Starborough Castle

Starborough Castle stands on an artificial island south of the River Eden in Surrey. The first castle was built in the 14th century as a fortified manor house for Reginald de Cobham. It had four towers, a gate, and a moat, similar to Bodiam Castle. After the Battle of Agincourt, the Duke of Orleans was held captive there. The castle passed through marriage to Edward Burgh in the 15th century. The original castle was dismantled in 1648 under Oliver Cromwell’s orders. Parts of it were reused when Sir James Burrow built a neo-Gothic garden house in 1754. Later, a manor house replaced the garden house, and further changes were made by owners like Sir Thomas Turton and William Bruce Smith. The site fell into ruin before being restored in the 20th century. Today, visitors find a restored Gothic pavilion on the moated island. The outbuildings added by Warwick Leadlay host an annual jazz festival. The setting remains peaceful, with the River Eden nearby and the Grade II* listed building standing as a reminder of its layered past.