Biggleswade Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Biggleswade Castle |
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| Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England | |
 Biggleswade Castle
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| Coordinates | 52°5′10.47″N 0°16′22.94″W / 52.0862417°N 0.2730389°W |
| Type | Castle |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Earthworks |
Biggleswade Castle was once a castle located in the market town of Biggleswade. This town is in the county of Bedfordshire, England.
This castle is no longer standing. Today, you can only see faint marks on the ground. These marks tell us where the castle used to be.
Contents
Discovering a Hidden Castle
The castle's existence was a secret for a long time. It was finally discovered in 1954. This happened thanks to something called aerial photography.
What is Aerial Photography?
Aerial photography means taking pictures from an aircraft. This could be a plane or a drone. From high above, you can see patterns on the ground. These patterns might be invisible from eye level.
In Biggleswade, the photos showed faint outlines. These outlines were the remains of an old castle.
What Kind of Castle Was It?
The pictures showed a special type of castle. It was a motte and bailey castle. This design was very popular a long time ago.
Parts of a Motte and Bailey Castle
A motte and bailey castle has two main parts:
- The motte was a large earth mound. A wooden tower or keep usually sat on top of it. This gave defenders a good view.
- The bailey was a courtyard area. It was usually next to the motte. People lived and worked inside the bailey. It was protected by a fence or wall.
Biggleswade Castle had a double ditch around its motte. It also had a single ditch around its bailey. These ditches made it harder for enemies to attack.
Digging for Clues
Archaeologists are like history detectives. They dig up old sites to learn about the past. Some digging was done at Biggleswade Castle. This happened in 1962 and again in 1968.
The excavations helped us learn more about the castle. They found signs of wooden buildings. These were likely inside the bailey. They also found pieces of pottery. Pottery can tell us about the people who lived there. It can also help us guess when they lived there.
What Remains Today?
Today, you cannot see a big castle structure. Only cropmarks and slight earthworks remain.
Understanding Cropmarks and Earthworks
- Cropmarks are patterns in crops or grass. They show up when plants grow differently. This happens over buried structures. For example, plants over old walls might grow shorter. Plants over old ditches might grow taller.
- Earthworks are changes in the shape of the land. These are made by people. They can be mounds, ditches, or banks. At Biggleswade, these are very slight.
This site is very important for history. It is protected as a Scheduled Monument. This means it is a nationally important archaeological site. It is against the law to disturb it.
