1100 AD
The Norman Conquests…
William the Conqueror rewarded his supporters by giving them land in the areas they invaded…
He gave the land around Stafford to Robert de Toeni, who changed his name to Robert of Stafford and became the first Lord Stafford…
The Normans stamped their authority on Stafford in no time, building a large fortification…
It's elevated position enabled the Normans to keep an eye on their Saxon enemies, but the fort, with its steep ditches and high wooden gates would have been incredibly difficult to attack…
The castle entered its heyday in 1444 when Humphrey Stafford was created Duke of Buckingham and ordered the building of the castle, which looks down over Stafford today…
Unfortunately the castle was demolished by the Parliamentarians following the English Civil War, to prevent it being used by their Royalist enemies…
The castle was then extensively rebuilt in the Gothic Revival style by the Jerningham family in the early 19th Century using the same foundations. During these works an old note has been found. Unfortunately meaning of this document is not known and its content is a mystery. One of the old legends says that there was a treasure hidden somewhere around the Castle – this document may be a clue...
… who knows…
*Note: Fragments of the text above are taken from the BBC The Local History Radio Series in: Stoke & Staffordshire History. Special Thanks to SICVTSTPPZWZZ for the help with preparing the puzzle picture.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on Geochecker.com.
