Beaudesert Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beaudesert Castle |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Beaudesert, Warwickshire |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 52°17′34″N 1°46′16″W / 52.292733°N 1.771172°W |
Beaudesert Castle was once a grand castle. It stood on a tall hill near the village of Beaudesert in Warwickshire, England. Today, it's a special protected site called a scheduled ancient monument. This means its remains are important and need to be preserved.
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Beaudesert Castle: A Look Back
Long, long ago, even before the castle, this hill was important. People from the Iron Age built a fort here. This fort gave the hill its old name, Donnilee.
From Iron Age Fort to Stone Castle
After the Normans came to England, they changed the hill. They shaped it to build a special type of castle called a motte and bailey. This was a wooden fort on a raised mound (the motte) with a fenced area (the bailey).
Later, around 1140, a stone castle was built here. A man named Thurston De Montfort built it during the time of King Henry II.
Who Lived Here? The De Montforts
Beaudesert Castle became the main home for the De Montfort family. They lived there for over 100 years! A famous member of the family, Peter de Montfort, also lived in the castle.
The Castle's Decline
Around 1369, the Earl of Warwick took control of the De Montfort family's lands. After this, the castle became less important. Some stories say it was fixed up in 1411, but then it was left empty.
During a big war in England called the Wars of the Roses, the castle was not being used. It was taken apart. Some people say its strong wooden beams were used to build fancy houses in a nearby town called Henley.
What Remains Today?
Today, you can still see some parts of Beaudesert Castle. There's a single stone and some earthworks, which are changes made to the land. You can also find signs of two old fishponds. These ponds would have provided food for the people living in the castle. There are also still some remains of the motte and bailey fort.
Time Team Investigates!
In 2002, a team of archaeologists from the TV show Time Team visited the site. They dug around and studied the remains. Their work helped us learn more about the castle's history.
