HEDINGHAM CASTLE

Essex

This tremendously handsome keep is often compared to that at Rochester in Kent; and indeed the two are very similar.  Hedingham retains its ashlar facing stones whereas Rochester stands to its full height, and still has its forebuilding.  Rochester is also considerably larger, but Hedingham retains its interior floors (replaced in 1918 after a fire).

One school of thought attributes both Castles to the same architect in which case Hedingham is the work of Aubrey de Vere who died in 1141 when Queen Matilda was expelled from London. If not then the Castle is likely to be the work of his son, also Aubrey.  Both de Vere's were ardent supporters of Matilda and when Henry II (Matilda's son) came to the throne Aubrey de Vere junior was rewarded with the Earldom of Oxford and being allowed to keep his adulterine keep at Hedingham.

Another similarity with Rochester is that Hedingham was besieged by King John during the Magna Carta rebellion of 1216.  King John took the Castle, but it was retaken by Prince Louis of France soon afterwards.  Unlike at Rochester damage seems to have been minimal and a complete rebuild of half the Castle was not necessary.

The de Vere's became important players on the scene in medieval England; losing their lands for supporting the Lancastrain cause against Edward IV, but ultimately regaining them again when Henry VII came to power.  The de Vere of the time, John, accidentally put a foot wrong by flouting his wealth in front of the notoriously miserly King and was taxed very heavily.  This doesn't seem to have caused a great deal of trouble for de Vere who built a large Tudor mansion inside the bailey wall (the only remnant today being a bridge over the moat).

The de Vere's finally left in 1625 and Hedingham was dismantled and fell into ruin.

Fortunately the Castle is in wonderful condition today and open to the public throughout the summer months.

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2018