Beaumys Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Beaumyss; Beams; Beaumeys

In the civil parish of Swallowfield. In the historic county of Berkshire (Modern Authority of Wokingham, 1974 county of Berkshire).

Manorial site enclosed by a moat. There are no surface indications of the manor house in the wooded area enclosed. A causeway centrally placed across the N.W. side of the moat is probably an original feature. (PastScape)
The manor had belonged to the Despenser's from the mid C13 but came to Nicholas de la Beche in 1335 who obtained a licence to crenellate in 1338. In April 1347 John de Dalton broke into the castle 'on the sacred day of Good Friday, without reverence for God, Holy Church or the King, and to the terror of the King's son Lionel, who was staying there and the rest of the royal children with him,' and carried off Margery by force (VCH, 1923). The manor was split between three co-heirs in the mid C14 and the house may have ceased to function as a high status residence around this time. Whatever the defences of this house, built by licence or otherwise, they were not substantial enough to stop an attack by a small group of knights, despite the presence of an important nobleman and, presumably, some of his entourage (some of whom were killed). However the house was important enough for Lionel to be there in the first place.
Was in the Wiltshire part of the parish of Shinfield, I am not sure when this moved into Berkshire, but at a relatively early date.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SU710646

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 244553
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.

• Web site links
  • http://www.britannia.com/history/berks/beaucast.html
    http://www.berkshirehistory.com/castles/beaumys_cast.html
• Books
  • Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses Vol3 (Cambridge) p211
    Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of The Thames Valley and The Chilterns (Malvern) p18
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p10
    Oman, Charles W.C., 1926, Castles (1978 edn Beetham House: New York) p29
    Page, Wm and Ditchfield, P.H. (eds), 1923, VCH Berkshire Vol3 p270-1 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43215 [dates licence as 1339]
    Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (Methuen and Co)
    Page, Wm and Ditchfield, P.H. (eds), 1906, VCH Berkshire Vol1 p271
    Mackenzie, J.D., 1896, Castles of England (New York: Macmillan) Vol1 p170 http://www.archive.org/stream/castlesofengland01mack#page/170/mode/1up
    Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p412
    Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1853, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol2 p268
    Lysons, D. and S., 1806, Magna Britannia Vol1 p361
• Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
  • Calendar of Patent Rolls (1338-40) p24 [licence to crenellate]
    Calendar of Patent Rolls (1345-48) p312, 318, 319-20, 344-45, 379, 427, 436, 460, 543, 544 [attack of 1347]
    Calendar of Close Rolls (1346–49) p251, 261, 271, 305, 396, 399, 410, 412, 444, 490 [attack of 1347]