Bodiam Castle

 

We arrived at Bodiam late in the day and were completely bowled over by this wonderful walled and moated castle near Robertsbridge in East Sussex. The castle dates from the 14th-century.  It was built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, a former knight of Edward III, with the permission of Richard II to defend the area against French invasion during the Hundred Years War.

By the start of the English Civil War in 1641, Bodiam Castle was in the possession of Lord Thanet, a Royalist who sold the castle to help pay fines levied against him by Parliament. The castle was subsequently dismantled, and was left as a picturesque ruin until its purchase by John Fuller in 1829. Under his auspices, the castle was partially restored before being sold to Baron Ashcombe and then Lord Curzon,  both of whom undertook further restoration work. The castle is now protected as a Grade I listed building and Sceduled Monument. It has been owned by National Trust since 1925, donated by Lord Curzon on his death.

Above is the rear of the castle with its central Postern Tower. The left hand tower contained a well. Below is the entrance along the causeway.

We went inside via the portcullis (one of the oldest in the country) to climb to the top of the ramparts of the rather battered castle. The building on the far side was the Great Hall.

 

 

This is the view looking back towards the entrance. 

It is overall a wonderful site and Wikipedia's article provides a wealth of detail and background.

Unexpectedly, we passed a lone World War II pillbox on our way out.