Castle Acre Castle, Norman fortress in Castle Acre, England
Description
Castle Acre Castle is a Norman fortress in Norfolk with a stone keep and extensive earthwork defenses spread across the River Nar valley. The grounds contain several building complexes including residential areas, storage facilities, and defensive zones distributed across roughly 4.25 hectares.
History
William de Warenne founded the fortification around 1070 as a timber structure that was transformed into a massive stone building over the following decades. This transformation reflects Norman consolidation of power in England and shows the shift from temporary to permanent defenses.
Culture
The castle served as the long-term seat of the powerful Warenne family and shaped the life of the surrounding settlement for centuries. The layout of buildings shows how military function and daily living were closely woven together here.
Practical
Access to the grounds is available during daylight hours, with parking available on Pye's Lane for visitors. Sturdy footwear is recommended as the terrain is uneven and the earthworks can become slippery in wet weather.
Did you know?
The defensive ditch is roughly 17 meters wide, showing the substantial effort put into securing this fortress. This massive earthwork was among the deepest and widest examples of its kind in the region during that period.
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Peddars Way
2.1 km
Castle Acre Priory
717 m
Castle Acre Bailey Gate
346 m
West Acre Priory
4 km
Church of St Mary
4.7 km
Church of St Andrew
4.4 km
Church of All Saints
1.1 km
Church of All Saints
4 km
Church of St Nicholas
3 km
Westacre Theatre
4.2 km
Church of St Mary, Rougham
5.5 km
Church of St James
480 m
Church of St Margaret
4.8 km
Church of St George
1.3 km
Church of St Andrew
5.3 km
Swaffham Wind Turbine
5.2 km
Sporle War Memorial
4.6 km
Albert Victor Public House
371 m
West Acre and District War Memorial
4 km
Castle Acre Castle, town defences and Bailey Gate
196 m
The Ostrich Public House With Attached Cottage At East
452 m
Remains of Gatehouse of Cluniac Priory of St Mary and St Peter and St Paul
727 m
Remains Of Base Of South West Tower And Part Of West Claustral Range Of West Acre Priory, 20 Metres East Of Abbey Farm House
3.9 km
Castle Acre and Newton War Memorial
458 m
The Wooden House
4.1 km
Milepost, 5yds N of jct with rd to S Acre
2 km
Milepost, 25yds N of entrance to Palgrave Hall
3.5 km
Milepost, Castle Acre Road, by Safeway store,
5.1 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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