Baconsthorpe Castle

Baconsthorpe Castle is a fortified manor house made of flint in Norfolk featuring four square corner towers protecting a rectangular central structure. A moat surrounds the complex with courtyard spaces and outbuilding areas contained within the defensive perimeter.

John Heydon I built this defensive residence in 1470 during the Wars of the Roses to assert his growing power in Norfolk. The family maintained control through changing fortunes until the site gradually declined in later centuries.

The site shows how English noble families displayed their power during the Tudor period and how buildings changed purpose when economic opportunities emerged. The rooms tell of a family that created wealth through wool trade and expressed their rising status in society through architecture.

The site is freely accessible without entrance fees, with designated parking near the grounds. Maintained paths lead around the structure, allowing visitors to view the outer walls and towers from different angles.

The inner gatehouse contains surviving residential chambers that reveal how medieval architects cleverly combined living space with defensive function. The towers served not just as fortification but also as comfortable retreats for the family.

Location: Baconsthorpe

Inception: 15 century

Made from material: flint

Website: https://english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/baconsthorpe-castle

GPS coordinates: 52.89870,1.15266

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:41