HADLEIGH CASTLE

Essex

The gaunt and atmospheric ruins of Hadleigh Castle, standing above the marshy ground of the Thames Estuary has gained a certain amount of fame from J.M.W. Turner's paintings.

The Castle was founded by Hubert de Burgh, the powerful Earl of Kent (see Dover Castle), who received his licence to crenellate in 1230.  He built a Castle to the curtain wall plan, some parts of which still remain.  De Burgh played at politics and lost all his properties in 1232.  He was later exonerated and regained some of his property, but not Hadleigh which remained a Royal Castle.

In the 1360s there was one of the many French invasion scares and Edward III rebuilt Hadleigh Castle greatly, adding the two drum towers (one pictured above) which are the Castle's most notable feature today.  Across the Thames Estuary from here once stood Queenborough Castle, the most advanced of its day, now sadly totally gone.

Hadleigh remained in active service until 1551 and shortly after the Crown sold the Castle it was in ruin.  The land the Castle is built on has led to several rebuilds of the western wall and the complete loss of the south wall which has slid down the hill towards the marshes below.

Although now a wreck, Hadleigh Castle is very atmospheric and a good place for a picnic in good weather.  The Castle is owned by English Heritage and is freely accessible at all times.

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2018