Beaumys Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beaumys Castle |
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| Swallowfield, Berkshire, England | |
 Beaumys Castle
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| Coordinates | 51°22′34″N 0°58′53″W / 51.3760°N 0.9813°W |
| Type | Fortified manor house |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Earthworks |
Beaumys Castle, also known as Beams Castle, was a special kind of house built in the 1300s. It was a manor house that was also a strong fortress. You could find it in a place called Swallowfield in the English county of Berkshire.
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History of Beaumys Castle
Beaumys Castle started as a large estate, or manor, in Swallowfield. In 1335, it was given to a knight named Sir Nicholas de la Beche.
Building a Fortified Home
Sir Nicholas wanted to make his home very secure. In 1338, he received a special permission called a "licence to crenellate". This allowed him to add features like battlements and towers, making his manor house look and act like a castle.
The castle itself was shaped like a rectangle. It was protected by large earthworks, which are like big mounds of dirt, about 130 meters long and 110 meters wide. Around these earthworks was a moat, which was a ditch filled with water. People entered the castle from the north-west side.
Events at the Castle
After Sir Nicholas de la Beche passed away, his wife, Margery, inherited the manor. She later married Thomas Arderne.
In 1347, after Thomas Arderne died, a man named John de Dalton and his group entered the castle. During this event, a nobleman named Michael de Poynings died. Lionel, who was the son of King Edward III, was staying at the castle at the time and was caught up in the events. Valuable items were taken from the castle. Margaret, who was a wealthy widow, was also taken away and later married John de Dalton.
What Remains Today
The large estate around the castle was divided up in 1420. Today, you can still see the remains of the earthworks that once protected Beaumys Castle. These old earthworks are now a protected historical site.
