A Short History of Maxstoke Castle

CHAPTER 1:    THE EARL OF HUNTINGDON

In February, 1345, Edward III granted to William de Clinton, Earl of Huntingdon, a licence to crenellate a new dwelling at Maxstoke. The Earl was childless and the licence (1) was, in fact, granted "to crenellate a dwelling place for the use of John de Clynton, nephew of the Earl of Huntingdon". He inherited the Castle on his uncle's death in 1354.

William de Clinton was held in high esteem by Edward III. On the night of 19th October, 1330, he was one of a band of the young King's supporters who entered Nottingham Castle, arrested Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, and conveyed him to the Tower whence, after trial, he was taken to Smithfield and hanged (2). In the same year, de Clinton was appointed Justice of Chester, Constable of Dover Castle and Warden of the Cinque Ports. Three years later, he was made Admiral of the West. In March, 1337, he was created Earl of Huntingdon. He took an active part in military operations, being present at Sluys in 1340 and the Crècy expedition in 1346.

The building of castles and other major works perhaps came naturally to de Clinton for an earlier member of his family had founded Kenilworth Castle and William himself had built the Augustinian Priory at Maxstoke (3) before he raised the dwelling which was to be his home - albeit for only a few years. Maxstoke was correctly described in the licence granted by Edward III as a "dwelling place" and not a castle. In modern terms, it is a fortified manor house. Though designed and built according to sound military principles of the period, it does not resemble in its siting, nor compete in its scale or construction, with the massive fortresses of earlier times. It does not seek to dominate the surrounding countryside, nor would it have been capable of withstanding a prolonged siege involving sophisticated engines of war. It was a discreet, fortified home, providing comfort and convenience for its owner, yet possessing adequate defences to withstand chance attacks by lightly-armed marauders, such as were common in 14th century England. Its style, therefore, represents the transitional stage between the true castles of earlier times and the undefended houses of later periods.

John de Clinton, who succeeded his uncle, was a soldier by profession and fought at Poitiers in 1356. He was at one time Constable of Windsor Castle. On his death in 1398, his widow, Elizabeth, married Sir John Russell, in whose hands the Castle remained until her death in 1423. It was thus during the Russell's time that Henry IV visited Maxstoke and held a Council in 1404 (4).

On Lady Russell's death, the Castle reverted to William, Lord Clinton, John's grandson, but, six years after the latter's death in 1432, his son exchanged Maxstoke for two manors in Northamptonshire - Whiston and Woodford - belonging to Humphrey, Earl of Stafford (5). The Castle was Stafford thus obtained differed little in outward appearance from that of the present day. There was, however, at that time an outer wall with defensive turrets encompassing three sides (6). No trace of this now exists. The bridge which today spans the moat was then a wooden structure, with a freestanding drawbridge operated by counterweights rather than the massive chains depicted in the usual scenes of that period.

The approach to the Castle was not at that time by way of the present drive from Castle Lane (made about 1815) but from the west across the park which William de Clinton had created and which encircled the Castle (7).

The buildings inside the courtyard consisted in those days of a stone range on the west wall which, with the Lady Tower at the north-west corner, contained the principle apartments - the Great Hall, Chapel and Banqueting Hall - and, at the south end, the kitchen and some bedrooms. The north range was probably a timber-framed structure, containing at its west end, further quarters for the family and at the east end accommodation for, perhaps, important visitors and their retinues. The high standards of these rooms can be assumed from the numerous windows, fireplaces and privies. Further lodgings, perhaps for the servants of visitors, were available in the three rooms of the Dead Man's Tower in the north-east corner.

The south range was also a timber-framed structure, providing accommodation of a lesser standard for an occasional garrison or servants and, perhaps on the ground floor, stabling for their horses and storerooms. Whether or not a range continued along the east wall is uncertain - there are indications on the wall walk that provision was originally made for it, but may never have been built.

The gatehouse has changed little since Stafford's day. It contains two principal chambers, to which access is obtained by a spiral stone staircase in the southern turret. The first floor chamber probably served as quarters for the Constable. At the west end are doors leading to the wall walk on each side of the gatehouse, for use by the Constable or sentries. At the east end of the room are the apertures for the murder holes (now blanked). The lower end of the shafts can, however, be seen in the soffit of the gatehouse arch below. The portcullis of former times was, when in the raised position, brought up through the floor of this room. The grooves in which it was raised and lowered can be seen in the gateway below.

Leading off the Constable's chamber in the north-east corner is a small chamber in the northern turret and a long-drop privy - perhaps for his personal use. On the opposite side of this chamber is a doorway and a flight of stairs, within the thickness of the wall, leading to another small chamber below. This, it is believed, was the prison, whose occupants were thus under the direct supervision of the Constable.

The original purpose and use of the second floor chamber, of similar size to the one below, are uncertain. It also has a small chamber leading off in the northern turret and again a long-drop privy - the deepest in the Castle. The southern wall of the upper chamber is now occupied by a range of nesting boxes made of elm and containing some 230 boxes for pigeons or doves. These were probably installed in the 18th century and were still in use in the 1930s for a flock of white fantail pigeons. There was, according to the 1582 survey, an external, free-standing dovecote, but its style and position is unknown.

The final upper chamber of the gatehouse are level with the flat roof from which access is obtained. The northern one contains the clock mechanism installed by William Dilke (III) in 1757. It has a single hand and strikes the hour. The southern chamber is empty. A final flight of stone steps leads in each case to the top of the respective turrets, the southern of the two containing the flagstaff.