Woodwalton Castle facts for kids
Woodwalton Castle was once a small castle located in a place called Church End, which is at the northern part of Woodwalton in Huntingdonshire. It was a type of castle known as a motte and bailey. This means it had a big mound of earth (the motte) with a tower on top, and a walled area below (the bailey) where people lived and worked.
Today, you can still see the earthworks, which are the remains of the castle's earth structures. The castle was built on a natural hill. It had an outer ditch, or moat, that went around a circular bailey. In the middle of the bailey was the motte. There's also a large, old ditch, or dyke, that runs from the outer moat towards the northeast. This important historical site is protected as a scheduled monument, meaning it's a nationally important archaeological site.
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Who Built Woodwalton Castle?
It's a bit of a mystery who built Woodwalton Castle and exactly when it was finished. Historians have a few ideas:
Early Builders
One idea is that the de Bolbec family built it. They owned the land of Woodwalton between the years 1086 and 1134. Another possibility is Ramsey Abbey, a powerful monastery. They were given the land by Walter de Bolbec in 1134.
Built During The Anarchy
The castle might also have been built during a difficult time in English history called The Anarchy. This was a period of civil war and chaos from 1135 to 1153. During this time:
- The sons of Aubrey de Senlis took control of Woodwalton in 1143 or 1144. They might have built the castle.
- Another person named Ernald, who was the son of a powerful lord named Geoffrey de Mandeville, moved his soldiers to Woodwalton in 1144 after his father died. He could have built the castle to help with his military plans.
What Was the Castle Used For?
The castle likely served more than just a military purpose. The presence of fishponds nearby suggests that the castle was used as a home for some time, even after the period of fighting ended. It probably helped control the northern part of the Woodwalton area.
The main village of Woodwalton is about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) south of the castle. St Andrew's Church stands alone about 600 meters (0.4 miles) south of the castle. It's thought that the church was built there to serve both the castle residents and the people in the village.
