Baynards Castle, St. Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe Church
Photo © Richard Rogerson, 9 October 2009
Baynards Castle, St. Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe Church
Photo © Richard Rogerson, 9 October 2009
Baynard's Castle in London was at various times a castle, house and palace. It existed on the same site, in the south-west corner of the City of London, for 600 years from the time of the Norman Conquest until the Great Fire of London. The name is said to be from a Norman landowner Ralph Baynard. It gives its name to the Castle Baynard ward of the City of London.
On capturing London, still enclosed by its Roman walls, William I secured his position by the construction of two major castles. One of them (later known as Baynard's Castle) was located in the western part of the city and the other, now known as the Tower of London, was in the south-east corner. A third fortress, known as Montfichet's Castle was built close by and to the north-west of Baynard's Castle in c. 1070 and demolished in the 13th century.
Corresponding to the downstream Tower, Baynard's Castle occupied a strategic position on the bank of the Thames where the city walls came down to the river, by the River Fleet and the Fleet Tower (not far from the present day Blackfriars station).
During London's great fire, on the evening of Monday 3 September 1666, hopes that the massive stone walls would stay the course of the flames were dashed and the historic royal palace was completely consumed, burning all night.[1] So also was the adjoining Royal Wardrobe and nearby church of St. Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe which alone was rebuilt after the fire.
Although nothing of the building remains, it can be seen in old views of London, and the name survives in Castle Baynard Street, just south of Queen Victoria Street.
Part of Shakespeare's play Richard III takes place in Baynard's Castle.
Near the original site today sits Baynard House, a telephone exchange building with offices owned and operated by BT. Owing to the history, nearby street name and fortress-style architecture, employees refer to the building as "Castle Baynard".
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