User:France3470/draft article on Greenwich Castle

Greenwich Castle or Mirefleur was a former castle used during the reign of Henry VIII located in Greenwich Park, in Greenwich, England. The Royal Observatory, Greenwich now stands on the land. It was constructed in 1433 by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester as a moated tower but was converted by Henry VIII into an enclosed double towered residence with a gate lodge. This tower was sometimes a habitation for some of the younger branches of the Royal family and was apparently a favourite place for Henry VIII to house his mistressess, as it was within easy travelling distance of Greenwich Palace, (Palace of Placentia). It was also known to be used as a prison; and a place of defence.

History
Significant buildings had existed on the land now occupied by the Royal Observatory since the reign of Edward I. Greenwich Palace, next to the site of the present-day Observatory was the birthplace of Henry VIII and the Tudors used Greenwich Castle, which was built on the land that the Observatory now stands on. The original castle was a likely a simple stone tower, was constructed in 1433 by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester on the site now occupied by the the Old Royal Observatory. An engraving of the Duke's tower shows a ruined stone keep; although this statement is without any historical authority and may have been merely romantic interpertation.

After 1447, the manor house of Duke Humphrey passed into the hands of the royal families of Lancaster and York. The castle was thought to originally comprise a moated tower in Greenwich Park, but was converted and enlarged in 1525-26 by Henry VIII into a double towered residence enclosed by a wooden fence with a gate lodge. During the Commonwealth it was used as a look-out post. This is a prominent location on a scarp edge, still known as Castle Hill in 1695. Further building work was undertaken in the early 17th century.

A second phase occurred in 1525-6, when the castle was 'newly repaired and builded'. Henry VIII is said to have substantially enlarged the castle, adding a second tower and gate lodge. However, Wyngaerde's view of Greenwich Palace, dated 1558, depicts the castle in the background as a square keep with only a single tower. The general accuracy of Wyngaerde's illustrations of the palace at Greenwich have been confirmed by excavation.

Further building works were undertaken by the Park Ranger, Lord Northampton, in the early seventeenth century. An illustration dated to 1637 shows the 'castle' as an elegant crenellated dwelling house, with tall brick chimneys and at least two towers. The Tudor gate house may be identifiable with a two or three storey building attached to one side of the main structure.

During the period of the Commonwealth, the castle was occupied by Parliamentarian soldiers, charged with preventing the theft of deer from the Park. During the Commonwealth period (1649–60) the castle was largely destroyed. Only the Queen's House was kept up as an official residence and Greenwich Palace fell into disrepair. Wren's original Observatory building, Flamsteed House, was built on the castle's foundations in 1675-76.

Mary of York, second daughter of King Edward IV, died at the tower in Greenwich park, in 1482.

In Queen Elizabeth I time, this tower was called Mirefleur; and is supposed, to have been mentioned in Amadis de Gaula. The Earl of Leicester was confined in it, when he had incurred the Queen's displeasure by marrying the Countess of Essex.

Elizabeth, Countess of Suffolk died at the tower in Greenwich park, in 1633. In 1642, being then called Greenwich castle, it was thought of so much consequence, as a place of strength, that immediate steps were ordered to be taken for securing it. During the Commonwealth it was used as a look-out post.

After the Restoration, the establishment of a Royal Observatory was proposed in 1674 by Sir Jonas Moore who, in his role as Surveyor General at the Ordnance Office, persuaded King Charles II that the Observatory might be built with Flamsteed employed there. In the year 1675, King Charles II ordered the old tower to be taken down, and founded on its site a Royal Observatory. That same year the castle was demolished for the construction.The Ordnance Office was given responsibility for building the Observatory, with Moore providing the key instruments and equipment for the observatory at his own personal cost. Flamsteed House, the original part of the Observatory, was designed by Sir Christopher Wren probably with the assistance of Robert Hooke and was the first purpose-built scientific research facility in Britain. It was built for a cost of £520 (£20 over budget) out of largely recycled materials on the foundations of Duke Humphrey's Tower, which resulted in the alignment being 13 degrees away from true North, somewhat to Flamsteed's chagrin. The castle as it stood throughout time can only be reconstructed only through contemporary illustrations and excavation. An illustration dated to 1637 shows the castle as an elegant battlement house, with tall brick chimneys and at least two towers. The Tudor gate house may be identifiable with a two or three storey building attached to one side of the main structure. An archaeological survey by Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England field staff between 1993-94 located no earthworks or other features identified with the castle.