Baconsthorpe Castle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Baconsthorpe Castle | ||
| Fortified manor house | ||
 An Engraving of Baconsthorpe Castle by J. Page from 1781
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| Country | England | |
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| State | Norfolk | |
| Region | East of England | |
| District | North Norfolk | |
| Municipality | Baconsthorpe | |
| Founded | Built Between 1460 and 1486 | |
| Owner | Managed by English Heritage | |
| Visitation | Freely accessible to the public (All year round) | |
| Website: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.12259 | ||
Baconsthorpe Castle is a fortified manor house, now a ruin, to the north of the village of Baconsthorpe[1], Norfolk, England (grid reference TG122382). It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed building.[2]
[edit] History
This castle was built in the period from around 1460 to 1486 by John Heydon (died 1479) and Sir Henry Heydon (died 1504).[3] It was built without a licence and initially consisted of a quadrilateral manor house which was later fortified. On the east side was a lake and the other sides were protected by a deep ditch. In the middle of the south wall a three-storeyed gatehouse was built and later the quadrangle was completed with walls, towers and a range of buildings on the east side. A drawbridge crossed the moat and 50 yards (46 m) to the south an outer gatehouse was built.[4]
The house was subject to a dispute in the 16th century when its owner, Sir William Heydon (1540–1594) fell into debt and mortgaged it. In 1590 he decided to sell part of his property but was challenged by his son, Sir Christopher Heydon (1561–1623). Sir William then threatened to demolish the house but Sir Christopher secured a prohibition from the privy council and the house was spared.[5] After the Civil War the house fell into ruin.[2]
[edit] Present condition
The ruins are constructed of flint with some brick. The curtain walls are complete and include the remains of towers, forming a square court of 30m. In the middle of the south wall are the remains of a three-storey gatehouse with a two-storey projection for the drawbridge. To the east are the remains of a two-storey range. To the south is a lake and a moat surrounds the other three sides.[2]
The ruins are administered by English Heritage and are freely accessible to the public.[6]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Ordnance Survey (2002). "Norfolk Coast East". OS Explorer Map 252. ISBN 0-319-21888-0.
- ^ a b c Images of England: Remains of Baconsthorpe Castle. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-12-03.
- ^ Moreton, C. E. (2004) 'Heydon, Sir Henry (d. 1504), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press. [1] Retrieved on 4 December 2007.
- ^ Fry, Plantagenet Somerset (1980). The David & Charles Book of Castles. Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 181. ISBN 0-7153-7976-3.
- ^ Capp, Bernard (2004) 'Heydon, Sir Henry (d. 1504), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press. [2] Retrieved on 4 December 2007.
- ^ Baconsthorpe Castle. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-12-05.
