Fenny Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fenny Castle |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | Wookey, Somerset, England |
| Built | c. 1140 |
| Official name: Fenny Castle | |
| Reference no. | 197243 |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
Fenny Castle is what's left of an old motte and bailey castle. You can find it in the village of Wookey, in Somerset, England. This site is very important, so it's protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Contents
Where is Fenny Castle Located?
Fenny Castle sits on a natural hill. This hill is about 20 meters (or 65 feet) higher than the flat land around it. It's right on the edge of the Somerset Levels, which is a low-lying area. Castles were often built on hills like this in flat places. This helped defenders see enemies coming from far away.
The History of Fenny Castle
We don't know for sure who first built Fenny Castle. It was likely built around 1140. It might be connected to a tough time in English history called the Anarchy. This was when King Stephen was king, and there was a big fight over who should rule England. Stephen and his cousin, the Empress Matilda, both wanted the throne.
Who Owned Fenny Castle?
Later, in 1327, a person named William atte Castle owned the site. By 1480, a writer named William Worcestre said it was already a ruin. He wrote that he saw the layout of "all the houses and offices there." This tells us it was once a bigger place.
What Was Found at the Castle Site?
In the 1800s, workers digging for stone found something surprising. They discovered twenty human skeletons! These skeletons were thought to be from a time even before the castle was built. It's a mystery why they were there.
How Fenny Castle Got Its Name
The castle gave its name to a small group of houses nearby. This little area is called 'Castle' and is about a mile southwest of Wookey village. In 1839, there was still a stone cross in this hamlet. It showed how important the castle was to the local area.
What Fenny Castle Looks Like Today
Today, not much of the original stone castle is left. People used to quarry (dig for) a lot of stone from the site. Now, the mound is mostly covered in grass, bushes, and a few trees. Even so, experts say the site still has "interesting and prominent earthworks." This means you can still see the shapes of the old castle defenses in the ground.
