Maxey Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maxey Castle |
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| Maxey, Cambridgeshire, England |
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 Maxey Castle
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| Coordinates | 52°39′53″N 0°19′49″W / 52.6648°N 0.3304°W |
| Type | Fortified Manor House |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Moat earthworks remain |
Maxey Castle was a medieval fortified manor house located in Maxey, Cambridgeshire, England. It was a special kind of home built to be strong and safe during the Middle Ages.
Maxey Castle: A Medieval Home
Maxey Castle was not just a regular house; it was a "fortified manor house." This means it was a large, important home that also had defenses, like a small castle. It was built a long time ago, around the 1370s.
What Was Maxey Castle Like?
The castle was built near the village of Maxey. It had a special design with a double-moat. A moat is a wide ditch, usually filled with water, that goes around a castle or building to protect it. Having two moats made it even harder for enemies to get close. These moats might have also helped protect the castle from floods.
Inside the moats, there was a central building called a keep. A keep was the strongest and most important part of a castle, often used as a main living area and a final place of defense. The keep was surrounded by a bailey wall, which was an outer protective wall. This wall had corner towers that allowed defenders to see and protect the castle from all sides.
Who Built It?
Maxey Castle was built by a person named William Thorpe. He likely wanted a strong and safe home for himself and his family in the 1370s.
What's Left Today?
Today, most of Maxey Castle is gone. Only parts of the moats remain. These remaining parts are very important and are protected as a "scheduled monument." This means they are a nationally important historical site that must be preserved.
