In the Middle Ages, Great Britain constantly suffered from raids by neighbors. For this reason, a huge number of defensive structures were being built in this country at that time. One of them is Bodiam Castle, built in the 14th century in East Sussex. This is a worthy example of medieval military architecture, preserved in excellent condition. The fortress today is a popular tourist attraction, anyone can visit it.
The history of the construction of the Bodiam castle
Edward Dellingridge in 1377 returned to his native land from the battlefields of the Hundred Years War with France. The descendant of a noble old family, having gone through numerous battles, received invaluable life experience, the glory of a valiant warrior, and also saved up a good amount of money. Wealth and a good reputation helped Edward marry Elizabeth Varley and receive in a dowry land geographically related to Sussex. The
Hundred Years War was still going on at that time
. King Richard II personally ordered the strengthening of all wooden estates and estates. Edward Dellingridge decided not only to rebuild his estate, but to erect a new fortress. A place was chosen near the Rother River. Construction began in 1385, and in 1388, Bodiam Castle was already suitable for life and protection from enemy attacks.
Description of the fortress
The new castle was conceived as residential. This is a special category of English fortresses, which were intended not only for military purposes, but also for the comfortable life of their owners in peacetime. Bodiam Castle (English Bodiam Castle) had a number of personal, public and service buildings. It had luxurious living quarters, equipped kitchen, halls for receiving guests. There was also a kitchen, barracks for soldiers, a dungeon for prisoners. The pride of the castle is a large hall, a room that was the center of life of the defense complex. Such fortresses were considered full-fledged analogues of ordinary manor houses. They were supposed not only to hide from enemies, but also to receive guests, demonstrating the well-being of the family. In plan, the castle has the shape of an almost regular square. Today you can get there only by crossing a wooden bridge over a moat. At the time of construction, similar bridges were on all sides. Bodiam is a fortress protected very well. Round towers, mounted narrow loopholes and other "new" military architecture of that period guaranteed a high level of security in the event of an enemy attack.
XIV Century Engineering Miracles
If you look at the Bodiam castle from afar, it seems that it grows out of the water. And this is not an optical illusion. Around the fortress walls was dug a deep moat, subsequently filled with water, the width of which reached 200 meters. For its time, the fortress has a high level of comfort. Each room has a fireplace, a cunning system of stove heating of the castle is organized. In the walls of buildings laid according to a special pattern chimneys. When the stoves were heated, they were filled with hot air and warmed up the walls well. Another technical novelty for its time is complete latrines with sewage. Architects thought out every little thing in order to make the
fortress impregnable and comfortable for life.
Bodiam Castle: the history of the fortress and all its owners
Edward Dellingridge, who built the fortress, did not have time to live in it. By inheritance, the castle passed to his son, John. After several generations, the glorious family of Dellingridge was interrupted. The new owner of the fortress was Thomas Levknor, who became famous for supporting the Lancaster during the War of the Roses. King Richard III in 1483 accused him of high treason and ordered to besiege the castle. Thomas Levknor surrendered without a fight, and only because of this the fortress was not destroyed. A couple of years later, in 1485, Henry VII ascended the royal throne. The new king returned the Bodiam castle to the Leucnor family. In the period from 1588 to 1830, the fortress changed four owners. Unfortunately, not a single family paid proper attention to the castle. In 1830 the fortress was put up for auction, it was acquired by John Fuller. This man really wanted to do the restoration of an ancient building. The thing is that in recent years the
English Bodiam
castle was abandoned, no one lived in it. The historical building could then turn into ruins, fortunately, this did not happen.
The revival of the fortress
John Fuller, who bought the fortress in 1830, began to actively engage in its restoration. For unknown reasons, he was not able to finish the restoration, and very soon the castle was replaced by two more owners. Each of the new owners sought to maintain and improve the state of their acquisition. The last private owner of this unique building was Lord Curzon. In his will, he ordered after death to transfer the fortress to the British National Monument Protection Fund. The Lord passed away in 1925, his last will was fulfilled. Like many other castles in England, Bodiam Castle has become a public domain. Almost immediately, this attraction became accessible for tourist visits. Today, the fortress is still under the authority of the National Trust, an organization that preserves the architectural heritage of Great Britain.
Interesting facts about the fortress
Built as a defensive structure, Bodiam Castle (England) was never used for its intended purpose. But if the siege had nevertheless occurred, the defenders of the fortress had every chance to withstand it. The castle has large cellars for storing food and drinks. A well has been excavated in the inner territory, which has survived to this day. In total, there are 10 spiral stone staircases, 33 fireplaces, and at least 28 sewer drains in the fortress. The castle even has its own chapel. For its construction, the north-eastern fortress wall had to be slightly “pushed back”. Relatively opposite, it appears in a ditch of 2.7 meters.
Life at Bodiam Castle: Myths and True Facts
It is worth paying attention to the fact that for its time the castle was incredibly luxurious and comfortable. The interiors featured a rich and varied finish. It would seem that living in such conditions with a view from the windows to green fields and the water surface is just a dream. However, many experts agree that this is not entirely true. It is worth noting that for the climate of Great Britain, a completely normal phenomenon is high humidity and high rainfall. The situation is aggravated by a moat, constantly filled with water, surrounding the castle around the perimeter. Despite the well-thought-out heating system and the presence of a large number of fireplaces, the interior of the castle was almost always cold and damp. Perhaps for this reason, the fortress constantly changed its owners. In addition, most of the stairs in it are spiral and rather narrow. It is almost impossible to disperse into two people.
The state of the castle today
From once magnificent interiors there is no trace left. Tourists are met only by the stone walls of the once impregnable stronghold. You can get to the castle through the preserved bridge. There is no interior decoration, but you can carefully consider the old brickwork and even touch it with your hands. In the best preserved rooms of the castle tourists will find interesting installations depicting fragments of serf life in the Middle Ages. A variety of cultural events are regularly held within the castle walls. These are knightly tournaments and medieval feasts, performances of bards and theatrical performances. During such events, the fortress really comes to life.
What to see during a visit to Bodiam?
Tourists are offered a sightseeing tour of the castle. During tourist programs you can find out the whole history of the ancient fortress and many interesting facts. Visitors are also allowed to climb the ramparts and enjoy the scenic views of the surrounding area. The interiors of the castle have not been restored. In some rooms you can see small expositions. There is a mini-museum of armor and weapons, where every tourist can try on a helmet, armor or chain mail they like. In one of the halls there is an exposition - “refectory”. There is always a table with exquisite dishes. The castle has a souvenir shop selling various items with the symbols of the sights.
Tourist info
We advise everyone to visit Bodiam Castle in East Sussex (England) to remember the mode of its operation. Daily excursions are held from February 7 to October 31. From November 6 to February 6, tourists can visit this attraction only on weekends, until 16.00. The castle is completely closed to visitors from February 24 to 26, inclusive. In the active tourist season, you can visit the fortress from 10.00 to 18.00. Where is the incredibly beautiful and majestic Bodiam castle? Sights of Great Britain at a similar level are not difficult to find. The fortress is located about 100 kilometers from London, in the county of East Sussex. The nearest village is Robertsbridge.
Excursions
Excursions to historical monuments
of England are incredibly popular among tourists from all over the world. Bodiam Castle is located in a very picturesque area. It is surrounded by an old park, in the warm season, due to the riot of greenery, the walls of the fortress are practically invisible. A wide moat is dug around the perimeter of the walls. From a distance, it seems that the fortification is growing directly from the lake. In clear weather, the walls of the castle are reflected in the mirror of an artificial lake, you can admire this optical illusion for an infinitely long time. This fortress captivates with its special atmosphere. The medieval Bodiam Castle (England) is not like many other fortifications. Despite the lack of interiors and historical exhibits, a tour of this fortress will not be boring. Walking under the battlements, it is not difficult to imagine how the castle looked several centuries ago. Do not forget to take photographs as a souvenir during the tour. If you believe the reviews of tourists, very beautiful pictures are obtained here. In the lake in front of the castle, water lilies grow and ducks swim. Birds trustingly approach tourists and beg for refreshments.