Brandon Castle facts for kids
Brandon Castle was an old castle located in Warwickshire, England. It stood proudly overlooking the River Avon. You can find its remains between the small villages of Brandon and Wolston. These villages are close to the town of Rugby and the city of Coventry.
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The Story of Brandon Castle
Brandon Castle started as a simple earthwork fortress. This means it was built mostly from earth and wood. It was a "motte and bailey" castle. A motte is a big mound of earth, and a bailey is a walled courtyard. Geoffrey de Clinton built this first version in the 1100s.
Later, around the year 1226, the de Verdon family took over. They decided to make the castle much stronger. They built a stone castle with a main tower, called a keep. It also had a large outer wall to protect it.
Why Was Brandon Castle Destroyed?
Sadly, Brandon Castle did not last forever. In 1265, something called the Second Barons' War was happening in England. This was a big fight between the king and some powerful noblemen, called barons. John de Verdon, who owned Brandon Castle, was a strong supporter of the king.
Because of this, troops from Kenilworth Castle, who were on the side of the barons, attacked Brandon Castle. They "pulled it down" or "slighted" it. Slighting a castle means deliberately destroying it. This was done to make sure it could not be used again by the enemy.
What You Can See Today
Today, you won't see a grand castle standing tall. Instead, you can only see low earthworks. These are the bumps and mounds in the ground that show where the old castle walls and ditches once were. You might also spot a few pieces of old stone masonry. These are the last visible parts of the stone castle.
Protecting Our History
Brandon Castle is a very important historical site. It is protected as a scheduled ancient monument. This means it's a nationally important archaeological site. It is against the law to damage it.
However, the site is also on the Heritage at Risk Register. This list includes historical places that are in danger. For Brandon Castle, the main risks are from plants like scrub and trees growing too much. This growth can damage the old remains. Efforts are being made to protect the site for future generations.
