OF THE CASTLE OF IPSWICH, ANCIENT WALLS,
DITCHES, ETC.

LTHOUGH the historical accounts which have reached the present time relative to the castle of Ipswich, advance no earlier than the period of the Conquest, yet it is not improbable that a primitive building for the purposes of defence existed near the town in the time of the Saxons.

The wars of this people with the Danes were productive of the erection in East Anglia of several strong places of defence, and near most towns sustaining a visitation of war-like character, the Saxon kings and chieftains found opportunity of erecting a strong-hold for the protection of these places, and for the future discomfiture of invaders.

The efforts of Edward, the son of the Great Alfred, to counteract the progress of Danish invasion, were productive of the raising of several fortified positions in the neighbourhood. This brave chieftain, who fought the Danes at Maldon, in Essex, in the year A.D. 921,* erected a castle or place of strength He also performed the same service

near that town.

* See page 44.

at Witham, erecting a castle between the town and the church.* Wherever indeed resources and time afforded opportunity, Edward built a castle for the protection of the places he relieved, an example followed in later years by Ulfkytel and other chieftains, who continued an opposition to the devastating progress of the Danes.

One of the chief designs of the Conqueror upon the gradual settlement of the kingdom from the anarchy which followed his own immediate conquest, was to secure his dominion by the division of large portions of the land among his followers. He also provided against any inroad, or outbreak against his rule, by the erection of places of strength throughout the realm. With this view, he built the castle of Ipswich, and appointed Roger Bigot, the powerful nobleman named in Domesday, to hold under him.

Information relative to this place of strength is meagre, and no accounts on which reliance can be placed occur until 1152, the 18th of Stephen, when the castle was held by Hugh, a descendant of Roger, in trust for the king. At this period, the war between Stephen and Henry, afterwards Henry II, was at its height, and the boldest attempts were made by the latter and his partizans to gain possession of those places of military defence, erected in the kingdom by William, and which served the two-fold purpose of strong-holds for those who held for Stephen, and of keeping from revolt the towns which by their positions they generally commanded. An attack was made upon the castle of Ipswich by the forces of Henry, and it surrendered through want of relief. Hugh Bigot however now took cause with the defeated party, and

* Saxon Chronicle-Strutt's Saxon Antiquities-King on Ancient Castles-Verstigan's Restitution of Decayed Intelligence.

by his bravery regained possession of the town and castle, both of which he continued to hold.

Upon the death of Stephen, and on the ascension of Henry II to the throne, Hugh Bigot rendered all his castles into the hands of this monarch. The reason for the procedure is unknown, but it is not improbable that the king, finding this war-like baron disposed at all times to side with that party in a dispute most likely to accumulate the greater spoil, believed it preferable for the safety of his realm that the castles held by the Earl should be placed in the hands of the sovereign. For some reason, it is clear, Hugh Bigot was either compelled to resign these important charges, or did so by his own free-will and pleasure.

The events which followed shewed the king to have possessed an acute insight into the character of the wily baron, for in the dispute between Henry and his sons, Hugh Bigot took the side of the children against the parent, and carried on the wars in Suffolk and Norfolk with the impetuosity of a youthful warwior contending for personal advantages. At this period, he had either by stratagem, force, or gift of the king, re-possessed himself of the castles of Ipswich, Framlingham, Bungay, and Walton. So powerful an enemy, it was found required not only consummate skill but great strength to subdue. Hugh Bigot however, or rather the cause he espoused, was at length overthrown by the king at Fornham St. Genovieve, near Bury St. Edmund's, in 1173, where Blanchmains, Earl of Leicester, and a large body of Flemings brought over to sustain the cause of the princes, were completely routed. Again the castle of Ipswich passed into the hands of the king, and Henry learning from bitter experience that no dependence could be placed on the loyalty of its holders, gave

K

orders for its demolition with that of Walton. This brief history comprises all that is known respecting the castle of Ipswich.*

It is supposed that this place of defence stood on the hills behind Brook's hall, then a part of the ancient manor or hamlet of Brook, or Broke. These high grounds command a view of the town, and the situation was sufficiently near ancient Gippeswic, either to overawe, or if necessary receive succour from its resources. The locality is called "the Castle Hills," and this circumstance, added to the fact that occasionally, masonry and other remains are turned up by the plough, points to the conclusion that on this spot the castle of Ipswich once stood. On the road to Tuddenham, about half a mile from the town, are earth works, apparently the remains of an ancient position of defence, but as no tradition connects them either with Saxon or Norman eras, the balance of probability that the "Castle Hills" were once occupied by the Castle of Ipswich, remains to the present day uncontradicted.

* Dugdale's Baronage-Speed-Hearne's Curious Discourses, &c. The Castle Hill, or hills, are mentioned in Bacon's MSS. On the 5th December, 21st Elizabeth-"Certaine differences depending betweene the towne and Mr. Wythypoll, if they be not determined before the 25th day of January next, it is ordered that it shall stand agreed that the nine acres of ground at Castle Hill in Stiles his occupacion shall be letten to the towne and wardens of the ffoundacion and others, wth Richd. Brittell, under such covenants as to them shall seeme requisite, provided that it be not for more time than 21 yeres from Mic. last."

Here we find the Castle Hills in possession of the town, which strengthens the evidence that this was the site of Ipswich castle. Perhaps the quantity of ground, nine acres, may be taken as the very area of the building and neighbouring circumvallations.

Mr. Wythypoll here mentioned was the owner of Christ Church, and occupied the mansion. Himself and family were continually embroiled in disputes with the Corporation, upon rents, water, tythes, pew-rents, the fairs, and other matters. Although the change of the manor of Christ Church from the priory to a layman, no doubt occasioned much misunderstanding, yet it is evident he was of a decidedly litigious temperament.

But although the Castle Hills should be regarded as the site of this building, the opinion of Camden is to the contrary Speaking of Ipswich castle, Camden says "This fort is now gone, so that there remains not so much as the ruines thereof. Some say it was in the parish of Westfield (Westerfield) hard by, where is to be seene the rubbish of a castle, and where old Gipwic, as men say, stood in times passed." It is evident that this writer points to the spot on the road to Tuddenham, to which reference has been made, but his information has been derived from the accounts of others, and not from personal examination. That "old Gipwic" did not stand upon the site intimated, is clear from the remains of the old fosse or ditch still existing, and encircling the upper part of the present town. No doubt remains, however, that the earth-works on the road to Tuddenham were at an early period regarded as of ancient construction, as Speed in his map,* made in 1610, gives an outline of their form.

Although seven hundred years have passed since this castle was demolished, yet from the knowledge obtained by the researches of antiquaries relative to Norman structures for military defences, not much doubt exists with respect to its characteristics. The component parts of a complete castle in the first Norman centuries, may be stated to consist of

The barbican.

Outward vallum, or rampart.
Outward ballium, or ditch.

"Suffolke discribed and divided into Hundreds. The situation of the fayre town of Ipswich shewed, with the armes of the most noble families that have bene either dukes, or earles, both of that countie as also of Clare." This map belongs to Speed's Theatre.