TimeRef.com
  • Episodes
    Episode Index
    Key Dates Timelines
    By Category
    This day in history
  • People
    A..Z List of Medieval People
    Kings and Queens of England Kings of Scotland Kings of France Kings of Denmark Emperors of Byzantine Popes and Antipopes Crusader States and their Rulers
    Family Trees
  • Life
    Life in Medieval Times
    Life in a Castle The Feudal System Country Life and Agriculture Life in a Medieval Town Life in a Religious Community
  • Castles
    Castle Index Page Castle Development
    Early Fortifications Motte and Bailey Castles Square Keeps Castles of William the Conqueror Concentric Castles Castles of Edward I
    Castle Siege Tactics Parts of a Castle
    Locations of over 300 Castles UK Castles by County
  • Places
    A..Z list of Medieval Buildings 3D Virtual Reconstructions Maps Photographs
    Abbeys and Monasteries Cathedrals Medieval Architecture
  • 3D/VR
    3D Virtual Reconstructions VR Experiences
    Virtual Motte and Bailey Castle Virtual Norman Keep Virtual Siege Engines
    Bodiam Castle Skenfrith Castle Middleham Castle The White Tower Etal Castle
    Knights Training
  • More
    Test your Knowledge
    Glossary of Terms Scriptorium
    Games Early Access
    Copyright / About TimeRef.com Contact the Author
TimeRef.com
  • Episodes
    Episode Index
    Key Dates Timelines
    By Category
    This day in history
  • People
    A..Z List of Medieval People
    Kings and Queens of England Kings of Scotland Kings of France Kings of Denmark Emperors of Byzantine Popes and Antipopes Crusader States and their Rulers
    Family Trees
  • Life
    Life in Medieval Times
    Life in a Castle The Feudal System Country Life and Agriculture Life in a Medieval Town Life in a Religious Community
  • Castles
    Castle Index Page Castle Development
    Early Fortifications Motte and Bailey Castles Square Keeps Castles of William the Conqueror Concentric Castles Castles of Edward I
    Castle Siege Tactics Parts of a Castle
    Locations of over 300 Castles UK Castles by County
  • Places
    A..Z list of Medieval Buildings 3D Virtual Reconstructions Maps Photographs
    Abbeys and Monasteries Cathedrals Medieval Architecture
  • 3D/VR
    3D Virtual Reconstructions VR Experiences
    Virtual Motte and Bailey Castle Virtual Norman Keep Virtual Siege Engines
    Bodiam Castle Skenfrith Castle Middleham Castle The White Tower Etal Castle
    Knights Training
  • More
    Test your Knowledge
    Glossary of Terms Scriptorium
    Games Early Access
    Copyright / About TimeRef.com Contact the Author
  1. Home
  2. Medieval Places
  3. Bedford Castle
Castle
Castle
Please note that the TimeRef website is currently being redesigned.

Bedford Castle

Tweet
 County

Bedfordshire (3 castles) 

 Categories

Motte & Bailey

 Remains

Just the motte remains

 Access

At any reasonable time

 Location52.13556,-0.463255 (Google Maps) DirectionsDirections via Google Maps
 County

Bedfordshire (3 castles) 

 Categories

Motte & Bailey

 Remains

Just the motte remains

 Access

At any reasonable time

 Location
52.13556,-0.463255
 Directions
Directions via Google Maps
t is not known when Bedford Castle was built but it is thought construction took place somewhere at the end of the eleventh century or at the start of the twelfth. The castle was built within the town and overlooks the River Great Ouse. The first castle on the site would have been a wooden motte and bailey but this was replaced with stone at a later date. In 1224 a lengthy siege took place at the castle when Fulkes de Breaut, the owner at the time, rebelled again the King, Henry III. The castle was badly damaged at the end of the siege. Very little remains of the castle today apart from the base of the motte but the site can be visited.

Location

See Also

People

  • Henry (III, King of England 1216-1272)
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

Related Information

  • Why build and live in castles
  • Castle development timeline
  • Keep and bailey castles
  • Castles of William the Conqueror
  • Motte and bailey castles
  • Shell-Keeps
  • Square keeps
  • Polygonal Keeps
  • Castles of Edward I
  • Parts of a castle
  • Location of lots of castles
  • Castle construction timeline

Related Maps

  • Map of Castles

Timeline

918

...

Bedford fortified by Edward the Elder

Around this time Edward the Elder expelled the Danes from Bedford and fortified the several towns with ditches. Bedord, Colchester, Huntingdon and Wigmore are examples of the towns whose defences were improved after the Danes left. ¹

1138

...

Milo de Beauchamp captures Bedford Castle

In support of King David of Scotland, Milo de Beauchamp captured Bedford Castle. But after a siege, King Stephen took it back. ¹

1224

June (to August)

Bedford Castle siege

The garrison at Bedford Castle, belonging to the rebel Falkes de Breute, refused to surrender to the Crown. Falkes had been repeated summonsed to account for his refusal to comply with agreement and when he refused to appear before the King the castle was surrounded. The castle fell when the keep was undermined. The garrison, who had surrendered the castle, were all hung on the order of the Justiciar. Falkes was allowed to leave the country but he lost all his possessions in doing so. Bedford Castle was badly damaged as a result. ¹

3D Virtual Reconstructions

Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past. Built using the popular game development tool Unity 3D, these reconstructions will run in the most of the popular web browsers on your desktop or laptop computer.

Medieval people

Uncover the lives of the hundreds of kings, queens, lords, ladies, barons, earls, archbishops and rebels who made the medieval people an exciting period of history to live through.

Selection of references used:

  • 1. Paul de Rapin-Thoyras, The History of England, Volume 5
  • 2. John Kinross, Discovering Castles in England and Wales

    Location

    See Also

    People

    • Henry (III, King of England 1216-1272)
    • A .. Z List of Medieval People

    Related Information

    • Why build and live in castles
    • Castle development timeline
    • Keep and bailey castles
    • Castles of William the Conqueror
    • Motte and bailey castles
    • Shell-Keeps
    • Square keeps
    • Polygonal Keeps
    • Castles of Edward I
    • Parts of a castle
    • Location of lots of castles
    • Castle construction timeline

    Related Maps

    • Map of Castles

    Explore the White Tower

    Explore all four floors of the White Tower at the Tower of London using the Unity 3d game engine.

    Explore the White Tower

    Explore four floors of the keep at the Tower of London.

     

    Adventure Game - Early Access

    Early Access to the TimeRef card-based Adventure Game.

     

    Medieval Village - Early Access

    Explore the medieval village.

     

    ^ Back to top

            x-small

            small

            medium

            large

            x-large

            x-x-large

            This popup will contain more information
            This popup will contain more information
            xyz
            xyz