CASTLE HOUSE

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DESCRIPTION

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There is a tradition that this is the site of the medieval castle of Calne which is mentioned in 1139. Field investigation in 1968 failed to find any evidence to support this hypothesis. Castle House was mid 17th century in origin; a house by Robert Adam was built onto it in 1770, with 19th century alterations. This house was demolished and rebuilt behind the facade, which is of limestone ashlar, after a fire in 1966.

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MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

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(ST99657094) A castle at Calne is traditionally fixed on the southern edge of the plateau north of Calne, where Castle House now stands. Castle Hill has one side artificially scarped. Castle House has vaults of an unusual size for a private house, but is generally accepted as an early 17thc. structure with later additions. A `chamber' is reported as having been found in the garden. A castle of `Cerne', mentioned in 1139, is usually taken as referring to Calne; Castlefield was so-called in 6 Edward VI. Aubrey refers to a Castle at Calne. There are also attempts to associate the castle with the 978 AD meeting of the Witan when the floor collapsed and Archbishop Dunstan escaped injury on a beam. (1)(2)

There are no remains of a castle or of any artificial scarping of Castle Hill. Castle House is a 17thc. house, completely altered internally in the 19thc. and now ruinous, following a fire in 1966. The cellars are not unusually large and have brick barrel vaulting probably 19thc. (3)

SOURCE TEXT

(1) The Wiltshire archaeological and natural history magazine

J E Jackson 24 Page(s)166-219

(2) General reference

History of Calne, 1904, (A E W Marsh) Page(s)11

(3) Field Investigators Comments

F1 NVQ 14-FEB-68

(4) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

North Wiltshire, 22-DEC-1995 755-1

(5) by Nikolaus Pevsner; revised by Bridget Cherry 1975 Wiltshire

The buildings of England Page(s)156

MONUMENT TYPES

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MEDIEVAL CASTLE 1066 to 1154

POST MEDIEVAL HOUSE 1633 to 1666

POST MEDIEVAL HOUSE 1770

POST MEDIEVAL HOUSE 1800 to 1899

20TH CENTURY HOUSE 1966

20TH CENTURY HOUSE post 1970

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