Barnwell Castle

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The castle can be seen in the middle of the photograph
The castle can be seen in the middle of the photograph

Barnwell Castle is a ruined castle south of the town of Oundle and west of the village of Barnwell, Northamptonshire (grid reference TL047853). It is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[1]

A motte and bailey castle was erected in 1132.[2] The stone castle was built during the reign of King Henry III by the family of Berengar Le Moine. In 1621 it was used by its owner, Sir Edward Montagu, as an arsenal for the Royal cause during the Civil War.[3] After the civil war Sir Edward built a substantial manor house, Barnwell Manor, near the castle.[4]

Substantial parts of the castle remain. It is quadrilateral in shape with cylinder towers on the northeast, northwest and southwest corners. On the southeast corner is a twin-towered gatehouse. The walls are up to 30 feet (9 m) high and over 12 feet (4 m) thick.[5]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Images of England: Barnwell Castle. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
  2. ^ Barnwell Castle. ecastles.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
  3. ^ Barnwell Castle. East Northants On Line. Retrieved on 2007-09-01.
  4. ^ Barnwell Castle. CastleUK.net. Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
  5. ^ Fry, Plantagenet Somerset (1980). The David & Charles Book of Castles. Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 184. ISBN 0-7153-7976-3. 


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Coordinates: 52.45563° N 0.46062° W