883, 22). Its site has completely disappeared but a plausible case has been made for its location by the river on a slight crest to the west of High Street and to the south of the town bridge, with the curving line of High Street following or overlying the course of the outer ditch. Excavations have revealed features of the castle (Williams 1975; McNeil 1978; Gifford and Partners 1995).

It is not known when the castle fell into disuse. McNeil has suggested from archaeological evidence that although the outer ditch was silting up from the 13th century and was finally abandoned in the late 14th to early 15th centuries, the castle itself may have survived longer (McNeil 1980/1, 30). There is a tradition that stone from the castle was re-used in Nantwich church in Henry VII’s reign: ‘early in this monarch’s reign, the ruins were removed to enlarge and beautify the southern aisle of the church’ (Platt 1818, 73).

P.14-15 Topographically it would have been a prime location, overlooking either a ford across the river to the south or a bridge crossing to the north. It was also well sited for the overseeing and controlling of brine working to the north in the Snow Hill area.
It is not known when the castle fell out use but by the 16th century the High Street frontage was given over to wealthy merchants’ houses and inns, notably the Crown Inn, which was rebuilt after the fire of 1583.

<13> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2003, Proposed Residential Development on Land off Mill Street, Nantwich: A programme of archaeological evaluation (Client Report). SCH4432.

A medieval ditch recorded at Mill Street during archaeological evaluation may be evidence of a second ditch associated with the castle,.

<14> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

Source SCH2236 (source 1) are handwritten notes. The reference to Hugh Lupus does not correlate with other sources who cite William Malbank leaving the castle to his eldest daughter, Phillipa

<15> Strawson, B, 2019, Cheshire's Norman Castles (Article in Journal). SCH9517.

"The absence of substantial stone deposits amongst the finds and the knowledge that Cheshire’s Norman castles were generally timber-built suggest that Nantwich was no different (despite the legend that St Mary’s Kingsley chapel was constructed c.1400 from stone taken from the then derelict castle).
It had a substantial near-circular mound, perhaps 70m across, sitting on the area between the Crown and the river, topped by a typically rectangular wooden tower. It was completely surrounded by a defensive ditch, which ran up from the river, curving between the Crown and the NatWest bank and back to the river."

"There would have been one large bailey, bounded by a ditch and bank and topped with a defensive wooden palisade which joined up with the motte ditch at the point where modern High St. meets Oatmarket. It continued along High St. for some distance before turning down what is now Mill St, curving north again to re-join the motte ditch at the river."

<16> English Heritage, 1990-1993, Monuments Protection Programme Site Visit Form, K.D.Robinson, 19/09/1990 (Unpublished Document). SCH5222.

Reason for not scheduling:-
The presumed extent of the castle lies under the modern town centre of Nantwich and is overlain by numerous small shops, banks, a hotel, streets and a car prak. Enquiries at some of these premises suggest only a small number are cellared.
Excavation on the Crown Car Park in 1978 prior to widening the A530 ring road identified a ditch considered to go a long way towards establishing the authenticity of Nantwich Castle. Pottery from Roman times onwards was discovered including a large and well stratified collection of Medieval pottery. A watching brief during constructin of foundation trenches for four shops a 8 High Street in 1989 discovered a ditch, timbers and Medieval pottery.
There are no surface indications of the castle and it was decided not to proceed with the scheduling of the site at this stage.