Bakewell Castle facts for kids

Bakewell Castle was an old castle located in the town of Bakewell, in Derbyshire, England. It was a type of castle called a motte and bailey castle. This means it had a large earth mound (the motte) with a tower on top, and a walled courtyard (the bailey) below.

The Castle's History

Who Built Bakewell Castle?

There are a couple of ideas about when Bakewell Castle was built and by whom.

• Early Beginnings: Some historians believe the castle was first built way back in the year 924. They think Edward the Elder, an English king, ordered its construction. He wanted to set up a strong town with soldiers there. This was probably to protect the area from attacks, possibly from people in Mercia. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, an old historical record, mentions that King Edward came to Bakewell and commanded a town and a fort to be built.

• Later Construction: Other sources suggest the castle was actually built much later, in the 12th century. They think a person named Ralf Gernon built it. Before that, the site might have just been a simple manor house, not a fort. King Richard I gave this manor to Gernon, who then fortified it, turning it into a castle. This idea is supported by pottery found during digs in the 1960s and 1970s, which seemed to be from the 12th or 13th century.

• Both Ideas Could Be Right: Recently, some experts have suggested that both theories might be true! It's possible that a 12th-century motte and bailey castle was built on top of an older Saxon fort from the 10th century.

What Happened to the Castle?

Sadly, Bakewell Castle was destroyed during the English Civil War in the 1600s. Many castles were pulled down during this time to prevent them from being used by either side in the war.

What You Can See Today

Today, you won't find a standing castle at Bakewell. All that's left are some earthworks, which are changes made to the land itself. These can be seen on a hill now called Castle Hill.

You can still make out the shape of the motte (the big mound) and its two baileys (the courtyards). The motte might have once had a wooden fence around it for extra protection. While no buildings remain, you might see some very old foundation walls hidden under plants. Mostly, though, it's just the earthworks that show where the castle once stood.

Bakewell Castle is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This means it's a very important historical site and is protected by law.