Tamworth Castle

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Tamworth Castle , a Grade I listed building, is a small castle, located next to the River Tame, in the town of Tamworth in Staffordshire England. It is also adjacent to a main road linking the north of England and London.

Tamworth Castle.

Overlooking the River Tame, a castle existed on this site since Anglo-Saxon times, when Ethelfleda the Mercian Queen built defenses against Danes (Vikings) the castle served as residence of the Mercian kings.

The present Tamworth castle dates from the 11th century and was built by the Normans. It is today one of the best preserved Norman motte-and-bailey castles in Britain. Numerous additions were made to the castle over the centuries, especially in the Jacobean period.

Tamworth castle was home of the Marmion family, hereditary Royal Champions to the English Kings from Henry I to Edward I. The Celtic castle was the historical capital of the kingdom of Mercia.

During the Civil War the castle was captured by parliamentary forces after a brief siege. In July, 1645 the castle garrison comprised ten officers and 77 soldiers under the command of Governor Waldyve Willington. A muster of the garrison on 28th May, 1646 lists only 23 soldiers, "the rest of the soldiers being about fiftie are at Lichfield Leguer uppon dutie there with Lt. Ensigne, one sergeant, one corporal and one drummer" (musters SP 28/122-3).

The castle was also depicted in a piece by the English Romantic artist J.M.W. Turner.