Tattershall Castle and its place in English architecture

I came upon a BBC News report from 2022 about the new research into the building of the great fifteenth century tower of Tattershall Castle in Lincolnshire. 

In August 2022 I drew attention to this research project and linked to another quite detailed online report in Re-assessing and re-interpreting Tattershall Castle

This second article also reports on the conclusion that the tower and its associated buildings are earlier in date by some fifteen years than had been thought hitherto, which makes the structure even more significant in the history of English architecture and building. The article can be seen at Tattershall Castle: Pioneering building may have inspired Hampton Court

There is another article, from Current Archaeology in October 2022, about the new assessment which can be seen at Research reveals Tattershall Castle was an architectural trendsetter

The tall brick structure has been linked to buildings situated in the Netherlands and eastwards to Prussia and the great fortress of the Teutonic Knights at Marienburg ( Malbork ). Tattershall’s use of brick was to be followed by Sir John Fastolff’s Castor Castle in Norfolk, Sir Andrew Ogard at Rye House in Hertfordshire, Sir Roger Fiennes at Hurstmonceux Castle in Sussex, Humphrey Duke of Gloucester’s Bella Court or Palace of Placentia that evolved into Greenwich Palace and, slightly later, William Lord Hastings never-to-be-completed Kirby Muxloe Castle in Leicestershire. Episcopal builders such as William Wayneflete and Thomas Rotherham began using brick in the last quarter of the century for their buildings. Unlike these others which were new builds or replaced manor houses Tattershall was already a substantial castle dating back to the thirteenth century. The spectacular new tower which he added and the adjacent very splendid collegiate church are a good indication of Lord Cromwell’s status and aspirations. There is a Wikipedia biography of him with coverage of his other interests and estates at Ralph Cromwell, 3rd Baron Cromwell

As builder of the great tower, Ralph Lord Cromwell, who had the thankless task of being Lord Treasurer for the government of King Henry VI as money got tighter and tighter for the French war, did not lack funds himself. In addition to Tattershall he created another country home, South Wingfield Manor in Derbyshire. Coincidentally this has been in the news recently because of its condition. This is despite it being in the care of English Heritage. The article can be read in a BBC News report at Call for repairs on manor which held Mary Queen of Scots

A second BBC report has more details of the history of the manor and additional photographs, and it can be seen at Wingfield Manor in Derbyshire 'helped shape modern England'

I have only seen South Wingfield from outside but the ruins are substantial and indicated what a very fine house it was when Lord Cromwell built it. Wikipedia has an account of its history and remains at Wingfield Manor

I will just add that wingfield Manor should not be confused with Wingfield Castle, the Suffolk home in the fifteenth century of the de la Pole family as Earls, Marquesses and Dukes of Suffolk.