The Gatehouse website record for Stockport Castle

In the civil parish of Stockport. In the historic county of Cheshire (Modern Authority of Stockport, 1974 county of Greater Manchester).

Stockport Castle is first mentioned in 1173 when Geoffrey de Costentyn held it against his father, Henry II. In 1537, two parcels of land were granted by the lord of the manor to expand the Market Place. Leland visited the town between 1535 and 1543, noting that the castle was decayed. in 1642, Stockport was one of several Cheshire fortifications which both parties (Royalists and Parliamentarians) agreed to demolish, although it is unlikely that it was garrisoned. Prince Rupert took the town on 05-May-1644, apparently without any problems, during his march to the relief of York. The castle area was finally demolished in 1775 by Sir George Warren. A plan showing the castle's position was created in 1680, and one of the walls was created in 1775 by the Rev. John Watson. From these, it is inferred that the bailey was similar to that at Pontefract and Launceston. Thomas Kay, writing in 1896, thought that remains he had identified were those of a putative town wall, but recent studies rather suggest that they are revetment for the bailey. These are extant at 7 Mealhouse Brow and behind 11 and 13 Great Underbank. The castle probably fell into disuse in the C14, although a `Bastille room' or castle gaol was still in use in 1537. Excavations have failed to locate any trace of the bailey. (PastScape–ref. Dent)
Dent (1977) writes, that "the nature of the motte defences is not clear." Based on a plan of the walls made in 1775 Dent suggest a large tower on the motte similar to Pontefract (but twice the size). It seems incredible to me that a castle of a minor lord could be of such a size. I would suggest the entire castle was on the motte and that the town did lie in the area Dent suggests as the castle bailey.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SJ897905

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 1085399
Further information may be available from the holder of the county Historic Environment Record. In particular 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website, or elsewhere.

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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.
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