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What the Normans did for the Vale The Norman Conquest in 1066 brought about significant changes to English societies. Old English-speaking English and Scandinavian thanes were replaced with French-speaking Norman lords of the manor. For most residents of the Vale it might have seemed like 'Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss' – but perhaps less benevolent that the old boss. Then came the castles. Some built small for tactical reasons. But most steadily developed to dominate the landscape. The location of the motte and bailey that was to become known as Belvoir Castle is about as dominating as they get. True, the defenses erected by Robert de Todeni in 1066/7 were miniscule compared to the current building completed in 1832. But the 'good views' of its name included keeping a watch on anyone approaching from the Witham valley. Another defensive site – though too small to be a motte and bailey – looked out on Belvoir Castle from a location between Granby and Sutton. Why not more Norman mottes? Why is there no castle at Toot Hill (the Anglo-Saxon name for a 'look-out hill') above Bingham to keep a watchful eye on the Trent valley? Because a Norman stronghold was established at Newark. There has been some speculation that Cranmer Mound in Aslockton is the remains of a Norman motte. Seems rather too small (although the motte at Kibworth Beauchamp in Leicestershire is not much bigger) and there is no reason to build a motte there. Cranmer Mound is most likely a late sixteenth or early seventeenth century prospect mound for the formal gardens which partially survive. So, although named to commemorate Thomas Cranmer (1489–1553) who grew up in Aslockton, the mound probably didn't exist in his lifetime. Cramner Mound in 2019. Why 'Beaver'? When the first incarnation of Belvoir Castle was built in 1066 the name was written Belveder or Bello Videre or even Pulchro Visu. These are all Latinised versions of the Norman French bel vedeir or bel veeir. All mean 'beautiful view'. As the Anglo-Saxons were unable – or unwilling – to pronounce Belvoir the French way, it became 'Bealvar Castle' and then 'Beaver Castle', a usage which has stuck until today. Back in 1399 there is a reference to 'Vale of Beaver'. However, despite a record from 1301 using 'Belvoir', the phrase 'Vale of Belvoir' (spelt that way) was not common until the nineteenth century. How many castles make a castle? The first defensive structures were built in 1066/7 by Robert de Todeni, William the Conqueror's Standard Bearer. William d'Aubigny inherited the castle from de Todeni and it eventually passed to King William I's granddaughter, Isabel, when she married Robert de Ros in either 1243 or 1244. The Dukes of Rutland are the successors to the Earls of Rutland and have the family name of Manners. They have owned Belvoir Castle since 1649 when Sir Robert Manners married the daughter of Lord Ros who did not have a male heir. Apart from a brief hiccup during the War of the Roses the castle has stayed within the same family since the marriage of Isabel and Robert de Ros, allowing for the inheritances by marriage. By 1464, the Norman castle was reportedly in ruins. In 1528, Thomas Manners, the 1st Earl of Rutland, commenced construction of a substantial Tudor manor house. This was completed in 1555. In 1649, the Tudor building was razed by Parliamentarians because of the family's support for the Royalists. But six years later, construction on a large family home – designed by the architect John Webb – commenced in 1654 and was completed by 1668. In 1799, the 5th Duke of Rutland rebuilt the castle in the then new-fangled Gothic Revival style. Everything was nearing completion when, on 26 October 1816, it was mostly destroyed by a fire. The castle was rebuilt once more to almost the same designs but not completed until after 1832. This is the edifice which sits on the skyline today. More details here. Online is a scan of Irvin Eller's 'history' ('eulogy' might be a better description) of Belvoir Castle published in 1840. Just don't believe everything he says… Back to top of this page     Back to home page   This website does not gather or store any visitor information. Copyright Bob Trubshaw 2025 No unauthorised copying or reproduction except if all following conditions apply: a: Copy is complete (including this copyright statement). b: No changes are made. c: No charge is made. www.hoap.co.uk/chronicle

Chronicle entries home page what's new? the geology of the Vale the boundaries and rivers of the Vale long, long ago prehistory in the Vale prehistoric boundaries in the Vale north-south prehistoric routeways Romans roads in the Vale Roman settlements in and near the Vale long ago introduction to Anglo-Saxons place-names of the Vale waterborne transport around the sixth century Orston's early church Anglo-Saxon sculpture in the Vale why Orston lost out to Bingham and Bottesford what the Normans did for the Vale Granby's importance in 1086 Granby's lost castle the Vale's watermills in 1086 Romanesque sculpture in the Vale St Remigius why Bottesford is in Leicestershire the Vale in medieval times medieval gargoyles of the Vale Eastwell's chancel screen St Ethelburga's church other early saints Elston's old chapel Muston and Long Clawson saltways of the Vale the Vale's medieval tile collection the Vale in Tudor times Dissolution in the Vale not that long ago the Vale in the C17th the 'great and the good' of the Vale Bottesford's effigies 'wicked practice and sorcerye' the whales on the Whalley memorial Car Colston's bigoted GP cum JP the Vale's very own regicide Wiverton Hall five rare C17th fonts in the Vale pinfolds and pounds in the Vale dovecotes in the Vale the Vale in the C18th turnpiking the Vale gravestones and C18th trade routes goodbye 'Belvoir Angels' C18th gravestone carvers in the Vale Daffy's Elixir the Marquess of Granby Stilton from the Vale springs and spas of the Vale outstanding organs in the Vale Grantham canal changes in the Vale's agriculture since 1800 Eastwell's recusant priest house and chapel Colston Bassett's ruined church seems like yesterday windmills in the Vale stained glass in the Vale village life in the southern Vale 1850 to 1880 folklore of the Vale Flintham museum lacemaking in the Vale gypsum pits in the Vale brick and tile works in the Vale ironstone quarrying in the Vale ironstone railways ironstone quarries of Leicestershire (YouTube video) The Vale's railway stations Orston's famous architect Mothers Union banners of the Vale redundant telephone exchanges in the Vale WWII airfields and pillboxes in the Vale the Vale in 1944 location shooting at Belvoir Castle Screveton's giants researching and writing local history the Vale as a verb getting started free advice from 2005 asking curious questions (YouTube video) local history groups in and around the Vale Aslockton (Cranmer LHG) Bingham Heritage Trails Association Bottesford Eastwell Harby Harlaxton Hickling Redmile archive Belvoir Villages History and Memories Group Belvoir Angel Society Grantham Canal Society you may also be interested in free PDFs written by Bob Trubshaw Earliest Churches in Nottinghamshire How Anglo-Saxons Found Their Way Anglo-Saxon Leicestershire Conversations in Churchyards Little-known Leicestershire and Rutland Bob Trubshaw's YouTube channel Introduction to medieval carvings Anglo-Saxon and Romanesque carvings How Anglo-Saxons found their way Anglo-Saxon shrines at fords Meetings at triangles Rota's Land and Franni's Land Reading Romanesque fonts Church and manor The significances of square headdresses Early churches and waterborne trade Charnwood slate gravestones and C18th trade routes Ironstone quarries of Leicestershire Roman roads in north-east Leicestershire Salt ways in Leicestershire Why Melton Mowbray needed to called 'middle town' Evolving Anglo-Saxon agriculture Nottinghamshire's earliest churches Ploughs not piety? Economic regeneration in the C7th Were Anglo-Saxon weaving huts women-only places? Barrowby Until Now website Rutland Village by Village website Sepulchral Effigies of Leicestershire and Rutland