Horsford Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Horsford Castle |
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| Norfolk, England | |
The low-lying motte of Horsford Castle
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 Horsford Castle
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| Coordinates | 52°41′36″N 1°15′41″E / 52.6932°N 1.2615°E |
| Type | Motte-and-bailey |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Earthworks only |
Horsford Castle is a historic site in the village of Horsford, about 6 miles north of the city of Norwich in England. Today, you can still see the remains of this old castle.
Contents
The Story of Horsford Castle
Early Days and New Owners
Before the Norman conquest of England in 1066, a person named Edric owned the land where Horsford Castle now stands. After the Normans took over, William the Conqueror gave this land to Robert Malet. Robert was a powerful lord who owned Eye, a place nearby.
Later, Robert Malet lost his land because he sided against King Henry I. But before this happened, he had given the manor of Horsford to Walter de Caen.
Building the Castle
Walter de Caen decided to build a castle on the land. He chose a type of castle called a motte and bailey castle. This kind of castle had a large mound of earth, called a motte, with a tower on top. Next to it was a walled area called a bailey, where other buildings stood.
Walter built his castle on an open area of heathland. He might have placed it there to show everyone his power over these important grazing lands. He also turned the surrounding area into a deer park, which was a special hunting ground.
The motte of Horsford Castle was quite large, about 77 by 85 metres wide. It stood about 2.3 metres high. The bailey, the enclosed area, was 72 by 32 metres wide.
A Family's Faith
Walter's son, Robert fitz Walter, became an important official. He was the Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk from 1115 to 1129. A sheriff was like a chief law enforcement officer in a county.
An interesting story is told about Robert and his wife. While they were returning from a religious journey to Rome, they were attacked by bandits. The bandits robbed them and threw them into prison. However, after praying to St Faith, they were released. Because of this experience, Robert later built a monastery dedicated to St Faith near the castle. A monastery is a place where monks live and worship.
Horsford Castle Today
The castle site was likely left empty around the mid-1400s. Today, you won't see a grand castle. All that remains are the low-lying earth mounds of the motte and bailey. These can be found in a field just east of the village.
Horsford Castle is now a scheduled monument. This means it's a nationally important historical site that is protected by law.
