Framlingham Castle aerial view
Framlingham Castle, in the market town of Framlingham, Suffolk, is one of the best-preserved Norman castles in England and an exceptional example of medieval military architecture. The first stone fortress on the site was begun soon after 1100 by the Bigod family, powerful earls of Norfolk who rose to become some of the greatest barons in England. The present castle dates mainly from the late 12th century, when Hugh Bigod rebuilt it following his rebellion against Henry II. Its massive curtain wall, roughly 10 metres high and reinforced by thirteen towers, encloses a wide inner court that once held a great hall, kitchens, and service buildings.
In the Tudor period, the castle passed to the Howard family, Dukes of Norfolk, who converted parts of it into a comfortable residence. It achieved national significance in 1553, when Mary Tudor rallied her supporters here after the death of Edward VI and was proclaimed Queen of England within these walls before marching triumphantly to London. Later, in the 17th century, the castle was used as a poorhouse, and parts of its interior buildings were dismantled, leaving the great curtain walls largely intact.
Overlooking the picturesque Framlingham Mere, the castle commands a striking position in the Suffolk landscape. It has been managed by English Heritage since 1984 and remains a powerful reminder of Norman ambition, Tudor drama, and the long, evolving story of English fortifications.
Framlingham Castle aerial view
Framlingham Castle, in the market town of Framlingham, Suffolk, is one of the best-preserved Norman castles in England and an exceptional example of medieval military architecture. The first stone fortress on the site was begun soon after 1100 by the Bigod family, powerful earls of Norfolk who rose to become some of the greatest barons in England. The present castle dates mainly from the late 12th century, when Hugh Bigod rebuilt it following his rebellion against Henry II. Its massive curtain wall, roughly 10 metres high and reinforced by thirteen towers, encloses a wide inner court that once held a great hall, kitchens, and service buildings.
In the Tudor period, the castle passed to the Howard family, Dukes of Norfolk, who converted parts of it into a comfortable residence. It achieved national significance in 1553, when Mary Tudor rallied her supporters here after the death of Edward VI and was proclaimed Queen of England within these walls before marching triumphantly to London. Later, in the 17th century, the castle was used as a poorhouse, and parts of its interior buildings were dismantled, leaving the great curtain walls largely intact.
Overlooking the picturesque Framlingham Mere, the castle commands a striking position in the Suffolk landscape. It has been managed by English Heritage since 1984 and remains a powerful reminder of Norman ambition, Tudor drama, and the long, evolving story of English fortifications.