Mediæval Military Architecture in England, Volume 2 (of 2)Clark, George Thomas
History
Mediæval Military Architecture in England, Volume 2 (of 2)
Clark, George Thomas
Architecture -- England; Architecture, Medieval; Military architecture
Kent was probably the part of Britain first invaded by the Northmen,
and certainly the first actually subdued and settled. It was the only
independent state established and maintained by the followers of
Hengist, the Jutes, a people who did not contribute largely to the
conquest of Britain, neither did they occupy any considerable portion
of the conquered country; but what they did retain became and still
remains intensely Teutonic, and their early supremacy, during the
conversion of the English to Christianity, is marked by the fact that
their chief city became, as it has since remained, the ecclesiastical
metropolis of the island. Dover was a considerable Jutish port, and
before long was regarded as the key of England. Very probably the
inner earthworks still to be seen, though too much altered to be
recognisable, were the work of this people, and the collegiate church
of St. Martin, founded in the town by Wihtræd, King of Kent (690–725),
is said to have been removed by him from the Castle Hill. In the time
of Alfred, Dover was placed in the bailiwick of Stouting, and the
lathe of St. Augustine. Its history, however, properly so called, does
not begin till the reign of the Confessor, whose charter to the Cinque
Ports, which John is said to have inspected, was confirmed by many
later kings.
In September, 1051, Eustace, Count of Boulogne, brother-in-law to
King Edward, paid a visit to the English Court at Gloucester, and
returning through Canterbury there rested his escort, and thence went
to Dover on his way homeward. Before entering the town, he and his men
put on their coats of mail, and attempted to take free quarters in
the houses of the burghers. This led to a fight in which much blood
was shed, and the Count finally, being expelled the town, returned
to Gloucester with his complaint. The subsequent tale has often been
told. Godwin, then Earl of Kent, took part with his injured countrymen,
and withstood the strong Norman interest about the king, and was, in
consequence, banished. Godwin proposed, says Malmesbury, “Ut magnates
illius castelli blande in curia regis de seditione convenirentur.”
Whether “castellum” can be taken for more than the fortified town is
uncertain. It is not probable that Eustace would have ascended to the
castle, since he sought quarters in the town. On the whole this passage
can scarcely be taken to prove the existence at that time of a regular
castle on the hill. Nevertheless, the existence of such a castle at
that time is exceedingly probable, for in 1064–65 Harold, says William
of Poitiers, swore to Duke William that, on the death of the Confessor,
“se ... traditurum interim ipsius militum custodiæ castrum Doveram,
studio atque sumptu suo communitum, item per diversa loca illius terræ
alia castra.” Eadmer is more precise. In his account Duke William
insists, “et insuper castellum Dofris cum puteo aquæ ad opus meum te
facturum.” Malmesbury says, “Castellum Doroberniæ (Dubris) quod ad jus
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