Great Canfield Castle facts for kids
Great Canfield Castle is an old castle site located in the small village of Great Canfield. This village is about 3 miles (5 km) south-west of Great Dunmow in Essex, England. Today, only the earthworks of the castle remain.
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History of Great Canfield Castle
The de Vere family, who were important lords of Canfield, built this castle. They likely built it in the late 1000s or early 1100s. The castle was a type called a motte and bailey castle. This means it had a large earth mound (the motte) with a wooden tower on top. Below the motte was a fenced-in area (the bailey) where people lived and worked.
The castle was built on low ground near the River Roding. The main tower, known as the keep, was made of timber (wood).
How the Moat Was Made
Around the 1130s or 1140s, someone from the de Vere family, possibly Aubrey de Vere II or his son Aubrey III, might have changed a small stream that flowed into the river. They may have used this stream to fill the ditch around the motte with water. This created a deep moat, which was like a water-filled trench around the castle. This water was controlled using a system of dams. Digging has shown that the moat was very deep, about 20 feet (6 meters) deep.
Who Owned the Land
In 1086, a very old record called the Domesday Book showed that the de Vere lords held land at Canfield. They owned some land directly from the king and some from another powerful lord, Count Alan of Brittany. Over time, the de Vere family, who became the Earls of Oxford, ended up owning all the land directly from the king.
What You Can See Today
Today, you cannot see any stone walls or wooden towers of Great Canfield Castle. Only the earthworks are left. These are the large mounds and ditches that show where the castle once stood. They are a reminder of the castle's past.
