imported>Murgatroyd49: /* Today */ repo image for visual balance

2025-05-11T08:11:24Z

Today: repo image for visual balance

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{{Short description|Grade I listed castle in England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name =
| native_name =
| native_language =
| 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
| built =
| architect =
| architecture =
| governing_body =
| 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}}
| designation3 =
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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, Hampshire|River Itchen]] known as ''Wulveseye'' or Wulf's island. There were buildings there during the Roman period.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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 [[Stephen of England|King Stephen]] added a second hall to the west between 1135 and 1138.<ref name=guide>{{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}}</ref>

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 of Boulogne|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.<ref name=English>{{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 }}</ref>

== Later history ==

In June 1216, [[Oliver fitz Regis]] defended the buildings when they were besieged by Prince [[Louis VIII of France|Louis of France]] during the [[First Barons' War]].<ref>[[Catherine Hanley]], ''Louis: The French Prince Who Invaded England'' (Yale University Press, 2016), p. 103.</ref>

The palace was the location of the [[wedding breakfast]] in 1554 of [[Mary I of England|Queen Mary]] and [[Philip II of Spain]].<ref name="EHwebsite">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="EH2000">{{cite book |title=Three Palaces of the Bishops of Winchester |publisher=English Heritage |year=2000 |editor=Lorimer Poultney}}</ref> It was destroyed by the [[Roundheads]] during the [[English Civil War]] in 1646.<ref name="CastleListed">{{NHLE|num=1095511|access-date=16 October 2013}}</ref> The ruins are located next to the existing bishop's palace,<ref name="EHwebsite" /> and are currently owned and maintained by [[English Heritage]].

== Today ==

The extensive surviving ruins are currently owned and maintained by [[English Heritage]].<ref name="EHwebsite" /> The ruins have had [[Grade I listed]] status since 24 March 1950.<ref name="CastleListed" /><ref name="PalaceListed">{{NHLE|num=1095510|access-date=16 October 2013}}</ref> A fair amount of the [[Curtain wall (fortification)|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 architecture|Norman]] window.<ref name="ReferenceA">Charles W.C. Oman, ''Castles: An illustrated guide to 80 castles of England and Wales'', Beekman House, 1978 Printing, {{ISBN|0-517-26196-0}}</ref> The castle is near the [[Winchester city walls|city walls]], parts of which still exist today.

<gallery class="center" mode="nolines" widths="200" heights="200">
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
</gallery>

== Baroque palace ==
{{Main article|Wolvesey Palace}}
[[File:Winchester, UK - panoramio (10).jpg|thumb|The surviving west wing of the baroque-style palace, 1684]]

A new palace in the baroque style was built to the south by Thomas Finch for [[George Morley (bishop)|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]].<ref name =sm>{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref name=sm />

[[File:Wolvesey's Palace Chapel, Winchester - geograph.org.uk - 3416616.jpg|thumb|Wolvesey Palace Chapel]]

==See also==

* [[Castles in Great Britain and Ireland]]
* [[List of castles in England]]
* [[Wedding of Mary I of England and Philip of Spain]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Castles in Hampshire]]
[[Category:English Heritage sites in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Episcopal palaces of the bishops of Winchester]]
[[Category:History of Winchester]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Grade I listed buildings in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Ruins in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Ruined castles in England]]

Wolvesey Castle - Revision history

imported>Murgatroyd49: /* Today */ repo image for visual balance