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The Siege of Berkhampstead Castle in 1216

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 January 2012

J. Murray Kendall
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Extract

The earth-works at Great Berkhampstead which form one of the finest examples of a Norman Castle have also an interest almost unique in that they provide an example of (what may well be) siege-works of the thirteenth century. That this was the case was first suggested by Sir William Hope some ten or fifteen years ago, but the matter does not appear to have been fully considered in the light of all the available evidence.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Antiquaries Journal , Volume 3 , Issue 1 , January 1923 , pp. 37 - 48
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1923

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References

page 37 note 1 I make no apology for the use of such modern terms as ‘fire-power’ for the mechanical projectile power of arbalast, trébuchet, etc. Their actual sense as opposed to their literal meaning will always be obvious.

page 37 note 2 An Inventory of the Historical Monuments of Herts. Report of the Royal Com. on Hist. Mons., p. 97.

page 37 note 3 V. C. H. Herts., ii, 168.

page 37 note 4 Ibid.

page 38 note 1 An Inventory of the Historical Monuments of Herts. Report of the Royal Com. on Hist. Mons., p. 97.

page 39 note 1 Clarke, G. T., Medieval Military Architecture, i, 226.Google Scholar

page 40 note 1 V.C.H. Herts., ii, 169.

page 41 note 1 Rolls Series, no. 84.

page 41 note 2 Ibid., ii, 191.

page 42 note 1 Ibid. p. 200. A curious mistranslation in Giles's, version (Bonn's Library, v, p. 381) makes Louis surround the castle with his engines on the 6th. The (probable) route Hertford-Hatfield-St. Albans-Hemel Hempstead-Berk-hampstead is about twenty-one miles, a very possible day's march for even a considerable mounted force, but absolutely impossible for a siege train.

page 44 note 1 According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary, earlier form Howitz, fr. G. haubitze fr. Boh. boufnice = catapult.

page 44 note 2 Facsimile published by Bib. nat. fr. Dép. de Mss., Ms. fr. 19093.

page 44 note 3 Camden's Britannia trans. Bishop Gibson, 2nd edit., p. 609, Supplementary note.

page 44 note 4 Études sur le passé et l'avenir de l'Artillerie, by Bonaparte, Louis Napoleon.Google Scholar

page 45 note 1 The Manual of Field Engineering, 1911, p. 105;, allows 110 cubic feet per man per 420 minutes for digging a fire trench with parapet. An allowance is here made as above for the greater ‘carry’ involved. Since the above was written the new Manual of Field Works, 1921, has been published. This provides a new timetable of work with particulars peculiarly suitable to the Berkhampstead works (p. 203) which amply confirm the above estimate.Google Scholar