Sleaford Castle
Sleaford’s Castle grounds are a popular area of public open space and now the subject of a major research project coordinated by the Sleaford Castle Heritage Group. Archaeological and historical research is expected to continue for several years.
Sleaford Castle was built by the Bishop of Lincoln, Alexander de Blois between 1123 and 1139 and held by the Church for over 400 years. The castle fell out of use in the mid-1500’s and into disrepair. It was substantially demolished in the following century. Little remains to be seen today apart from earthworks and a small remnant of a tower in the north-eastern corner of the riverside castle site.
Several Kings of England have been involved in the castle’s rich history. In 1139 King Stephen forced the Bishop of Lincoln to hand over the keys. In 1216 King John stayed at the castle on his fateful journey from the Wash to Newark Castle. In the 1320’s Edward II forced the bishop of the day to surrender control of the castle in 1541 Henry VIII visited with Queen Catherine Howard.
King John
At the time of King John’s visit to Sleaford he was returning from his campaign against the English Barons in the closing stages of what had become a civil war. Whilst returning from Kings Lynn he reputedly lost many of his company and the Crown Jewels when crossing the Wash. He was ill by the time he reached Sleaford and died, a few days later, at Newark. His initial settlement of the dispute with the Barons in 1215 was incorporated in the first edition of the Magna Carta which was drafted by Canon Stephen Langton (Archbishop of Canterbury). Langton was born in rural Lincolnshire and also involved in drafting the 1215 final edition
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