Constituency Dates
Warwickshire 1414 (Apr.), 1422
Family and Education
prob. s. of George Castell† of Withybrook, Warws. m. Margery (fl.1446), ?da. of John Alspath of Alspath, wid. of William Cokkes of Coventry, 1da.
Offices Held

Parlty. proxy for the prior of Coventry 1414 (Apr.).

Clerk and keeper of the mills and fishery of the Dee, Chester (by appointment of Henry, prince of Wales) 26 June 1401 – d.

Steward of the court of Northwich, Cheshire Sept. 1403.

Sheriff, Warws. and Leics. 29 Nov. 1410 – 10 Dec. 1411.

Commr. Warws. Jan. 1412–20.

Clerk of the marshalsea of the Household by Apr.-c. Oct. 1415; serjeant of the avenary by Oct. 1415 – Aug. 1422.

J.p. Warws. 4 Dec. 1417-Feb. 1422 (q.), 12 Feb. 1422-July 1423.

Escheator, Warws. and Leics. 23 Nov. 1419 – 16 Nov. 1420.

Steward of Cheylesmore, Warws. by Nov. 1421 – 14 Nov. 1434.

Address
Main residence: Alspath in Meriden, Warws.
biography text

More can be added to the earlier biography.1 The Commons 1386-1421, ii. 498-9.

Castell’s first election, on 26 Mar. 1414, occurred at a county court that was very poorly attended: the nine attestors were largely composed of townsmen of Coventry and Warwick and headed by two men of Coventry.2 C219/11/3.

According to a petition presented to the King, in January 1420 Roger Grimshawe of Oswaldtwistle (Lancashire) forcibly entered Castell’s house at Alspath and abducted the MP’s ten-year-old daughter, Joan, an offence seemingly made the more egregious because Castell was then absent at Eltham in the King’s service. No evidence has been found to give this alleged offence a context, nor is anything known of the unfortunate Joan’s fate. 3 PL6/1/4.

As tenant of the manor of Luddington in Stratford-in-Avon, it is not surprising that, from early in his career, Castell was a member of the important guild of the Holy Cross there. As late as 1492 the guild spent 3s. 4s. on prayers for his soul.4 Shakespeare Centre Archs., Guild of Holy Cross, Stratford-upon-Avon mss, masters’ accts. BRT1/3/20; Reg. Gild of Holy Cross, Stratford-upon-Avon ed. Macdonald (Dugdale Soc. xlii) 357.

Castell’s widow was alive in May 1446, when she was waivered on the King’s suit for forcible entry.5 KB27/725, rex rot. 16; KB29/72, rot. 30.

Author
S.J.P.
Volume
Commons 1422-1461
Notes
  • 1. The Commons 1386-1421, ii. 498-9.
  • 2. C219/11/3.
  • 3. PL6/1/4.
  • 4. Shakespeare Centre Archs., Guild of Holy Cross, Stratford-upon-Avon mss, masters’ accts. BRT1/3/20; Reg. Gild of Holy Cross, Stratford-upon-Avon ed. Macdonald (Dugdale Soc. xlii) 357.
  • 5. KB27/725, rex rot. 16; KB29/72, rot. 30.