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TimeRef.com
  • Episodes
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    This day in history
  • People
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    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
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  1. Home
  2. Medieval Places
  3. Framlingham Castle
Castle
Castle
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Framlingham Castle

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 County

Suffolk (5 castles) 

 Categories

Later Stone Keep / Royal and Baronial castle

 Remains

Not complete but much survives

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Comments

Unusually this castle does not have a central keep but has a large inner courtyard surrounded by a high curtain wall with 13 towers. There was a hall and chapel built along the inner side the curtain wall, and a range of buildings in the inner court would have served as living quarters.  

 Location52.224,1.3456 (Google Maps) DirectionsDirections via Google Maps
 County

Suffolk (5 castles) 

 Categories

Later Stone Keep / Royal and Baronial castle

 Remains

Not complete but much survives

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Comments

Unusually this castle does not have a central keep but has a large inner courtyard surrounded by a high curtain wall with 13 towers. There was a hall and chapel built along the inner side the curtain wall, and a range of buildings in the inner court would have served as living quarters.  

 Location
52.224,1.3456
 Directions
Directions via Google Maps
ramlingham Castle's location was probably fortified in some way a long time before the Normans first starting building their castle on it. After the Conquest Roger Bigod, a Norman knight who may have assisted in the invasion, was granted lands in Essex and Sussex. In 1101 he was given the lands of Framlingham by Henry I. Roger died in 1107 and his first son died on the 'White Ship' disaster along with William Adelin in 1120.

Roger's second son, Hugh, inherited the lands and became the Earl of Norfolk. Hugh probably built a motte type castle at Framlingham around 1140. During the Civil War between Stephen and Matilda Hugh changed sides as it pleased him, but when Henry II came to the throne, Hugh was confirmed as owner of the lands at Framlingham. Hugh had assisted Henry with his claim to the throne and was awarded accordingly. Hugh soon fell out with Henry and the castle was confiscated by the king. In 1165, Hugh raised enough money to buy the castle back off the Crown, but Henry built Orford Castle nearby to keep Hugh under control. After Hugh's involvement with the Baron's revolt in 1173, the castle again was confiscated by the Crown and destroyed. When Richard became King, Hugh was dead, and his son Roger now in favour with the King was able to regain ownership of Framlingham. Roger rebuilt the castle consisting of the thirteen towers of the curtain wall and the defensive earthworks.

In 1476 Framlingham Castle passed to John Howard, the Duke of Norfolk when he married into the Mowbray family. Previously the castle had belonged to the Mowbrays but the last male descendant died without an heir.

The castle became Crown property when King Henry VIII was either granted it or confiscated it. The castle became the home of Mary Tudor during the period when Lady Jane Grey threatened to take the English Crown and it was at Framlingham that Mary's supporters gathered in 1553 to fight for her cause.

Location

See Also

People

  • Mary (I, Queen of England 1553-1558, Bloody Mary, Mary Tudor)
  • Henry (VIII, King of England 1509-1547)
  • 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

3D Reconstructions


This image shows an artistic impression

Explore the 3D reconstructions

Timeline

1101

...

Roger Bigod granted lands at Framlingham

This is the start of a line of Bigod involvement at Framlingham where later a castle is built.

1140

...

Construction of Framlingham Castle

A motte with a wooden tower was probably the first type of castle built by the Normans on the site. Hugh Bigod owned Framlingham at the time.

1165

...

Hugh Bigod buys back Framlingham

King Henry II had confiscated Framlingham Castle from the rebellious Earl Hugh Bigod. But Hugh raised the money required to buy back the castle. Henry built the castle at Orford, a few miles to the south, to keep Hugh under control.

3D Virtual Reconstructions

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Medieval people

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Location

See Also

People

  • Mary (I, Queen of England 1553-1558, Bloody Mary, Mary Tudor)
  • Henry (VIII, King of England 1509-1547)
  • 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.

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