Buckenham Castle
Encyclopedia
At Buckenham
, Norfolk
there are the remains of two castles: .
After the castle was moved to the new site a priory was established on the site thus destroying many of the earlier remains.
To service the castle and garrison, what is now New Buckenham
was established and it is thought that it probably covered much the same area and grid layout as remains today.
a new castle was built two miles to the north west of the site of the old castle by the Aubigny family. Today we can still see the remaining foundations of a circular stone keep - this is approximately 60 feet in diameter. The castle was besieged during the Barons' War in 1263. The fortress was finally demolished in 1649 by the owner Sir Philip Knyvet, leaving just the moat
and the earth ramparts
. The Knyvett family had moved here from their earlier seat at Southwick, Northamptonshire
The castle comprised an inner bailey and two outer baileys, all with earth walls. The circular keep is thought to be the earliest in England. Its walls are 11 feet thick at their base and it is thought that the height of the keep in its heyday could have been as much as 40 feet.
New Buckenham Castle is located on the edge of the village - this some 20 miles south-west of Norwich
on the A11 and the B1077.
This site is a Grade I Listed building and a Scheduled Monument.
The key is available from Castle Hill Garage - There is a small admission charge.
Buckenham
Buckenham is a village in Norfolk, England, situated on the northern bank of the River Yare. The village is the location of the RSPB Buckenham Marshes nature reserve.Buckenham railway station serves the outlying communities and the RSPB reserve....
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
there are the remains of two castles: .
Old castle
All that remains today of what was a Norman castle are the remnants of the earthworks and some traces of a stone curtain wall. The castle was built by William d’Albini, a follower of William the Conqueror.After the castle was moved to the new site a priory was established on the site thus destroying many of the earlier remains.
To service the castle and garrison, what is now New Buckenham
New Buckenham
New Buckenham is a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 468 in 197 households as of the 2001 census. For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of Breckland....
was established and it is thought that it probably covered much the same area and grid layout as remains today.
New castle
In the early part of the reign of King StephenStephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
a new castle was built two miles to the north west of the site of the old castle by the Aubigny family. Today we can still see the remaining foundations of a circular stone keep - this is approximately 60 feet in diameter. The castle was besieged during the Barons' War in 1263. The fortress was finally demolished in 1649 by the owner Sir Philip Knyvet, leaving just the moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
and the earth ramparts
Defensive wall
A defensive wall is a fortification used to protect a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements...
. The Knyvett family had moved here from their earlier seat at Southwick, Northamptonshire
Southwick, Northamptonshire
Southwick is a small village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England. It is approximately north of the town of Oundle and is set in a valley of the river Nene. The village falls within the Non-Metropolitan District of East Northamptonshire, which itself lies within the East Midlands region...
The castle comprised an inner bailey and two outer baileys, all with earth walls. The circular keep is thought to be the earliest in England. Its walls are 11 feet thick at their base and it is thought that the height of the keep in its heyday could have been as much as 40 feet.
New Buckenham Castle is located on the edge of the village - this some 20 miles south-west of Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
on the A11 and the B1077.
This site is a Grade I Listed building and a Scheduled Monument.
The key is available from Castle Hill Garage - There is a small admission charge.