BOARSTALL TOWER

Buckinghamshire

Boarstall Tower, Buckinghamshire

One of the few secular medieval buidings in Buckinghamshire, Boarstall Tower is a square gatehouse with hexagonal corner towers which stands on one side of a square water-filled moat.

Edward II granted John de Handlo, Sheriff of Oxford, licence to crenellate in 1312 and he is likely the builder of the gatehouse. It seems that the moat never possessed stone walls, but merely a wood and earth pallisade. The Castle passed through a series of owners and remained little changed in this quiet corner of the country. It was owned by the Dynhams and held for the King in 1644, Parliament took the Castle without a fight and occupied the Castle at which time Lady Dynham is said to have escaped in disguise using a secret tunnel. The Castle was recaptured for the King and in 1645 withstood two attacks by Parliament. King Charles visited in August and in 1646 the Castle was surrendered to Sir Thomas Fairfax after an eight week siege.

In 1777 the Aubrey family who by then owned the Castle removed all trace of buildings barring the gatehouse. This was given to the National Trust in 1943 and is occupied today as a ‘tenanted property’ and is open on specific days throughout the year.

Back to Castles of Buckinghamshire

Back to Castles of Buckinghamshire Page

© Text copyright - Raving Loony Productions, Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton
© Photos and Artwork - Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton
© Web Design and Layout - Andrew J. Müller
2004

Go to Home PagespaceGo to Andrew J. MullerspaceGo to Roy BartonspaceGo to Shaun RunhamspaceGo to Writing
Go to Castles of the UK and IrelandspaceGo to Castles of EuropespaceGo to Churches, Cathedrals, Abbeys etc.spaceGo to Travel PagesspaceGo to The Gallery