Creake (The Gatehouse Record)

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Crech; Creche; Crek

In the historic county of Uncertain.
Modern Authority of Uncertain.
1974 county of Uncertain.
Medieval County of Uncertain.

Creake has been described as a Uncertain but is rejected as such.

There are uncertain remains.

Description

The castle of Crech(e) or Crek is mentioned in 1217 (CPR). There its association with Wisbech suggests that it pertained to the bishopric of Ely. It is there indexed as Creake, Norfolk, but neither North nor South Creake belonged to Ely. One of the Cambridgeshire Creeks may be a more likely identification (see Place Name Soc. Cambridgeshire, pp. 254-5). The castle itself may well have been a product of the Baron's Wars. (Brown 1959)

De custodia castrorum de Wisebech et de Crech. Rex Falkesio de Breaute, salutem. Sciatis quod commisimus venerabili patri nostro in Christo, domino R. Sarrisburiensi episcopo, custodiam castrorum de Wisebek et de Crek, quamdiu nobis placuerit. Et ideo vobis mandamus quatinus sine dilacione predicta castra cum pertinenciis eidern episcopo liberari faciatis. Et in hujus rei testimonium etc. ut supra. Teste eodem comite, ut supra.

Rex Falkesio de Breaute, salutem. Sciatis quod per ordinacionem domini legati et communis consilii nostri, commisimus venerabili patri nostro, domino R. Sarrisburiensi episcopo, castra de Wisebek et de Creche custodienda quamdiu nobis placuerit. Et ideo vobis mandamus quatinus sine dilacione eidem episcopo castra predicta, vel certo nuncio suo has litteras nostras vobis deferenti, liberari faciatis. Et in hujus rei testimonium etc. ut supra. Teste ipso comite, ut supra.

Comments

The only Cambridgeshire Creek Gatehouse can identify is north of March in square TL4298. A castle here would control an important Fenland causeway river crossing and crossroads and any earthwork remains of a timber castle could well be lost under diluvial deposits and from ploughing. However, King writes that the association of the site with Ely is an error and this relates to Crayke Castle, Yorkshire.

Sources of information, references and further reading

Further information may be available from the holder of the county Historic Environment Record.

Books
- King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 560
  Reaney, P.H., 1943, The Place-Names of Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely (English Place Name Society 19) p. 254-5
Periodical Articles
- Brown, R. Allen, 1959, 'A List of Castles, 1154–1216' The English Historical Review Vol. 74 p. 249-280 (Reprinted in Brown, R. Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 90-121) view online copy (subscription required)
Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
- Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1901, Calendar of Patent Rolls Henry III (1216-25) Vol. 1 p. 122 online copy

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