Walden Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Walden Castle |
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| Essex, England | |
The ruins of Walden castle
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 Walden Castle
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| Coordinates | 52°01′32″N 0°14′31″E / 52.0255°N 0.2420°E |
| Type | Keep and bailey |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Ruined |
Walden Castle was a medieval castle in Essex, England. It was built a long time ago, during a civil war in the 12th century. Today, only the old, broken parts of the castle remain.
Contents
Walden Castle's Story
Walden Castle was built in the town of Saffron Walden in Essex. It was started around 1141 to 1143. A powerful lord named Geoffrey de Mandeville built it. He wanted to make his power stronger during a difficult time called the Anarchy. This was a civil war in England.
Building a Stronghold
The castle was built on a high spot in the town. It had a large, square tower called a keep. It also had strong walls around a courtyard, known as a bailey. This made it a very strong fort. Geoffrey de Mandeville built several castles to control his lands.
The King's Orders
In 1143, King Stephen arrested Geoffrey de Mandeville. The King ordered him to give up his castles, including Walden Castle. Geoffrey first agreed, but once he was free, he changed his mind. He started a fight against the King's forces. He tried to get back control of the route to Walden. Sadly, Geoffrey de Mandeville died the next year during a battle. He never got Walden Castle back.
The Castle's End
After Geoffrey de Mandeville, King Stephen put one of his trusted men, Turgisius de Abrinciis, in charge of the castle. But in 1145, Turgisius refused to give the castle back to the King. King Stephen surprised him while he was hunting. The King threatened him until Turgisius finally gave up the castle.
Later, in 1157, another king, Henry II, ordered the castle to be destroyed. This process is called slighting. It means making a castle unusable for military purposes. The main tower, the keep, was probably not even finished when it was destroyed.
What's Left Today
If you visit Saffron Walden today, you can still see how the castle shaped the town. The streets follow the old outline of the castle's outer walls. Only the ruined center of the castle is left. Many of its stones were taken away over hundreds of years. Walden Castle is now a protected historical site. It is also a Grade I listed building, which means it is very important.
