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Castle in the Round (Queenborough) | S13E8 | Time Team

Time Team Classics・2 minutes read

Queen Brook Castle, the last great royal palace of the medieval period, was strategically built by King Edward III on the Isle of Sheppey in 1361, featuring a unique layout with conflicting descriptions that remain uncertain due to its dismantling in 1650. Excavations and archaeological findings shed light on the castle's design, positioning, and potential influence on later constructions, offering new insights into its historical significance.

Insights

  • The strategic location of Queen Brook Castle on the Isle of Sheppy served both defensive and commercial purposes during the Hundred Years War with France, showcasing its significance in medieval military and economic strategies.
  • The unique concentric design and circular features of Queen Brook Castle, along with archaeological evidence, suggest it was a model for Henry VIII's construction projects in 1536, highlighting its influential role in shaping later architectural endeavors and providing a glimpse into medieval construction practices.

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Recent questions

  • What was Queen Brook Castle used for?

    Defense and commercial purposes during the Hundred Years War.

  • What led to Queen Brook Castle's dismantling?

    Cromwell's parliamentary commissioners in 1650 dismantled the castle.

  • What challenges do excavations at Queen Brook Castle face?

    Scheduled status requires careful examination of surface features.

  • What materials were used to construct Queen Brook Castle?

    Materials were transported via a creek from the River Swale.

  • What insights do archaeological findings provide about Queen Brook Castle?

    Insights into construction and layout uncertainties.

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Summary

00:00

Queen Brook Castle: Medieval Majesty Unveiled

  • Queen Brook Castle, the last great royal palace of the medieval period, was built by King Edward III for Queen Philippa on the Isle of Sheppy in Kent in 1361.
  • Conflicting reports exist about the castle's appearance, with some depicting round outer walls and others square ones.
  • The castle's layout includes a circular moat, a circular curtain wall, masonry structures resembling a rotunda, gatehouses, and an inner gate.
  • The castle's location was strategic, serving both defensive and commercial purposes during the Hundred Years War with France.
  • A model of the castle keep made from wood believed to be from the castle itself has been preserved as an heirloom.
  • The castle was dismantled by Cromwell's parliamentary commissioners in 1650, leaving uncertainty about its original structure.
  • Excavations reveal parts of the castle's walls, including a large stone believed to be part of King Edward's castle.
  • The castle's unique concentric design is visualized through a 3D architectural model, showcasing its impressive authority and construction.
  • The layout of the medieval town built alongside the castle is being explored, with cellars of 18th-century houses revealing potential medieval remnants.
  • Excavations at the castle site face challenges due to its scheduled status, requiring careful examination of surface features to uncover the castle's full extent within a limited timeframe.

15:54

Unearthing England's Last Royal Palace on Sheppey

  • Excavating the last royal palace in England on the Isle of Sheppey, where high temperatures hindered digging on day one.
  • Resources focused on a trench to uncover the outside wall of the castle, potentially marked by modern concrete blocks.
  • Moat filled with masonry from Edward III's castle, awaiting further exploration to identify specific parts.
  • Inner wall of the rotunda possibly discovered in trench one, aiding in the search for the outer wall.
  • Trench two reveals masonry possibly from a turreted staircase or water channel, hinting at the castle's structure.
  • Materials for constructing the castle in the 1360s were transported via a creek from the River Swale.
  • Strategic placement of the castle on an island, considering defense against potential French attacks.
  • Medieval pottery and shell-tempered wear found, reflecting everyday life in the castle.
  • Edward III's building projects in Queenborough included a church, possibly rebuilt in the 17th century.
  • Efforts to locate the orientation and size of the castle, including trench three to confirm its west-facing direction.

31:10

Uncovering Queenborough Castle: Walls, Ditches, and Corridors

  • The site contains stones and mortar layered with clay, indicating a possible wall structure.
  • A large ditch is observed nearby, aligning with geophysical expectations.
  • Confirmation of a second wall five meters away could lead to the castle's central area.
  • The castle's size and orientation are becoming clearer, with a potential location for the central facade.
  • A local historian provided a unique picture of the castle, offering new insights.
  • Trench four aims to locate features seen in drawings, while trench three focuses on confirming the castle's orientation.
  • Queenborough Castle appears to be a single-phase structure, distinct from multi-phased royal castles.
  • Similarities between Queenborough Castle and Deal Castle suggest architectural influences.
  • Corridors play a crucial role in understanding the castle's layout and visitor routes.
  • A paper boat recreation and archaeological findings shed light on the castle's construction and layout uncertainties.

47:00

Castle's circular design influenced Henry VIII's projects.

  • The circular features of the castle, with a width of 24 meters, suggest it was a model for Henry VIII's construction projects in 1536. Archaeological evidence, including the discovery of cellars and the structure of the rotunda, supports this theory, providing insight into how the castle appeared in the 1360s.
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