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Why build a Castle Why build a Castle at Wisbech?at Wisbech?Provide a centre of
operationsAssert the new authority of The NormansControl the Fenmen
Protection against theVikings
A good strategic location
Good sea and river communications
Estuary
River W
yse or Ouse
Staithe
Saxon Settlement
Course of the Wisbech Canal 1796
Present Course of the Nene
The Mount
The CastleFerry
Crossing point
LocationLocationMount Pleasant Sea Bank
N
The River Wyse and the Saxon word ’bec’ or stream provides the origin of the town’s name
The River Wyse or Ouse was later diverted to the
present outfall at King’s Lynn
TimelineTimeline
1087 Stone castle completed
1216 King John’s visit
1236 Damaged by flood
1246 first Constable William Justice, a further eight Constables held office until 1489
1291 John de Lacey pardoned after breaking out
1315 Richard Lambert of Lynn
‘so inhumanly gnawed by toads and venomous vermin that his life was despaired
of’
1071 Timber castle constructed
The Bishop’s PalaceThe Bishop’s Palace
Built in 1478 by Bishop Morton
Later Cardinal Morton Archbishop of Canterbury
Enlarged 1483 by Bishop Alcock
Died at Wisbech in 15001609-1619 Bishop Andrews
1631-1638 Bishop White
‘Considerable sums spent on the residence’
No records exist of the Bishop’s Palace
The Palace as a prisonThe Palace as a prison
During the 16th century with the establishment of the Church of England, Roman Catholics
particularly their priests faced imprisonment. The idea of concentrating such prisoners in one place dates from 1572 when the Privy Council asked the
Bishop of Ely about the suitability of Wisbech Castle.
One such priest was William Weston, he was sent from
France to give encouragement to Roman Catholics
‘a firebrand has come among us’
The Palace as a prisonThe Palace as a prison
In 1588 with the fear of a Spanish invasion, notable Catholics were imprisoned, two
such Catholics were…
Robert Catesby and Francis TreshamAfter their release and some years later
in 1606 they were the principal conspirators in
TheThe Civil WarCivil WarFenland was predominently Parliamentarian and in
1643 the castle was put in a state of defence, £11.12s.6d was spent repairing the drawbridge.
By 1656, Oliver Cromwell had the old palace demolished, possibly to prevent it falling into Royalist
hands
It was acquired by The Hon Sir John Thurloe PC MP, Secretary of State to Oliver Cromwell, he built the house which was to
become known as Thurloe’s Mansion
Thurloe’s MansionThurloe’s Mansion
The mansion was probably designed by Peter Mills who was responsible for Thorpe Hall at
PeterboroughAfter the restoration of the monarchy, ownership
of the property reverted to the Bishops of Ely, who stayed occasionally on their visits to Wisbech.
In 1668 it is recorded that the Corporation ordered the purchase of a calf, a wethersheep and
an ox to be brought to the Bishop’s table.
The estate was then leased to local families and the Southwells occupied the premises for over 100
years.
Edward Southwell paid a rent of £30 a year
THE THE CASTLESICASTLESI
TETE
Ghost Passage
Castle Square
Market Street
Museum SquarePresent House
The Crescent
The Regency VillaThe Regency Villa
Constructed from the recycled Mansion
Many original internal and external features
Castle Lodge constructed in the same way
The VaultsThe Vaults
Cellars to Thurloe’s Mansion
Parts may date from Bishop’s Palace
The well thought to have served the Norman Castle
JosephJoseph MedworthMedworthBorn in Wisbech 1752 the son of a
ropemaker
Married Sarah Fisher in 1775 at Wisbech St Peter’s Church
Having prospered as a builder and property developer he returned to Wisbech in 1793 and bought the Castle
Estate
Moved to Bermondsey which was a busy port and had at least three ropewalks, did he move initially to
follow his father’s trade?
Took up the trade of bricklayer in an expanding London
The Capital Burgesses, turned down his offer possibly hoping to get a better price, or because they
disapproved of Mr Medworth
He had attracted much scandal through his relationships with his housekeepers, his wife
remaining in LondonHe decided therefore, in 1815 to demolish the mansion using much of the materials to build a
new house on the site
His plans also included construction of the Crescent, Union Place and Ely Place within the newly developed site
He developed plans for the redevelopment of the town, which required the resiting of the
Grammar School to his mansion which he offered to the town for £2000
The Medworth InheritanceThe Medworth Inheritance
Joseph Medworth died in 1827, leaving houses in the Crescent to Sarah Rowell and her children and the children of Sarah Gibson with an income from
the Castle rents.
He also left his wife an income of £100 per year and house and possessions in Bermondsey
By 1864, under the terms of the will, the house had to be sold by order of the High Court of ChanceryThe property was then purchased by local bankers
the Peckover family for £1300, it was leased for various uses, as a school, dentists surgery and an
opticians practice until 1957.
1957-19691957-1969In 1957, when the Castle was yet again on the market, there was considerable local
concern that it might be demolished
However it was bought by Mr and Mrs Fendick, Mr Fendick was Chief Education Officer for the Isle of
Ely.
Following his death in 1969 Mrs Fendick bequeathed the property to the Education
Authority.
It was her wish that the Castle be used as a
‘LIVING MUSEUM’for the benefit of local schoolchidren
The Castle TodayThe Castle Today
The Castle is still owned by the local authority, Cambridgeshire County Council
and is operated by Professional Centre Services for…
A meeting and training venue for the County Council and other public and private
organisationsOffice accommodationEducational visits for schoolchildren
A range of activities designed to enhance the National Curriculum
Civil CeremoniesA popular venue for civil weddings