Old Bolingbroke

Описание: Bolingbroke appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Bolingborc", one of 38 places associated with Stori of Bolingbroke at the time of the Norman conquest. This suggests an Anglo-Saxon etymological origin, possibly "Bolingburh" or similar (burh of Bolla's people).

William de Roumare, Earl of Lincoln (born circa 1096), may have built Bolingbroke Castle in the 12th century as a motte and bailey castle with wet ditch, to replace an earlier earthwork defence structure which overlooked the village on Dewy Hill. In the early 13th century, a new castle was constructed at the present site by Ranulph de Blondeville, 4th Earl of Chester following his return in 1220 from the 5th Crusade. Later John of Gaunt, the son of Edward III, acquired the castle through his wife, Blanche of Lancaster. In 1367 it was the birthplace of John's son, Henry, known as Henry Bolingbroke, who became King Henry IV of England.

The parish church of Old Bolingbroke was rebuilt by Alice de Lacy and John of Gaunt. It was significantly damaged during the siege of the castle in 1643 during the Civil War when the Royalists used the castle to garrison troops prior to the Battle of Winceby (11 October 1643). Only the South Aisle of the 14th century Church remains. A new North Aisle was added during significant renovations by John Fowler in 1889. The last remaining castle structure fell down in 1815. The site became a grassy hillock, which archeologists excavated in the 1970s.