Exciting discoveries have been made about a forgotten medieval castle on the outskirts of Nottingham. Archaeologists unearthed evidence that showed how Greasley Castle once rivalled Haddon Hall - the stately home in Derbyshire - in size and appearance.
The listed building and scheduled ancient monument has never been researched previously so this project was a rare opportunity to survey such an important East Midlands castle, said Dr James Wright, of Triskele Heritage, who carried out the archaeological building survey, funded by the Castle Studies Trust.
The castle, lying eight miles to the north-west of Nottingham, was built in the mid-14th century for the soldier and politician Nicholas de Cantelupe. Dr Wright said: "Greasley Castle is an enigmatic site but the project has allowed us to understand this astonishing place for the first time.”
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The survey shows that the site was a courtyard castle with corner turrets. It had a fine great hall accessed via an impressive doorway. The room was illuminated by tracery windows flanking an early example of a recessed fireplace. Fragments of stonework reveal that the decoration at the castle was magnificent and include carved head sculptures, moulded copings, and the crown of a vault.
The castle was a prestigious building that allowed Cantelupe to display his power and status. In 1343, Cantelupe hosted the Archbishop of York at Greasley, along with several other bishops, earls and knights, during a ceremony to found nearby Beauvale Priory.
“The castle was very similar to Haddon Hall in Derbyshire,” said Dr Wright. "It was built around the same time and the layout of the great hall is comparable. The owners of castles were often inspired by one another’s buildings – although Greasley was slightly bigger than Haddon.
Haddon Hall, the home of Lord and Lady Manners, is a beautifully preserved late medieval building known to the world over due to its appearance in television and film as the location for productions including The Princess Bride, Pride and Prejudice and The Other Boleyn Girl.
In 1485, Greasley was confiscated by Henry VII after a later owner of the castle – John Lord Zouche – supported the doomed Richard III at the battle of Bosworth. A century later, records show that the site had been turned into a farm. The survey has been able to identify the remains of the castle surviving among later farm buildings.
Jeremy Cunnington, of the Castle Studies Trust, said: “The Castle Studies Trust is delighted to have funded this work and provide a good understanding of this important, but little understood castle. We hope it will provide a base from which others can build on to learn more about this significant Nottinghamshire castle.”
The research was a standalone project but complements the plans of Greasley Castle Farm History Project to open a museum dedicated to the history of the site and local area, a tearoom, function room and workshops for local businesses.
Spokeswoman Sarah Seaton said: “Triskele Heritage have done amazing research on behalf of the Castle Studies Trust and we are so grateful to be able to finally share the story of such an important landmark with the wider community."
