Bodiam Castle, England: sights, history, interesting facts

In the Middle Ages, the United Kingdom constantly suffered from raids by its neighbors. It is for this reason that a huge number of defensive structures were erected in that country at that time. One of them - Bodiam Castle, built in the XIV century in East Sussex. It is a worthy example of medieval military architecture, preserved in excellent condition. The fortress today is a popular tourist object, anyone can visit it.

The history of the erection of the castle Bodiam

Edward Dellingridge in 1377 returned to his native land from the battlefields of the Hundred Years War with France. A descendant of a noble old family, after numerous battles, received an invaluable life experience, the glory of a valiant warrior, and also saved a good amount of money. Wealth and good reputation helped Edward to marry Elizabeth Varley and get a dowry of land, territorially related to the county of Sussex. At that time the Hundred Years War was still going on. King Richard II personally ordered to strengthen all the wooden manors and estates. Edward Dellingridge decided not just to rebuild his estate, but to erect a new fortress. It was chosen a place near the river Rother. Construction began in 1385, and in 1388 Bodiam Castle was already suitable for life and protection against enemy attacks.

Description of the fortress

The new castle was conceived as residential. This is a special category of English fortresses, which were intended not only for military purposes, but also for the comfortable life of their owners in peacetime. Castle Bodiam (English Bodiam Castle) had a number of personal, public and official buildings. It had luxurious living quarters, a fitted kitchen, and reception rooms. There was also a kitchen, barracks for soldiers, a prison for prisoners. The pride of the castle is a large hall, a room that was the center of life of the defensive complex. Such fortresses were considered full-fledged analogues of ordinary manor houses. They were supposed not only to hide from the enemy, but also to receive guests, demonstrating the well-being of the family. In terms of the castle has the shape of an almost regular square. Today you can get to it only after passing through a wooden bridge you need a moat with water. At the time of construction, similar bridges were on all sides. Bodiam is a fortress, protected very well. Round towers, hinged narrow loopholes and other "novelties" of military architecture of that period guaranteed a high level of security in case of an enemy offensive.

Miracles of Engineering Thought of the Fourteenth Century

If you look at Bodiam Castle from afar, it seems that it grows out of the water. And this is not an optical illusion. Around the fortress walls was dug a deep ditch, later filled with water, the width of which reached 200 meters. For its time, the fortress has a high level of comfort. In each room there is a fireplace, organized a tricky heating system of the furnace heating of the castle. In the walls of buildings are laid on a special scheme chimneys. When the stoves were heated, they were filled with hot air and warmed the walls well. One more technical novelty for the time - high-grade latrines with the water drain. Architects thought out every little thing, in order to make the fortress unassailable and comfortable for life.

Bodiam Castle: the history of the fortress and all its owners

Edward Dellingridge, who built the fortress, never had time to live in it. By inheritance the castle passed to his son - John. After several generations, the glorious genus Dellingridge broke off. The new owner of the fortress was Thomas Levknor, famous for the fact that during the War, Roses supported the Lancaster. King Richard III in 1483 accused him of high treason and ordered to besiege the castle. Thomas Levknor surrendered without a fight, and only because of this the fortress was not destroyed. A couple of years later, in 1485, Henry VII ascended the royal throne. The new king returned to the family Leknorn Castle Bodiam. Between 1588 and 1830, the fortress replaced four owners. To my great regret, not a single family paid attention to the castle. In 1830 the fortress was put up for auction, it was bought by John Fuller. This man very much wanted to do restoration of the old building. The thing is that the last years the English castle Bodiam was abandoned, no one lived there. The historical structure could already turn into ruins, fortunately, this did not happen.

Revival of the fortress

John Fuller, who bought the fortress in 1830, began actively to restore it. For unknown reasons, he did not manage to finish the restoration, and very soon the castle was replaced by two more owners. Each of the new owners sought to maintain and improve the state of their acquisition. The last private owner of this unique building was Lord Curzon. In his will, he ordered after the death to transfer the fortress to the National Foundation for the Protection of Monuments of Britain. The lord died in 1925, his last will was executed. Like many other castles in England, Bodiam Castle became public domain. Almost immediately, this landmark became available for tourist visits. Today the fortress is still in the office of the National Trust, an organization that preserves the architectural heritage of Great Britain.

Interesting facts about the fortress

Built as a defensive structure, Bodiam Castle (England) has never been used for its intended purpose. But if the siege did take place, the defenders of the fortress had every chance to endure it. The castle has large cellars for storing food and drinks. On the inside, a well has been excavated, which has survived to the present day. In total, there are 10 spiral stone staircases, 33 fireplaces, at least 28 sewage drains in the fortress. There is even a private chapel in the castle. For its construction, it was necessary to "push back" the north-eastern fortress wall. Relatively opposite, it protrudes into the ditch by 2.7 meters.

Life in the castle Bodiam: myths and truthful facts

It is worth paying attention to the fact that for its time the castle was incredibly luxurious and comfortable. Interior interiors were rich and varied in decoration. It would seem that living in such conditions with a view from the windows to green fields and a water surface is just a dream. However, many experts agree that this is not entirely true. It is worth noting that for the climate of the UK is absolutely normal phenomenon - high humidity and high rainfall. The moat, constantly filled with water, surrounding the castle along the perimeter, aggravates the situation. Despite the thoughtful heating system and the presence of a large number of fireplaces, the interior of the castle was almost always cold and damp. Perhaps, it is for this reason that the fortress constantly changed its owners. In addition, most of the stairs in it are screwed and narrow enough. It is almost impossible to disagree with them on two people.

The state of the castle today

From the magnificent once interiors today there is no trace. Tourists are met only by the stone walls of the fortress once impregnable. You can enter the castle on the surviving bridge. There is no interior finish, but you can carefully consider the old brickwork and even touch it with your hands. In the best preserved rooms of the castle, tourists are waiting for interesting installations depicting fragments of serf life in the Middle Ages. Regularly in the castle walls a variety of cultural events are held. These are knight tournaments and medieval feasts, performances of bards and theatrical performances. During such events, the fortress truly revives.

What to see during your visit to Bodiam?

Tourists are offered a sightseeing tour around the castle. During the tourist programs you can find out the whole history of the ancient fortress and a lot of interesting facts. Visitors are also allowed to climb to the fortress wall and enjoy the picturesque views of the surrounding area. The interior interiors of the castle were not restored. In some rooms you can see small exposures. There is a mini-museum of armor and weapons, where every tourist can measure his helmet, armor or chain mail. In one of the halls there is an exposition - "refectory". There is always a table with exquisite dishes. At the castle a souvenir shop is open, where various objects with the symbolism of the sights are sold.

Information for tourists

We advise everyone who wants to visit Bodiam Castle in East Sussex (England) to remember the mode of his work. Daily excursions are conducted from February 7 to October 31. From November 6 to February 6, tourists can visit this landmark only on the weekends, until 16.00. The castle is completely closed from February 24 to 26 inclusive. In the active tourist season, the fortress can be inspected from 10.00 to 18.00. Where is the incredibly beautiful and majestic Bodiam Castle? Great Britain's attractions of this level are not difficult to find. The fortress is located about 100 kilometers from London, in the county of East Sussex. The nearest village is Robertsbridge.

Excursions

Excursions to the historical monuments of architecture of England enjoy incredible popularity among tourists from all over the world. Bodiam Castle is located in a very picturesque area. It is surrounded by an old park, in the warm season due to the riot of greenery of the fortress walls is practically invisible. A wide ditch was excavated along the perimeter of the fortress walls. From a distance it seems that the fortification grows directly from the lake. In clear weather, the walls of the castle are reflected in the mirror of an artificial lake, one can admire this optical illusion indefinitely. This castle fascinates with its special atmosphere. The medieval castle Bodiam (England) is not like many other fortifications. Despite the lack of interiors and historical exhibits, a tour of this fortress will not be boring. Walking under the battlements, it is not difficult to imagine what the castle looked like several centuries ago. Do not forget to take photos during the excursion. If you believe the reviews of tourists, here are very beautiful pictures. In the lake, before the castle, water lilies grow and ducks swim. Birds trustingly approach tourists and beg for refreshments.