Kirby Muxloe Castle - History

History

The manor house on the site dates back to the 13th Century, and was once the home of the Pakeman family, Sir Simon Pakeman was the Lord of the Manor and a knight of the Shire at Parliament. The castle changed hands in 1364 when Robert de Herle, dying without an heir, left his land to his sister Margaret's son, Ralph Hastings of Wistow. Ralphs father was Sir Ralph Hastings of Wistow, who had married Margaret Herle, daughter of the then Lord of the Manor some years earlier.

Ralph Hastings is noted in the Duchy of Lancaster records as one of John of Gaunt's most trusted commanders in the field. He had three sons. The eldest son, another Ralph, became heir to the manor upon his death in 1398. Unfortunately the third Ralph was implicated in the Scrope Rebellion and was executed. The middle son, Richard, then held the manor at Kirby until his death in 1436. The youngest brother, Leonard Hastings, then held the manor. He was appointed a sheriff for the counties of Leicester and Warwick in 1453, and fathered a son William Hastings in 1431.

Through his fathers affairs in Leicester, William had gained a close friendship with Edward, the future King Edward IV of England. It was William Hastings then who inherited his fathers estates upon his death in 1455, and as soon as Edward attained the throne in 1461, William received the title Baron Hastings and became the holder of many awards and honours. In 1474 William obtained a licence from the King to enclose 3,000 acres (1,200 ha) near Ashby de la Zouch, 2,000 acres (810 ha) near Bagworth and 2,000 acres (810 ha) near Kirby. He had ceased to be a tenant at Kirby by acquiring the manorial rights from the Villiers family a few months before his inclosure schemes were licensed. He then also applied for a license to crenallate the house of the Manor, which would permit him to fulfil his plans to fortify his planned residence. Work then started on the castle in 1480.

Although records survive from the medieval period documenting the costs and expenditure related to castle building, they are predominantly royal records. It is not until the late medieval period that substantial records relating to the nobility building castles survive; Kirby Muxloe is one such case. It is recorded that The master mason for the castle was John Cowper, who was paid the sum of eight pence a day to oversee the stonework's, as compared to the brick-maker in charge, Anthony Docheman, who was paid ten pence a week.

In 1483 upon the death of Edward IV, King Edward V ascended the throne, but his reign was short-lived. Along with his younger brother Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, Edward V was one of the Princes in the Tower, who disappeared after being sent (ostensibly for their own safety) to the Tower of London. Responsibility for their deaths is widely ascribed to Richard III who then succeeded to the throne.

Unfortunately for William Hastings, his affairs changed dramatically on 13 June 1483 during a council meeting at the Tower of London: Richard III, supported by the Duke of Buckingham, accused Hastings and other council members, of having conspired against his life. While other alleged conspirators were imprisoned, Hastings was immediately beheaded in the courtyard. Work on the castle at Kirby Muxloe was promptly stopped, and it was never completed, however parts of the castle were sufficiently finished to be occupied by the remaining Hastings family members, but by the 16th century the site had been left to ruin.

The castle was sold by the Hastings family in 1630, and the site was then occupied by a farm; but in 1911 the Ministry of Works took over the site and undertook repairs.

It is now in the guardianship of English Heritage. The castle has recently undergone extensive restoration work. It is open to visitors on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays from 1 May until 31 August.