The original castle is now little more than a pleasant park, surrounded partly by a flint and stone curtain wall and overlooked by the more recently built Grade I listed gatehouse which lies on the site of an old Norman Castle.History
By 1066 the small fortified site built by Edward the Elder in 911 had now evolved into a full scale motte and bailey castle. After William the Conqueror’s victory at the battle of Hastings he acquired the castle and passed it to his follower and Sherriff of Herefordshire, Peter de Valoignes. Work commenced on fortifying the site as a stronghold for the nobility as a means of protection from their hostile new subjects.
Henry II’s ascension saw his clamping down on the unruly barons of the land and thus he built castles all over England. Improvements to Hertford accompanied this. Such examples can be found in the form of the stone and flint wall visible today 1170 – 1174, along with drawbridges and gatehouses. These improvements were ready to be put to the test as by 1216 King Louis landed on English soil ready to claim the throne from the new King, Henry III. This saw the castle besieged for a month until the Governor, Walter de Godarvil, was forced to surrender to the French soldiers. However by 1217, English opinion turned and favoured Henry III, forcing the French forces out of the country.
1309 saw the first political prisoners being held in the castle - the recently disgraced and disbanded, Knights of the Templar. There are said to be many hidden Templar tunnels winding their way under the town of Hertford, linking houses and even the castle itself but are now long sealed off.
The next notable period in the castle’s history is during the reign of Edward III who spent much of his time in the castle, having it surveyed and valued in 1332. Then in 1337 war with France broke out, The Hundred Years War, which saw detainees of noble or royal rank being held at the castle. King David II of Scotland was held there as one of its first prisoners, as was King John of France briefly in April 1359. The castle was then handed to Edward’s third son, John of Gaunt, who carried out much needed repairs on the castle’s defences.
The castle passed through the hands of Richard II, Richard III, Henry IV, Henry V with the young heir Henry VI spending most of his early life there. Henry VII spent little time in the castle. His son however, Henry VIII, upon inheriting it, spent a sizeable sum of money transforming the castle into a palace. Most notably repairing the gatehouse, originally built by Edward IV and still standing today.
Elizabeth I 1558 – 1601 was a regular visitor to Hertford, granting the town powers to pass bye-laws. During the plague the law courts and possibly even parliament was transferred to Hertford. This, coupled with other individuals escaping the plague, resulted in the town’s population swelling dramatically.
The death of Elizabeth saw James I, the first Stuart King, crowned monarch. He knew little about English tradition and thus had little interest in maintaining it's heritage. The castle ceased to be a place of royal residence and fell into disrepute. However, during Charles I’s reign 1625-49 he granted the castle to William Cecil, second Earl of Salisbury, who in turn leased it to Sir William Harrington of Hertingfordbury Park. He made repairs to the buildings and began restoring them to their former state.
The castle remained in the hands of the Cecil family who leased it to various individuals. Improvements were made over the next 400 years. A South Wing was added to the gatehouse in 1790, a new gateway and lodge in 1800 was erected, and finally the north wing was built during the 1930s. The end of the 20th century saw the castle being generously given to Hertford by the Earl of the county.
The main attraction of the castle is the large gatehouse which was hosting a wedding when I visited. The grounds are very pleasant and are surrounded by the original flint and stone curtain wall which is of interest. The site also contains a large stone marking the position where the first General Synod in 673 AD was held. Walking through the grounds will lead one to the River Lea, running down past a mound which used to be the motte (the picture of which is below). On a fine day, Hertford Castle is well worthy of a visit, if not just to sample the pleasant grounds.
To get to the castle do the following:
By Car, from the A10: take Hertford exit, at next roundabout take exit to Hertford Town Centre. At next roundabout take 2nd exit to Town Centre, at next roundabout take 1st exit. At next roundabout take 3rd exit towards Bengeo. Take immediate turning on left, Castle Street, follow road round and into Castle grounds.
By Car, from the A414 (A1/M1): as you enter Hertford, go over roundabout and under railway bridge. At next roundabout take 2nd exit straight on. At next roundabout take 1st exit then left into Castle Street, follow road round and into Castle grounds.
Parking: St Andrew Street or Gascoyne Way (A414). Both within easy walking distance of Hertford Castle.
By Train: To Hertford East or Hertford North. Make for Castle Hall, The Wash, Hertford then walk through.
http://www.hertford.net/history/castle/
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