Risinghoe Castle

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Risinghoe Castle, now known as Goldington Castle, was located in the village of Goldington, a parish in the hundred of BARFORD, in the county of Bedfordshire, England. The village of Goldington has now been incorporated into the town of Bedford (grid reference TL09035090).

Risinghoe Castle was a timber Motte-and-bailey castle, located on the north side of the river Ouse, three miles east of Bedford Castle and a mile west of Renhold Castle. The castle was built sometime after the Norman Invasion of 1066. The castle was mentioned as already being old by the end of the 12th century. It is likely to have been the property of Hugh de Beauchamp, the chief landowner in Goldington in 1086. It was probably obtained by Warden Abbey with the grange of Risinghoe and Puttenhoe Manor, with which it was conferred on John Gostwick at the Dissolution (1538-1541), afterwards passing, with the rest of their property in Goldington, to John Russell, Duke of Bedford.

Excavation was done in 1943, but nothing was found. Only earthworks remain. The position of the bailey has been lost, but the motte was 20 feet high. The site is visible from the road, and car parking is by the roadside.