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Introduction
Bodiam is a typical, even stereotypical, English castle. Like sandcastles built by children on the beach, Bodiam is a nice square endowed with a tower at each corner, crenellated walls, a courtyard in the middle and a huge moat all around.
Interesting Facts about Bodiam Castle
- Bodiam Castle was built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, a former knight who funded the project with wealth gained during campaigns in the Hundred Years’ War.
- Its wide, reflecting moat is only about 1.5 m deep, designed more for impressive show than serious defence.
- The quadrangular layout means all domestic rooms are built against the curtain walls, so the castle has no central keep.
- Thirty-three latrines once emptied straight into the moat, an efficient but smelly medieval plumbing solution.
- Despite its martial appearance, Bodiam never faced a major siege; it was surrendered peacefully during the Wars of the Roses and the Civil War.
- Keyhole-shaped gun-ports in the gatehouse reveal early adaptation for hand-held cannon in the late 1300s.
- Lord Curzon, also famed for restoring the Taj Mahal, purchased Bodiam in 1917 and donated it to the National Trust in 1925.
- The original wooden drawbridge was angled to force attackers to expose their right (sword) arm to defenders on the walls.
- Bodiam’s surviving portcullis is one of very few original medieval examples still in situ in an English castle.
- Film-makers prize its romantic silhouette; Bodiam has featured in productions such as “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” and numerous documentaries.
History
Bodiam Castle was constructed in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, one of Sussex's wealthiest men of his time to prevent French incursions along the River Rothe. But the castle was also designed as a comfortable home, with a separate suite of rooms for the Lord, and to display his owner's status.
Bodiam remained in the Dalyngrigge family until 1483, then passed to Sir Thomas Lewknor by marriage, and stayed in this family for a few more generations.
In 1644, in the midst of the Civil War, the castle was acquired by Sir Nathaniel Powel, a Parliamentarian, and did not suffer so much from the political upheaval as has been suggested. However, the castle was left mostly unoccupied afterwards and had fallen into disrepair by the mid-18th century, with ivy growing on the walls.
In 1916, Lord Curzon, former Viceroy of India, purchased the property and set his mind on restoring it, with the help of architect William Weir. The interior has been reasonably well preserved, and visitors can get a pretty good idea of how life was in medieval times. Note the spiral staircases and the view from the battlements.
Description
Architectural Features
The castle’s four corner towers and twin-towered gatehouse are linked by lofty curtain walls, each battlement capped with crenellations that silhouette against the sky. Visitors cross a slender timber bridge—once L-shaped—to pass through the formidable barbican and beneath the iron-clad portcullis, stepping into a spacious central courtyard. Here, the ruined remains of the great hall’s dais, the vaulted kitchens and family apartments offer an evocative glimpse into medieval domestic life, while slender spiral staircases in each tower invite exploration of the ramparts above.
Defensive Elements
Murder-holes set into the vaulted gatehouse ceiling, arrow-slits along the walls and rare key-hole gunports hint at the castle’s defensive might, yet it is the symmetry and elegance of Bodiam’s design that most captivates the eye. The outer walls rise directly from the water without a berm, heightening the illusion that the stone keep floats above its shimmering moat. On calm days, clouds drift across the water’s surface, fracturing the castle’s reflection into a dreamy mosaic of sky and stone.
Atmosphere and Surroundings
Inside the gatehouse corridor, the cool hush is broken only by birdsong and the distant rustle of reeds. A gentle footpath leads around the island, revealing archaeological earthworks and ancient fishponds sculpted into the surrounding landscape. Muted greens of marsh grasses and the silver sheen of wetland ponds blend seamlessly with the castle’s grey limestone, creating a serene tableau that changes with every season.
Getting There
By train Regular Southeastern services link London and coastal towns with Robertsbridge or Battle, from where a short taxi ride brings you to the Castle; in season you can swap to the heritage Kent & East Sussex Railway, whose steam trains halt at Bodiam station just a five-minute stroll away.
By coach National and regional coaches call at Hastings or Hawkhurst, allowing an easy change to the Stagecoach 349 bus that stops outside the entrance, while pre-booked group coaches can park on site.
By car Bodiam lies just east of the B2244, 3 miles south of Hawkhurst; simply follow the brown castle signs through the Sussex countryside and leave your vehicle in the National Trust car park beside the River Rother footbridge.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Bodiam Castle is during the late spring and early summer months, particularly from May to July, when the weather is generally pleasant and the surrounding countryside is lush and vibrant. During this period, visitors can enjoy peaceful walks around the moat and grounds, admire the castle’s reflection in the still waters, and take advantage of extended daylight hours. While autumn offers a picturesque backdrop of golden foliage, and winter provides a quieter atmosphere, the castle’s grounds are at their most welcoming when flowers are in bloom and local wildlife is abundant.