North Elmham Castle
| North Elmham Castle | |
|---|---|
| Breckland, Norfolk, England | |
 North Elmham Castle | |
  North Elmham Castle | |
| Coordinates | 52°45′19″N 0°56′40″E / 52.7554°N 0.9445°E |
| Grid reference | grid reference TF988216 |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Earthworks only remain |
North Elmham Castle, also known as North Elmham Bishops Castle and North Elmham Bishops Chapel, is a ruined castle in the village of North Elmham, in the county of Norfolk.
History[edit]
The castle was built on the site of the Anglo-Saxon cathedral of Elmham in the 11th century.[1] It was the see of Herbert de Losinga, Bishop of Norwich.
On 29 December 1387 Henry le Despenser, Bishop of Norwich, obtained a licence to crenellate the church. He then fortified the structure into a double-moated castle.
The castle fell into disrepair during the 16th century, and by the 19th century nothing was visible above ground.
Present[edit]
English Heritage, which currently stewards the site, excavated it during the 1970s, revealing the earthworks and ruins. Remains of a kitchen hearth, arches, cathedral towers, and walls are all visible. Visitation of the ruins is free and open year-round. The castle is a grade I listed building and a scheduled monument.[1]
Debate[edit]
There is debate over some of the ruins at the site. Though it is known for certain that part of the ruins are from the castle and 11th-century church, the building which stood there prior is in doubt. It was thought to have been the site of a Saxon cathedral built of stone and flint, and used as the seat of the bishops of East Anglia during the late Anglo-Saxon period until 1075. Architectural historians now believe that though an Anglo-Saxon church made of timber did exist on the site, the stone remains are actually of a Norman chapel built after the Norman invasion.[citation needed]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b North Elmham Bishops Castle, Gatehouse website, accessed 4 June 2011.
External links[edit]
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