Experience the medieval romanticism of Bodiam Castle, stepping through the grounds of one of Britain's most magical ruins. Free from outbuildings, the magnificent Bodiam Castle is reflected in its moat.
Step back to the 14th century when knights on horseback courted their ladies to the music of a lute. Inside the grand walls, the building is a ruin, but the towers are intact, along with spiral staircases, battlements and a portcullis. You can climb to the top with your loved one, and enjoy the scenic views across the Sussex countryside.
The castle regularly plays host to historic re-enactments and has featured in film and TV productions including Doctor Who, Monty Python’s Holy Grail and children’s adventure game
series Knightmare.
We recommended a trip to Bodiam Castle as one of the best rainy-day activities in the UK.
Spooks and spectres at Bodiam Castle: is it actually haunted?
However, nocturnal visitors should beware of spooks. In the dead of night, strange sounds, music and song have been reported, emanating from inside the castle walls. So, perhaps Bodiam Castle is haunted by ghosts?
The estate’s property manager claims this is simply the sound of 300 sheep echoing down the valley. “It’s remarkable how it sounds when you’re a few miles away,” he said. But author Richard Jones, who has has written about the sightings here, reckons there’s something more sinister afoot.
In 1994, a boy in Victorian dress was seen running towards the castle – he vanished on the drawbridge and is believed to be the spirit of a boy who fell into the moat and drowned.
A mysterious spectral lady in red has also been spotted in one of the round towers. She reportedly gazes out of the West Tower, fixated on a distant land. Occasionally, today’s visitors to the castle report a cool atmosphere or strange aura.
Find out more about Britain's most haunted castles here.
History of Bodiam Castle
The castle was built as a fortress in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, a Knight of the
Shire of Sussex, who held considerable power. It was intended to defend the area against possible French invasion during the Hundred Years War, but was never tested in battle. A siege was planned by Richard III in 1483, but it is believed that the castle surrendered without much resistance.
In following years, it became a luxury stately home for Sir Edward’s family and his descendents.
It was partially dismantled after the English Civil War so that it couldn’t be used as a stronghold. But by the early 1800s, the castle was recognised as a historic treasure, and, although ruins covered in ivy were fashionable at the time, parts of it were restored.
The last private owner was Lord Curzon, the former Viceroy of India and Marquess of Kedleston, who bequeathed it to the National Trust along with Tattershall Castle in Lincolnshire. He also owned Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire (one of the National Trust's best outdoor cinema locations), and was responsible for the restoration of Montacute House, both of which are now estates in the care of the National Trust.
The moat at Bodiam Castle
While it is now a thing of beauty, the moat at Bodiam Castle would have originally been an "open sewer", in the words of archaeologist Matthew Johnson. The medieval toilets would once have been emptied into the moat. Today, a community of 50-year-old carp live in Bodiam Castle's moat – but at the time, these carp would have lived in ponds elsewhere on the estate.
It was originally designed to be both defensive and also as an impressive feature, as a way of showing off the beauty and scale of the castle in the water's reflection.
The moat has been drained twice in the 20th century, firstly by Lord Curzon in 1919 and later in 1970 by the National Trust.
Preserving the past: how Bodiam Castle has been restored for the future
Further restorations took place in the early 20th century, and the moat was restored to its former glory. Then in 1925 it was given to the National Trust. Today, it is a Scheduled Monument and Grade-I listed. Much of the castle interior has been lost, but major research and repair work has been done over the years, both by Lord Curzon and, more recently, by the National Trust.
Archaeological discoveries
During the 18th century, there was a growing interest in Bodiam Castle, with archaeological finds ranging from Roman artefacts to the material remains of the interior, a medieval pilgrim badge and, later, 20th-century coins.
How to get to Bodiam Castle
From the M25, take J5 exit on to A21, passing Royal Tunbridge Wells. Take a left fork past Silver Hill and follow the lane to Bodiam. The nearest train station is Robertsbridge.
Bodiam Castle address
Bodiam Castle
near Robertsbridge, East Sussex, TN32 5UA
Contact Bodiam Castle
01580 830196
