Faringdon Castle facts for kids

Faringdon Castle was an old Norman castle. It stood just outside the market town of Faringdon in England. This area is now part of Oxfordshire. The castle was built a long time ago, in 1144.

Faringdon Castle: A Glimpse into History

Faringdon Castle was a strong building. It was made by the Normans. These were people who came from Normandy in France. They built many castles in England. Faringdon Castle was located on a spot now called Folly Hill.

A Time of Trouble: The Anarchy

The castle was built during a difficult time in English history. This period is known as The Anarchy. It was a civil war. Two powerful people were fighting for the throne. They were Empress Matilda and King Stephen.

Robert, Earl of Gloucester, built Faringdon Castle. He was a supporter of Empress Matilda. He wanted to help her win the war. The castle was meant to be a strong base for Matilda's forces. It would help them fight against King Stephen's soldiers.

A history book from that time, called the Gesta Stephani, described the castle. It said the castle was very strong. It had a rampart and a stockade. A rampart is a protective wall of earth. A stockade is a fence made of strong posts. The castle had many brave soldiers. They stopped attacks from King Stephen's army. These attacks came from nearby castles like Oxford.

The Castle's Short Life

Faringdon Castle did not last long. Just a few weeks after it was built, King Stephen attacked it. This is called a siege. A siege is when an army surrounds a castle. They try to cut off its supplies. They hope to force the people inside to surrender.

The person in charge of Faringdon Castle was Brian De Soulis. After four days of fighting, he gave up. King Stephen's forces took control of the castle. It was then destroyed. This happened within a year or two of it being built.

What's There Now?

Today, you won't find the old Norman castle. But something else stands on Folly Hill. In the 1930s, a tall brick tower was built there. It is 104 feet (about 32 meters) high. This tower is known as Faringdon Folly. It was built by a person named Lord Berners.

Faringdon Castle in Stories

The story of Faringdon Castle has even appeared in books. It is part of a mystery series. The castle and its commander, Brian de Soulis, are mentioned. They appear in the last book of the Cadfael Chronicles. This book is called Brother Cadfael's Penance. It was written by Ellis Peters.