Bletsoe Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bletsoe Castle |
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| Bletsoe, Bedfordshire, England | |
 Bletsoe Castle
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| Coordinates | 52°12′52″N 0°30′05″W / 52.21435°N 0.50131°W |
| Type | Fortified manor house |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Earthworks only remain, with parts of the later 16-17th century building |
| Site history | |
| Built by | John Pateshull |
Bletsoe Castle was a strong, fortified house from the Middle Ages. It was located in the small village of Bletsoe, in Bedfordshire, England.
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Bletsoe Castle: A Historic Home
Bletsoe Castle was built by a man named John Pateshull. In 1327, he received special permission to add defenses to his existing house. This permission was called a "licence to crenellate." It meant he could add battlements and other fortress-like features. John Pateshull had owned the land since 1313. When his mother passed away in 1324, he inherited more land. This allowed him to get the important permission to make his home stronger.
Famous People at the Castle
Over time, the castle passed through different families. In 1421, the house came into the hands of Margaret Beauchamp of Bletso. She married Sir Oliver St John. After he died in 1437, Margaret married again, this time to John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset.
Margaret Beauchamp and John Beaufort had a very famous daughter. Her name was Lady Margaret Beaufort. She was born at Bletsoe Castle on May 31st. Historians are not sure if she was born in 1441 or 1443. Lady Margaret Beaufort later became the mother of Henry VII of England. Henry VII was the first king of the Tudor family in England.
Changes to the Castle Over Time
After Lady Margaret Beaufort, the castle stayed with the St John of Bletsoe family. In the late 1500s or early 1600s, a new building was constructed around the old castle. This new part was shaped like a square and had three or four floors. It also had special windows called gable windows.
Much of this newer building was later taken down. What remains today is a smaller building. It still includes parts of the very old medieval castle. This smaller building sits within the original medieval earthworks. These are the raised areas of ground that were part of the castle's defenses.
What Remains Today?
Today, Bletsoe Castle is a very important historical site. It is protected as a scheduled monument. This means it is a nationally important archaeological site. It is also a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a building of special architectural or historic interest.
You can still see parts of the old castle's defenses. The medieval moat is still there. A moat is a wide ditch, often filled with water, that surrounds a castle. This moat is about 130 meters (426 feet) across. It is usually about 18 meters (59 feet) wide and 2.4 meters (8 feet) deep. Parts of the moat still have water in them. However, the south side of the moat was damaged when farm buildings were built over it.
