Bodiam Castle

Bodiam Castle is a 14th century moated castle built in 1385. This was around the height of the Hundred Years' War, which lasted from 1337 to 1453. The castle is located near a village called "Robertsbridge", East Sussex, southeast England.

The idea of emergence

Initially, Edward Dalyngrigge had no idea to build a castle. His first idea was to use the money he had accumulated during his years as a knight to build a mansion for his family. However, due to the ongoing war and the emerging threat of a French invasion of England, he decided to fortify his estate and turn it into a castle. It was built by Sir Dalingrigge, a former knight of Edward III who once fought as a mercenary in France. On his return from France to England in 1377, he married Elizabeth, heiress of the Varde family, who owned the estate of Bodiam.

Paying a debt

By the time of the English Civil War (1642–1651), Lord Thanet, a descendant of the Lewknor family, owned Bodiam Castle. For sympathy for monarchical rule, he was fined by the parliamentarians of England. He had to pay £9,000, which is over £1.6 million today. To pay a fine, he rented his property for £6,000 to a steward named Nathaniel Powell in 1644.

Destruction and restoration

Parliamentarians feared that the castle would be reused in the future, so they dismantled it. At Bodiam Castle, they left the exterior untouched. But the building itself changed hands several times in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries and was partially restored by some of its new owners. Lord Curzon was able to purchase the castle in 1916 and a project to restore it to its former glory was begun in 1919. On his deathbed in 1925, Lord Curzon decided to donate the castle to the National Trust, an environmental and heritage organization in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Contemporary Importance

Bodiam Castle is a great place to visit and relive childhood memories of knights in shining armor. It's more than just an enchanting ruin, it's also full of amazing educational activities. Whether it's to look into the past or learn about the current castle and the wilderness that calls it home, this is definitely the place to go. Bodiam Castle, administered by the National Trust, is open all year round except Christmas. Not only is it set against a beautiful rural backdrop, but it is also ideal for those who appreciate exquisite architecture and great 14th-century British craftsmanship.