Duffield Castle

Duffield Castle stands on a rocky promontory above the River Derwent in Duffield, Derbyshire. The site is a scheduled monument, once defended by steep slopes and a deep ditch. Evidence suggests occupation before the Normans, including Roman roof tiles and Anglo-Saxon artefacts linked to a possible Saxon Thane named Siward. The Normans built a wooden castle here in the 11th century to protect their lands. Later, stone replaced wood, and the castle grew to cover over five acres with a massive keep. The castle’s history is tied to the powerful de Ferrers family. Henry de Ferrers received the land after the Norman Conquest and built Tutbury Castle as his main stronghold. His descendants expanded their influence, but rebellions led to the castle’s destruction in the 13th century. By the 19th century, the site was forgotten until rediscovered in 1885. Excavations revealed a Norman motte and bailey with a stone keep nearly as large as the White Tower in London. Visitors today find a grassy mound marked with foundations of the old castle. The keep’s first floor once held a guardroom and private rooms, while the second floor contained kitchens and living quarters. The National Trust maintains the site, with traces of earlier Roman and Saxon activity still visible. A geophysical survey in 2001 found more structures nearby, hinting at further discoveries. The castle’s story is preserved in local names like ‘Castle Orchard’ and the surrounding landscape.