Benington Castle, Grade I listed medieval castle in Benington, England
Benington Castle is a medieval fortress in Hertfordshire featuring stone foundations of its keep and earthwork remains positioned on a strategic hilltop. The site was later expanded with a Georgian country house and is now presented as a combined complex with gardens.
The site originated as a fortified settlement under Mercian kings in Saxon times, before Peter de Valoignes built a motte-and-bailey fortress in the late 1100s. By the 1100s, King Henry II ordered destruction of the main structures, leading to the site's decline as a military stronghold.
The grounds feature a Georgian country house called Benington Lordship, redesigned with neo-Norman elements in the early 1800s. The site blends remnants of a medieval fortress with the characteristics of an aristocratic residence from a later era.
The site is best accessed through the garden areas, which open to visitors at specific times throughout the year. The ground can be uneven, so appropriate footwear is recommended.
The site transformed from a military fortress into a private residence, with ancient stone walls remaining visible beneath and around the country house. This layering of two periods creates an unusual composition where older stonework sits alongside gardened landscape on the same plot.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
