Sauvey Castle

Sauvey Castle is the site of a medieval castle featuring earthen banks and moat systems arranged around a central area. The layout includes curved defensive lines and shallow water features that were artificially created through careful engineering.

King John founded the castle in 1211 within Leighfield Forest as a royal hunting lodge for the royal court. The site later fell into decline as royal hunting patterns changed over the following centuries.

The castle served as a royal hunting ground where the court gathered for expeditions into the surrounding forest. The layout reflects how water features and natural landscape were essential to the leisure activities of medieval nobility.

The site can be explored on foot using marked pathways that guide visitors around the earthwork features. The grounds remain accessible year-round, though the terrain becomes muddy after rain and sturdy footwear is recommended.

The shallow lakes were created not primarily for defense but to manage water drainage and support fish farming on the estate. This dual purpose reveals how medieval water engineering served both practical and economic functions.