Baginton Castle facts for kids
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Baginton Castle, also called Bagot's Castle, is a castle that is now in ruins. It is located in Baginton, England. It was first built in the 1100s by Geoffrey Savage. Later, in the late 1300s, it was rebuilt as a strong stone tower, known as a keep.
The parts of the castle you can see today are from this stone house built in the late 1300s. It's not very famous because it's hidden away in a forest on private land. Sadly, there are no remains left of the first castle from the 1100s, which was a type called a motte and bailey.
Contents
History of Baginton Castle
Early Beginnings (1100s)
The very first castle at Baginton was a motte and bailey style. It was built by Geoffrey Savage in the 1100s. This was during the time when King Henry I ruled England. A house was also built on the castle site at this time.
Rebuilding in Stone (Late 1300s)
By the 1300s, the first castle was falling apart. So, around 1397, a knight named Sir William Bagot had it torn down. He then built a much stronger castle made of stone. This new castle had a large stone tower called a keep.
Famous Prisoner (1400s)
In 1403, a very important person was held prisoner at Baginton Castle. This was Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland. He was captured after his son, Harry Hotspur, lost a big battle called the Battle of Shrewsbury.
Castle Falls to Ruin (1500s-1700s)
By the 1500s, Baginton Castle was once again in bad shape. In 1540, a writer named John Leland described it as 'desolate', meaning empty and ruined.
By 1714, most of the old earth mounds from the 1100s castle had been flattened. They were turned into a nice garden. Later, in the 1700s, the castle ruins were even used as a place to keep pigs!
Modern Discoveries (1900s-Today)
Between 1933 and 1948, people dug up parts of the 1300s stone tower. But over time, plants grew over it again. In 2009, the castle was fully dug up and cleared. This is how you can see it today.
The remains of Baginton Castle are very important. They are protected as a Grade II listed building and a Scheduled Monument. This means they are special historical sites that must be preserved.
