Luton Castle facts for kids

Luton Castle was an old castle built in the 1100s in the town of Luton. Luton is located in the county of Bedfordshire, England. Today, you won't find any parts of the castle still standing.

The First Luton Castle (1139-1154)

The first castle in Luton was built in 1139. It was made of timber, which means wood. This type of castle is called a motte-and-bailey castle. A "motte" was a big mound of earth with a tower on top. The "bailey" was a fenced-in area next to it.

This first castle was taken down in 1154. This happened after a "truce" was made. A truce is an agreement to stop fighting.

The Second Luton Castle (1221-1225)

Later, another castle was built in Luton. This second castle was started in 1221. It was built in a different spot than the first one.

However, this castle did not last long. It was destroyed around 1224 or 1225. Some parts of the castle's earthworks, which are mounds and ditches, remained. These were later removed.

What Remains Today

In 2002, people did an excavation (a dig) at the site. They found a deep ditch from one of the castles.

Today, a large discount store called Matalan stands where one of the castles used to be. Sadly, there are no visible parts of either Luton Castle left to see.