Bodiam Castle

Record ID:  140800 / MNA128395
Record type:  Monument
Protected Status: Listed Building: Grade I, Scheduled Monument
NT Property:  Bodiam Castle; London and South East
Civil Parish:  Bodiam; Rother; East Sussex
Grid Reference:  TQ 785 256
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Summary

Late 14th century quadarangular castle with moat and associated landscape setting, built by Sir Edward Dallingridge. The castle is an exceptional survival, both as a work of architecture and for its medieval setting. In contrast, its interiors fell into ruin without any record surviving of how they were organised. It was presented to the National Trust by Lord Curzon in 1926.

Identification Images (1)

View of Bodiam Castle from the south-east © National Trust / Nathalie Cohen
View of Bodiam Castle from the south-east © National Trust / Nathalie Cohen

Most Recent Monitoring

None Recorded

Monument Types

  • QUADRANGULAR CASTLE (Medieval to Unknown - 1386 AD?)

Description

Bodiam Castle comprises a quadrangular stone castle set in a moat [140801], with associated ponds [140851], [140826] and possibly [140830] built in or soon after 1386 by Sir Edward Dallingridge. The castle has four drum towers, [140808-11] on the corners, central square towers to W [140812] and E [140813], a gatehouse [140806] on the N central side and postern gate [140807] on the S central side. There was a chapel [140816] on the E side with a great hall [140815] and kitchens [140818] in the S range. There were apartments or groups of rooms in the E [140814], W [140821] and N [140817] ranges around a central open courtyard [140819]. A bridge [140802] linked a barbican [140805] and octagonal platform [140804] to the W bank and a second bridge [140820] linked the postern gate to the S bank. A causeway with later bridge [140803] now allow access to the castle from the N.

The castle and moat are a Listed Building (grade I (1). They form the core of the Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM 24405) (2) under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Act 1979, as amended in 1994. Before that date the pre-amendment defined only the Castle & Moat as being scheduled (East Sussex 2). Following the RCHME survey of 1988 (3) the schedule was extended to include: "A quadrangular castle and its landscaped setting, an associated millpond, medieval crofts and cultivation earthworks, and a World War II pillbox at Bodiam"(4). The various element which make up the castle and its setting are listed and described separately.

References

  • --- SNA64656 - Photographs - set of: National Trust. Various. Bodiam Castle - photographic copies of primary source material held in various collections..

  • --- SNA64657 - Photographs - set of: National Trust. Various. Bodiam Castle. Cambridge Aerial Photographs. N.M.R. Photographs.

  • --- SNA64658 - Photographs - set of: National Trust. 1987. Bodiam Castle: Aerofilms Terrestrial Photography 1 & 2 - photograph archive.

  • --- SNA64847 - Geophysical Survey Report: University of Southampton. Report on the Geophysical Survey at Bodiam Castle, East Sussex, March-April 2010.

  • --- SNA68763 - National Trust Report: Matthew Champion. 2019. Graffiti Survey: Interpretation Record, Bodiam Castle, East Sussex.

  • --- SNA70252 - Geophysical Survey Report: University of Southampton. 2012. Report on the Geophysical Survey at Bodiam Castle, East Sussex, August 2012.

  • --- SZF48174 - Monograph: The Marquis Curzon of Kedleston. 1926. Bodiam Castle, Sussex: A Historical & Descriptive Survey.

  • <1> SZF48173 - Listed Buildings Schedule (Greenback): Department of Environment. 1917 (1987). List of Buildings DOE..

  • <2> SZF48192 - Scheduling record: English Heritage. 1994. SAM 24405 English Heritage (1994).

  • <3> SZF48177 - Measured Survey: RCHME. 1988. RCHME Survey (1988) NAR TQ72NE 1. 1:1000.

  • <4> SZF48193 - (No record type): 1994. MPP4/AA 51249/1.

  • <5> SZF48176 - Document: National Trust (No author). 1990. National Trust Management Document (1990).

Designations

Other Statuses and References

  • HER/SMR Reference (External): TQ72NE1
  • National Monuments Record Reference: TQ72NE1

Associated Events

  • ENA1985 - Field Survey, Archaeological and Historic Landscape Survey, Bodiam Castle, East Sussex (Ref: P7)
  • ENA6245 - Field Survey, Geophysical Surveys at Bodiam Castle, East Sussex, 2010-2012
  • ENA9791 - Field Survey, Graffiti Survey: Bodiam Castle, East Sussex
  • ENA11036 - Heritage Assessment, Lived Experience in the Later Middle Ages: Studies of Bodiam and Other Elite Landscapes in SE England, 2010-2014
  • ENA6193 - Field Survey, Bodiam Castle: Aerofilms Terrestrial Photography 1 & 2 (Ref: 1987)

Associated Finds

None Recorded

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