Wolvesey Castle
{{Short description|Grade I listed castle in England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name =
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| image = Winchester, Ruins of Wolvesey Castle Winchester 1095511 20230816 0630.jpg
| caption = Facade of the East Hall of Wolvesey Castle
| type =
| locmapin = United Kingdom Winchester Central
| coordinates = {{Wikidatacoord|Q8030602|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| gbgridref = SU 48459 29088
| location = Winchester
| area = Hampshire
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| owner = English Heritage
| designation1 = Scheduled monument
| designation1_offname = Wolvesey Palace
| designation1_date = 19 April 1915
| designation1_number = {{Listed building England|1005535}}
| designation2 = Grade I
| designation2_offname = Wolvesey Castle
| designation2_date = 24 March 1950
| designation2_number = {{Listed building England|1095511}}
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Wolvesey Castle, in Winchester, Hampshire, England, was the main residence of the Bishop of Winchester in the Middle Ages. The castle, mostly built by Henry of Blois in the 12th century, is now a ruin, except for its fifteenth-century chapel, which is now part of the bishop's current residence, Wolvesey Palace. Wolvesey Castle was primarily a palace, although Blois had it fortified because of the Anarchy.
Early history
The site is an eyot in the River Itchen known as Wulveseye or Wulf's island. There were buildings there during the Roman period.{{cite book |last1=Biddle |first1=Martin |last2=Keene |first2=Derek |title=Winchester |date=2017 |publisher=The historic towns trust Winchester excavations committee |location=Oxford |isbn=978-1785706660}} The building before Wolvesey Castle was constructed around 970 by Æthelwold of Winchester, the Bishop of Winchester from 963 to 984, as his official residence or palace.
= William Giffard =
About 1110, the second Norman bishop, William Giffard, constructed a new hall to the south west.
= Henry of Blois =
Giffard's successor, Henry of Blois, brother of King Stephen added a second hall to the west between 1135 and 1138.{{cite book |last1=Biddle |first1=Martin |title=Wolvesey, The Old Bishops's Palace, Winchester |date=25 October 1986 |publisher=English Heritage |location=London |isbn=1-85074-107-7}}
Winchester came under siege during the Rout of Winchester in 1141 by the Empress Matilda during the period of civil war known as The Anarchy, and held out for three weeks until relieved by Stephen's wife, Matilda. Subsequently Henry, the brother of Stephen, King of England, enlarged and fortified the palace by building a curtain wall, giving the palace the appearance of a castle.{{cite web |url=https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/wolvesey-castle-old-bishops-palace/history/ |work=English Heritage |title=HISTORY OF WOLVESEY CASTLE (OLD BISHOP'S PALACE) |access-date=7 April 2021 |archive-date=1 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401082247/https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/wolvesey-castle-old-bishops-palace/history/ |url-status=live }}
Later history
In June 1216, Oliver fitz Regis defended the buildings when they were besieged by Prince Louis of France during the First Barons' War.Catherine Hanley, Louis: The French Prince Who Invaded England (Yale University Press, 2016), p. 103.
The palace was the location of the wedding breakfast in 1554 of Queen Mary and Philip II of Spain.{{cite web |title=Wolvesey Castle (Old Bishop's Palace) |url=https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/wolvesey-castle-old-bishops-palace/ |access-date=16 October 2013 |publisher=English Heritage |archive-date=17 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317011723/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/wolvesey-castle-old-bishops-palace |url-status=live }}{{cite book |title=Three Palaces of the Bishops of Winchester |publisher=English Heritage |year=2000 |editor=Lorimer Poultney}} It was destroyed by the Roundheads during the English Civil War in 1646.{{NHLE|num=1095511|access-date=16 October 2013}} The ruins are located next to the existing bishop's palace, and are currently owned and maintained by English Heritage.
Today
The extensive surviving ruins are currently owned and maintained by English Heritage. The ruins have had Grade I listed status since 24 March 1950.{{NHLE|num=1095510|access-date=16 October 2013}} A fair amount of the curtain wall remains, but nearly all the inner arrangements are gone, though it is possible to make out the hall, in which there is a good round arch and one surviving Norman window.Charles W.C. Oman, Castles: An illustrated guide to 80 castles of England and Wales, Beekman House, 1978 Printing, {{ISBN|0-517-26196-0}} The castle is near the city walls, parts of which still exist today.
File:Wolvesey Castle, Winchester 2014 20.jpg|Archways
File:Wolvesey Castle, Winchester 2014 17.jpg|Woodman's Gate
File:Winchester, Ruins of Wolvesey Castle Winchester 1095511 20230816 0641.jpg|View of the south end of the East Hall
File:1095511-Wolvesey Castle (3).JPG|East Hall facade visible through an archway
File:Wolvesey Castle From St.Giles's Hill - geograph.org.uk - 1736292.jpg|View of Wolvesey Castle from St Giles' Hill
Baroque palace
{{Main article|Wolvesey Palace}}
File:Winchester, UK - panoramio (10).jpg
A new palace in the baroque style was built to the south by Thomas Finch for George Morley in 1684. However, Brownlow North demolished all but the west wing of this palace in 1786. After a variety of different uses, the remaining part was refurbished for use once again as the bishop's residence in 1926 by Theodore Woods.{{cite web |title=Wolvesey Palace |url=https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1005535 |website=Historic England |access-date=5 February 2018 |archive-date=6 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206073534/https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1005535 |url-status=live }}
The chapel is the only considerable remnant of the south range of the medieval buildings, and is still in use, being attached to the palace.
File:Wolvesey's Palace Chapel, Winchester - geograph.org.uk - 3416616.jpg
