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Rockingham Castle is a Norman castle founded in the late eleventh century on a prominent hilltop in Northamptonshire, established by William the Conqueror as a royal stronghold commanding the surrounding landscape. The castle comprises a substantial stone keep and curtain walls that have survived from the medieval period, alongside later residential additions dating from the sixteenth century onwards when the fortress transitioned to domestic use. The site is notable for its associated shrunken medieval village, the remains of which are visible as earthworks in the surrounding landscape, indicating the settlement that once served the castle community. The castle's elevated position, defensive moat systems, and proximity to medieval warrens demonstrate the strategic and economic importance of the site throughout the medieval and early modern periods.
Rockingham Castle, shrunken medieval village, moat and warrens is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1010647. View the official record →
Rockingham Castle is a Norman castle founded in the late eleventh century on a prominent hilltop in Northamptonshire, established by William the Conqueror as a royal stronghold commanding the surrounding landscape. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1010647.
Rockingham Castle, shrunken medieval village, moat and warrens is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1010647.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Moated site 1km south west of Rockingham Castle (1.3 km), Roman road in Hazel Wood (3.2 km), Deserted medieval village on A6003, Snelston (3.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 15 strands of Rockingham Castle, shrunken medieval village, moat and warrens's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Rockingham Castle, shrunken medieval village, moat and warrens stands on Lias Group, bedrock that formed in the Aalenian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone, limestone and sandstone.