Buckenham Castle, Medieval castle ruins in New Buckenham, England
Buckenham Castle is a medieval castle ruin in New Buckenham, Norfolk, made up of a circular stone keep set within an inner bailey enclosed by earthworks. The keep walls are very thick at the base and the structure still rises to a considerable height above the surrounding land.
William d'Albini built the castle during King Stephen's reign in the 12th century, and the existing settlement was moved to a new location to make way for it. The original site, now known as Old Buckenham, later became home to a priory.
The castle shaped the founding of New Buckenham village, which was laid out on a planned grid and enclosed by defensive walls. Walking through the village today, you can still read how the streets were arranged around the stronghold.
The castle stands on private land, so visitors need to get permission and pick up a key from the village shop on King Street before going in. It is worth checking the current access rules before making your way there.
The circular keep at this site is among the earliest of its kind in England, appearing at a time when square towers were the norm. The round shape had a practical advantage: there were no corners for attackers to undermine or collapse.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
