Bodiam Castle

Bodiam Castle stands in a wetland near Robertsbridge in East Sussex. Built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge with permission from Richard II, it was designed to defend the coast against French raids during the Hundred Years’ War. The castle has no central keep; instead its living quarters and chambers line the outer walls and inner courtyards. Four corner towers and a gatehouse rise above the moat, topped with battlements. The water-filled landscape around the castle was shaped deliberately, showing that display mattered as much as defence. It became the main home of the Dalyngrigge family and the centre of the Bodiam estate. The castle passed through marriage to the Lewknor family in the 15th century. During the Wars of the Roses Sir Thomas Lewknor backed the House of Lancaster, and after Richard III took the throne a force was sent to besiege Bodiam. Records do not confirm whether fighting took place, but the castle is thought to have surrendered quickly. Henry VII later returned it to the Lewknors once he became king. By the 17th century it belonged to John Tufton, a Royalist who sold it to pay fines imposed by Parliament. The castle was then dismantled and left as a ruin until the 19th century. Today Bodiam Castle is owned by the National Trust. Visitors walk across a low bridge over the moat to reach the gatehouse. Inside, rooms open onto the inner courtyard, and staircases lead up to the battlements. The stone walls enclose four large towers, each with arrow slits and small windows. The surrounding wetland stretches away from the castle walls, reflecting the towers and creating a calm scene. The castle’s symmetry and position in water make it a striking example of late medieval design.