The Lost Stones

Castle Preservation:
The Lost Stones

© 1999-2008 Marvin Hull
At the close of the Middle Ages many castles were neglected, derelict, and abandoned. Some were disappearing at an alarming rate, literally. Stone robbing became rampant. One sad example is Pontefract Castle, a mighty Edwardian concentric castle. Very little of this castle remains, not due to slighting, but to stone robbers. Abandoned castles were easily quarried.

Belvoir Castle was dismantled to build Ashby de la Zouch Castle, and surrounding buildings. Devizes Castle was used to build Master Bainton's place at Bromham, just 3 miles from the castle. The stones from Elmley Castle were used to build Pershore Bridge. Other examples include: Middleton Stoney in Oxfordshire, Tintagel in Cornwall, Worksop in Nottinghamshire, and countless others.

Once a castle surrendered after a siege, it was victimized again by the ordering of its destruction, a policy which Oliver Cromwell practiced with an especially devastating effect. Along with this came the sale of building materials. This method was used to counter the cost of the castle's demolition. Profits were made, at the expense of the castles. An example is the sale of materials from Knaresborogh Castle. The profit was a whopping Ł66.

Thankfully, this practice is no longer done on a widespread basis. The heritage organizations are trying to preserve "The Lost Stones," so that future generations can see and enjoy medieval castles.

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