Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
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It had a strategic position on the bank of the Thames where the city walls came down to the river, by the River Fleet and the Fleet Tower (near the present day Blackfriars station).
Although nothing of the building remains, it can be seen in old views of London, and the name survives as Castle Baynard Street, just south of Queen Victoria Street.
Part of William Shakespeare's play Richard III takes place in Baynard Castle.
Near the original site today sits "Baynard House" a telephone exchange building (and offices nowadays) owned and operated by BT. Due to the history, near-by road name and "fortress style" architecture, employees refer to the building as "Castle Baynard".
Reference to Richard III act http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/richardiii_3_7.html
The L&M Companion describe it as being “on the Thames, stretching up the hill to (Upper) Thames St, opposite Addle Hill.”
There is more on the history of the castle (which no longer exists) here http://www.britannia.com/history/londonhistory/lon-pal2.html and here http://web.archive.org/web/20010214064821/http://www.molas2.demon.co.uk/colat/bcastle.html
http://instruct.uwo.ca/english/234e/site/lndnmpwall.html
Baynards Castle was at the western junction of the City Walls and the River Thames (near the Fleet River): while the Tower of London was at the eastern junction of the City Walls and the Thames.
But I’m a little surprised that it doesn’t appear more clearly in any of the London maps in the Backgroung Information/General Reference/Maps section, unless I’ve overlooked it.
I found this map - just marked C18 - with Baynard’s Castle clearly shown. (North end of Blackfriars Bridge is where the Fleet River joined the Thames.) http://www.londonancestor.com/maps/baynards-thumb.htm
Thanks Maureen, Glyn: Fantastique: Amen corner near Newgate how thoughtful?
Glas house yard near Black Fryers ?
Doctors commons ?
“1731 version ” Baynard’s Castle Ward contains Peter’s Hill, Bennet’s Hill, part of Thames Street, Paul’s Wharf, Puddle Dock, Addle Hill, Knightrider Street, Carter Lane, Wardrobe Court, Paul’s Chain, part of St. Paul’s Churchyard, Dean’s Court, part of Creed Lane, and part of Warwick Lane.
The public buildings in this ward are Doctors’ Commons, the Heralds’ Office, the churches of St. Bennet, Paul’s Wharf, St. Andrew, Wardrobe, and St. Mary Magdalen, Old Fish Street.
Baynard’s Castle is the setting of Act III, Scene 7 of Shakespear’s Richard III, where Richard receives the acclamation of the locals. According to a footnote in my Bantam edition, Baynard’s Castle was a “residence on the north bank of the Thames. It was founded by Baynard, a nobelman at the time of the Conquest, and belonged to Richard’s father.”