Castle questing



Despite the April showers, my Oak King and I still managed to embark on a castle adventure this holiday weekend - and were even surprised by some spring sunshine as we moved deeper into Suffolk.

In Bungay, several daffodil fairy rings in the churchyard of St Mary's brought a smile to my face as we meandered through the town towards its castle ruin - one of two that we visited on this trip; both built by the powerful Bigod family, who played a key role in the Conquest of England in 1066.

Founded in around 1100 by Roger Bigod of Norfolk, the Norman castle was later briefly taken into the hands of King Henry II as a result of civil war involvement by Roger's son, Hugh. A sign of things to come, the castle continued to fall into and out of Bigod hands, being improved, besieged and restored along the way, until it was finally turned over to the Crown in 1297 and fell into disrepair.

The castle remained in a ruinous state throughout the ensuing centuries, with ownership passing between various dukes of Norfolk, until at last in 1934 Dr Leonard Cane, Town Reeve of Bungay, took charge of excavating and repairing the once prestigious landmark.


After coffee and lunch it was back in the car and on to Framlingham, where primroses decorated the grassy banks of the old castle moat, hawthorn was just beginning to bloom, life was returning to the knarled, twisted trees, and sunlight streamed through imposing battlements.

Yet another stronghold from the Bigod portfolio, Framlingham is a much larger and better preserved structure. Also built in the 12th century, it was the home of earls and dukes of Norfolk for 400 years, before passing to the Brotherton family, to the Mowbray family, and then to the Howard family during the 14th and 15th centuries - all rich and influential individuals.



Perhaps the castle's biggest claim to fame is that it was briefly owned by Mary Tudor, daughter of Henry VIII, during the 16th century. It was whilst inside the building that she discovered she had been proclaimed Queen of England - the country's first ruling lady.

Walking the battlements and then the moat with blue skies and drifting fluffy clouds overhead, and rooks calling and circling, it was easy to sense the many centuries of people and events past.

 

Wishing you all a beautiful and peaceful spring, full of discoveries!