BEESTON ROCK & CASTLE, CHESHIRE

1802 Engraving - London, Published by Vernor & Hood, Poultry. Apr. 1, 1802 (Dated at bottom of print)

Published for the Beauties of England and Wales

Engraved by J Storer from a Drawing by Sir Richard Colt Hoare

Approximate Image Size: 4 x 6 inches

Approximate Overall Size including margins: 4 3/4 x 6 1/2  inches (12 x 16.5 cm)

Condition: Very Good. A nice quality engraving. Guaranteed original antique print and not a modern reproduction.

(General info only, not included with print) Beeston Castle is a castle in Beeston, Cheshire, England (grid reference SJ537593), perched on a rocky sandstone crag 350 feet (110 m) above the Cheshire Plain. It was built in the 1220s by Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester, (1170-1232), on his return from the Crusades. In 1237, Henry III took over the ownership of Beeston, and it was kept in good repair until the 16th century, when it was considered to be of no further military use, although it was pressed into service again in 1643, during the English Civil War. The castle was partly demolished in 1646, to prevent its further use as a stronghold. During the 18th century the site was used as a quarry. It is rumoured that treasure belonging to Richard II lies undiscovered in the castle grounds, but the many searches that have been carried out have failed to find any trace of it. The castle, now in ruins, is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument, now owned by English Heritage. Beeston crag is one of a chain of rocky hills stretching across the Cheshire Plain. Pits dating from the 4th millennium BC indicate the site of Beeston Castle may have been inhabited or used as a communal gathering place during the Neolithic period. Archaeologists have discovered Neolithic flint arrow heads on the crag, as well as the remains of a Bronze Age community, and of an Iron Age hill fort.[4] The rampart associated with the Bronze Age activity on the crag has been dated to around 1270-830 BC; seven circular buildings were identified as being either late Bronze Age or early Iron Age in origin. It may have been a specialist metalworking site. The siting of the castle's outer bailey walls was chosen to take advantage of the fortifications remaining from the earlier Iron Age rampart. (source from wikipedia free online encyclopedia)