Bodiam Castle, Moated castle ruins in East Sussex, England
Bodiam Castle is a ruined fortress in East Sussex that rises on raised ground above a broad water-filled moat. Four round corner towers frame the rectangular layout, while entry passes through a twin-towered gatehouse.
Sir Edward Dalyngrigge built the fortress from 1385 after Richard II granted him permission to fortify his residence during the Hundred Years' War. The site remained occupied until the 17th century before falling into decay and later being restored by private owners.
The castle's name comes from the manor of Bodiam, held by the Dalyngrigges from 1378; a 1383 charter granted the manor a weekly market and an annual fair. The National Trust has opened the site to the public since 1925, when Lord Curzon donated it on his death.
The National Trust operates the grounds daily between 10 and 17 hours, offering tours and educational activities for visitors. Paths through the site are mostly level, though access to some tower sections involves narrow stone stairs.
Recent research suggests Bodiam was built more for display than defence: the battlements are too low to shield defenders from fire, and the moat could be drained in hours through a narrow earthen dam separating it from lower ground. The castle was probably finished around 1392, and Sir Edward Dalyngrigge died in 1395.
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