Eccleshall Castle, Medieval castle in Eccleshall, England.
Eccleshall Castle is a medieval castle in the village of Eccleshall, Staffordshire, England, now used as a private residence. The building has stone walls, defensive features, and a nine-sided tower that was incorporated into the main structure in 1693.
The site dates to 1200, when Bishop Geoffrey de Muschamp received permission from King John to fortify the land. In 1643, during the English Civil War, Parliamentary forces under Sir William Brereton besieged and heavily damaged the structure.
Eccleshall Castle served as the main residence of the Bishops of Lichfield for centuries, and that connection shaped the way the building was maintained and used over time. Even today, it has the feel of a lived-in country house rather than a ruin or public monument.
The castle sits on the main road between Chester and Lichfield and is easy to see from the outside. Since it is a private residence, access to the grounds is limited, but occasional charity events or open days may allow visitors in.
Several Bishops of Lichfield are buried on the grounds, which is unusual for a fortified residence. This happened because the bishops considered the site their primary home and chose to be laid to rest there rather than in the cathedral.
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