Codnor Castle

Codnor Castle stands in the rolling farmland of Derbyshire, near the Nottinghamshire border. A 13th-century stone keep and bailey fortress, it was built by William Peverel after the Norman Conquest. The ruins include a three-storey keep, a curtain wall with round towers, and a later outer bailey. The castle once overlooked the Erewash valley and had a deep moat and a courtyard protected by huge round towers. Arrow-loops in the outer walls show how bowmen once defended the fortress. The castle’s owners shaped English history. Henry de Grey acquired it by 1211 and his family produced Lady Jane Grey and several earls. His son Richard served Henry III loyally, while John Grey fought in Scotland and won favour with Edward III. The Zouche family held Codnor for two centuries until they sold up and left for Virginia in 1634. Sir Streynsham Master became the last resident when he bought the estate in 1692 and lived there until 1724. Visitors today see grassy mounds and crumbling walls from public footpaths that cross the upper field. An information board near the keep explains the site’s past. In 2007, Channel 4’s Time Team dug near the moat and found a gold noble of Henry V, now in Derby Museum. The castle has also featured in paranormal investigations, adding to its legend.