Hadleigh Castle

Henry III gave permission to Hubert de burgh to build a castle at Hadleigh around 1215. At the time the castle was built the Thames would have come a lot further inland, probably up to  bottom of the hill on which the castle stands.

 

After a falling out with Henry III, Hubert de Burgh was imprisoned in Devizes castle and stripped of his land. The castle then reverted back to the crown and became a royal residence for several monarchs during which time the castle was enlarged and upgraded.

 

In 1544 and falling out of favour with the present monarch it was sold to Lord Richard Riche for £700. He then dismantled parts of the castle and sold the stone to local builders

 

Subsidence caused the southwest tower and southern curtainwall to collapse and the castle lay in a state of disrepair.

 

In 1814 John constable paid the site a visit and painted the castle which he exhibited at the royal academy in 1829. A preliminary sketch of the castle can be seen ate the the Tate Gallery London. The finished painting is at The Yale Centre for British art at Yale University in central New Haven, United States

 

In 1881 the castle was bought along with 800 acres of farm land by the Salvation Army for their home farm colony.

 

With the castle now becoming decidedly dangerous, it was  handed over to the Ministry of Works and repairs started in 1948.

 

Today the castle is managed by English Heritage and is a favourite spot for picnickers with great views over the Thames estuary.