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Nottingham
castle has had a long and chequered career...
David Haslam,
Despite
its disappointing un-castle like appearance, especially for
those visitors seeking the romance of Robin Hood, the castle
has had both drama and mystery aplenty. Oh, and just for good
measure the castle is thoroughly haunted.
Mortimer’s
Hole:
Under
the castle, carved into the sandstone outcrop on which the
castle stands, is the famous tunnel known as Mortimer's Hole.
The passage
way is eerie enough but is made all the more so by the reputed
presence of the ghost of Sir Roger Mortimer himself.
Mortimer,
the Earl of March and lover of Queen Isobel, was probably
her accomplice in the murder of Edward II.
On
the night of October 19th 1330 the Queen and her lover Mortimer
were staying at Nottingham castle.
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| Nottingham
caves |
Seeking
to bring his father's killer to justice and expose his feckless
mother, the young King Edward III entered a network of secret
tunnels that led ultimately into the castle itself.
With a
band of loyal supporters the King burst into his mother’s
bedroom and surprised the lovers.
Edward
himself is said to have seized Mortimer.
The now
doomed monarch killer was led away, so legend has it, to Isobel's
mournful cries of "Fair son, have pity on the gentle
Mortimer."
Sir Roger
was imprisoned in the castle, taken to London and executed
as a traitor.
He was
hanged, drawn and quartered on the 29th of November 1330 and
his wretched remains skewered on spikes and left to rot on
traitors gate ‘Tyburn’.
The tunnel
that led to Sir Roger's downfall became known after him and
is still called "Mortimer Hole."
Ghostly plees for mercy:
There are other ghosts connected with the castle.
In 1212
King John held some 28 sons of Welsh noble families hostage
in the castle.
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| Nottingham
Castle ramparts |
The boys,
some as young as 12, lived at the castle for some time, and
were allowed free rein within the walls.
Then one
day, the precise date is unknown, King John ordered all the
hostages executed.
A chronicler
states that the boys pitiful cries rang around the castle
as one after the other they were taken up on the ramparts
and hanged in a row.
Their
ghostly pleas for mercy are still said to be heard within
the castle precincts.
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