The Story of Hedingham Castle: A Fortress Through The Ages
Note: This is a show notes page accompanying my on-location podcast at Hedingham Castle, recorded in the summer of 2024.
An Introduction To Hedingham Castle
In this episode of The Tudor History & Travel Show, we travel to Essex to visit Hedingham Castle, a remarkably well-preserved example of Norman architecture. Its imposing stone keep dates back to the early twelfth century and was built by Aubrey de Vere, a prominent Norman baron and the first Earl of Oxford. The de Vere family, one of the most powerful noble houses in medieval England, maintained ownership of the castle for over 500 years.
Hedingham Castle was built on a Norman military design, with massive stone walls approximately 12 feet thick at the base. The keep retains many original features, including arched windows, a grand fireplace, and an impressive banqueting hall.
The de Vere family was heavily involved in the politics and conflicts of the medieval and Tudor periods, including the Wars of the Roses. During Tudor times, Hedingham Castle hosted notable figures such as King Henry VII, King Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. Today, the castle is privately owned by descendants of the de Vere family, Jason and Demetra Lindsay.
In this month’s episode, I meet Demetra as she shows me around and shares some of Hedingham’s incredible history. Jason and Demetra work tirelessly to preserve Hedingham’s unique heritage and connection to the past. Since they inherited the estate over twenty years ago, they have transformed the castle, adjacent Georgian House, and gardens into a stunning wedding and events venue.
Note: There is unrestricted access to the first part of this podcast here. However, to listen to the full episode, you must be a member of The Ultimate Guide to Exploring Tudor England, The Tudor Travel Guide’s membership site. For more information on the membership, click here.
Hedingham Castle Image Gallery
Image © The Tudor Travel Guide.
Image courtesy of Hedingham Castle.
Image © The Tudor Travel Guide.
Image © The Tudor Travel Guide.
Image © The Tudor Travel Guide.
Image © The Tudor Travel Guide.
Image © The Tudor Travel Guide.
Image © The Tudor Travel Guide.
Tomb of 15th Earl of Oxford.
Image © The Tudor Travel Guide.
Useful Links
To find out more about visiting or staying at Hedingham Castle, click here.
If you’d like to read about other historic properties in Essex, head to my blog on Leez Priory or Waltham Abbey. A podcast and show notes from nearby Layer Marney Tower are available here. Members of The Ultimate Guide To Exploring Tudor England, you can access the full version of the podcast here.
In this episode, Demetra mentions the Elizabethan banqueting hall at Hatfield House and the nearby Oxburgh Estate.
A very interesting and informative account of somewhere I have not visited. The castle is obviously very well worth visiting. Your conversation got me thinking about the chequered fortunes of the de Veres. I see some historians now doubt that Henry VII fined the Earl for having so many retainers.