History and Archaeology

"Power of place and the dynamics of landscape manipulation are the focus of current and innovative research into the number, location and distribution of castles raised in Cheshire in the period of the Earldom of Chester, c.1066 – c. 1237.  Predominantly historiographical in approach, previous studies into individual castles within the county underlines the need for an holistic, multidisciplinary research method to further our understanding of Norman lordship and the Norman Conquest in general terms.  The examination of how builders’ personal power played a part in the choice of castle locations is one aspect of such a study, as well the extent to which those locations were influenced by builders’ desires to appropriate pre-Norman power centres and ancient locales in the landscape. 

This paper considers Nantwich castle in Cheshire within this area of enquiry:  While a number of Cheshire’s castles were constructed at administrative centres of pre-existing and substantial Anglo-Saxon estates, the 11th century castle built at Nantwich in south west Cheshire appears to be one of the exceptions.  The new Norman baron, William de Malbanc, apparently ignored the pre-existing symbolic significance of the neighbouring township of Acton, thus shifting the power focus.

While this paper highlights the importance of establishing power of place for each castle, equally it stresses the need for context in terms of the castle’s strategic role, as well as the builder’s overall distribution of landed holdings within and without Cheshire. 
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"This paper introduces innovative research, which is undergoing more extensive landscape archaeological study.  It highlights that only when the spatial arrangements for Mercian and Anglo-Norman landscapes are fully explored through wider multi-disciplinary research, can a valid explanation be provided for the siting of Cheshire’s castles in the landscape.  Thus, a closer examination of hundreds with Mercian palaces and halls and later castle sites is necessary, where their interplay with the religious holdings, both on a parochial and bishopric level, needs to be understood.  This interplay is highlighted by King Edgar the Peaceable’s 973 parade along the river Dee, where the final approach to Chester from Farndon would have provided the king, crew and entourage with the striking and poignant display of power and place, when St John’s, St Werburgh’s (now the Cathedral) and AEthelflaeda’s then recently built burh (now the site of Chester castle) all came into simultaneous view as a collaborative statement of King Edgar’s power.
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PLEASE NOTE: This paper has been expanded upon and published: Swallow, R. 2014. ‘Gateways to Power: The Castles of Ranulf III of Chester and Llywelyn the Great of Gwynedd’ in Archaeological Journal, Vol. 171, 291 – 314.

PAPER ABSTRACT: "The Great Magna Carta agreed between King John and his barons at Runnymede in 1215 did not apply to Cheshire.  Instead, Earl Ranulf de Blundeville, sixth Earl of Chester, granted his own Magna of Carta of Cheshire.  Second only to King John in terms of landed wealth at that time, Earl Ranulf’s charter of was not just an important statement of rights for his separate feudal domain in the northwest of England; it was symbolic of the earl’s ‘princely’ aspirations and outstanding personal power throughout England.
Adopting a multi-disciplinary approach to landscape using archaeological and textual evidence, this paper explores the archaeological record as a manifestation of Earl Ranulf de Blundeville’s significant personal power in the early thirteenth century. Looking afresh at the significance of the Magna Charter of Cheshire to explain actions and power of place, the paper argues for a re-examination of the influence of Ranulf’s influence on castle building throughout both England and Wales.
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"Power of place and the dynamics of landscape manipulation are the focus of current and innovative research into the number, location and distribution of castles raised in Cheshire in the period of the Earldom of Chester, c.1066 – c. 1237.  Predominantly historiographical in approach, previous studies into individual castles within the county underlines the need for a multidisciplinary approach to landscape using archaeological and textual evidence to further our understanding of Norman lordship and the Norman Conquest in general terms.  The examination of how builders’ personal power played a part in the choice  of castle locations is one aspect of such a study, as well the extent to which those locations were influenced by builders’ desires to appropriate pre-Norman power centres and ancient locales in the landscape. 
This paper considers Frodsham castle in Cheshire within this area of enquiry:  Believed to have been constructed by the first Earl of Chester within an administrative centre of a pre-existing and substantial Anglo-Saxon estate, the location of Frodsham’s vanished castle has proved elusive with reference to available historical sources alone.  A landscape archaeological and interdisciplinary research approach not only points to the castle’s original location, but also widens the debate concerning the pre-existing symbolic significance of the landscape within which it was sited, as well as what is meant by the term ‘castle’.
Based on new and re-interpreted evidence at Frodsham castle in Cheshire, this paper aims to illuminate this little-examined region of early medieval Britain through the concept of power of place.
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"Power of place and the dynamics of landscape manipulation are the focus of current and innovative research into the number, location and distribution of castles raised in Cheshire in the period of the Earldom of Chester, c.1066 – c. 1237.  Predominantly historiographical in approach, previous studies into individual castles within the county underlines the need for a multidisciplinary approach to landscape using archaeological and textual evidence to further our understanding of Norman lordship and the Norman Conquest in general terms.  The examination of how builders’ personal power played a part in the choice  of castle locations is one aspect of such a study, as well the extent to which those locations were influenced by builders’ desires to appropriate pre-Norman power centres and ancient locales in the landscape. 
This paper considers Frodsham Castle in Cheshire within this area of enquiry:  Believed to have been constructed by the first Earl of Chester within an administrative centre of a pre-existing and substantial Anglo-Saxon estate, the location of Frodsham’s vanished castle has proved elusive with reference to available historical sources alone.  A landscape archaeological and interdisciplinary research approach not only points to the castle’s original location, but also widens the debate concerning the pre-existing symbolic significance of the landscape within which it was sited, as well as what is meant by the term ‘castle’.
Based on new and re-interpreted archaeological, antiquarian and documentary evidence for Frodsham Castle in Cheshire, this paper aims to illuminate this little-examined region of medieval Britain through the concept of power of place.
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As an expression of his immense power and standing, Earl Ranulf de Blundeville, sixth Earl of Chester (1181 - 1232) granted his own Magna Carta in Cheshire. Ranulf’s subsequent building programme can be regarded as comparable architectural expression. This article aims to provide a fresh interpretation combining a variety of approaches, as to how Ranulf’s personal power is manifested in the medieval landscape of north-west England and North Wales. It is argued that Ranulf’s relatively overlooked and yet close relationship with Llywelyn Fawr, or Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, Prince of Gwynedd (c. AD 1173 – 1240), sheds further light as to the purpose of the position of Beeston and Cricieth castles in their landscapes. This study has wider implications as to how archaeologists can discern manifestations of lordly power in the designs and landscape settings of medieval castles. While this topic has been widely discussed over the last two decades, it has been hitherto under-investigated in the north-west of England and North Wales where the dynamic allegiances between lords were key components in how power was expressed.

For the last 35 years, the medieval castles has been the subject of inter-disciplinary research, which has promoted considerations for a symbolic, iconographic or aesthetic purpose for building a castle. Taking  a predominantly historical approach, however, this paper outlines the evidence for the martial and strategic role of Cheshire's castles during and immediately following the Anglo-Norman period until the early thirteenth century.  In doing so, it is argued that a military approach to the study of castles cannot be overlooked, being fundamental to our understanding of Cheshire as a border of medieval conflict.