Bodiam Castle, Medieval castle 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 name recalls the nearby village whose residents long regarded the fortress as part of their landscape. Today visitors walk through the stone curtain walls and explore the tall towers that rise above the water's edge.
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.
The wooden portcullis mechanism in the gatehouse is one of the few surviving examples of medieval engineering in England and shows the original defense system. The moat is still fed by natural springs that keep the site surrounded by water year-round.
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