Clan Rising
Acton Burnell Castle today

England · Partial ruin

Acton Burnell Castle

Acton Burnell Castle is a late 13th-century fortified manor house in Shropshire built by Robert Burnell. Today only the outer shell of the three-storey rectangular manor and the gable ends of the adjacent barn survive; the site is managed by English Heritage and open to the public.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1284

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 1284

What Acton Burnell Castle looked like in its prime.

A rectangular, three-storey fortified manor of red sandstone with a tower at each corner and a continuous crenellated parapet along the roofline. Tall, narrow pointed-arch window openings and doorways pierce the outer walls; there is no roof and most openings are empty to the sky. The masonry shows patches of lighter repair or render. The building stands on a lawned setting with trees nearby and the gable ends of a large barn adjacent to the main range.

Its story

The story of Acton Burnell Castle.

In the autumn of 1283 Edward I held a Parliament at Acton Burnell, presumably in the great barn, the only building large enough, believed to be the first Parliament of England at which the Commons were fully represented. The law passed became known as the Statute of Acton Burnell, giving protection to creditors. The following January, Robert Burnell was granted a royal licence to crenellate and fortify the manor, a benefit extended only to trusted people.

After Burnell's death in 1292 the estate passed down the family line, coming by marriage to the Lovels of Titchmarsh, Northamptonshire. Following the Battle of Stoke Field in 1487 the land was confiscated by Henry VII, who granted it to Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk. By the time it passed to the Smythe family in the mid-17th century, the house had been mostly demolished.

What survives is the outer shell of the three-storey fortified manor house and the gable ends of the adjacent barn. A Grade I listed building maintained by English Heritage, the shell of the former residence is reached by a footpath through a small wood.

Step inside

9 places to explore in 1284.

The record describes 9 distinct spots at Acton Burnell Castle, including 4 interiors: great hall (interior), solar (upper private chamber), chapel and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from the footpath through the woodSouthwest corner tower exteriorLong east-facing wall and battlementsGreat hall (interior)Solar (upper private chamber)ChapelKitchen and service roomsGreat barn gables and yardInner courtyard

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The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1284, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Whose castle

Clans who held Acton Burnell Castle.

The families that held Acton Burnell Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Burnell

    Robert Burnell was licensed to crenellate and fortify the manor in 1284; the estate passed down the family line after his death in 1292.

  • Lovel

    The estate came by marriage to the Lovels of Titchmarsh; confiscated after the Battle of Stoke Field, 1487.

  • Howard

    Granted by Henry VII to Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk, after 1487.

  • Smythe

    Passed to the Smythe family in the mid-17th century, by which time the house was mostly demolished.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Acton Burnell Castle.

The Iron Bridge, EnglandBridgeThe Iron Bridge14 km awayStanage Park, WalesLandmarkStanage Park36 km awayMolineux Stadium, EnglandStadiumMolineux Stadium38 km away

Questions about Acton Burnell Castle

What is the history of Acton Burnell Castle?

Acton Burnell Castle was built as a 13th-century fortified manor house for Robert Burnell. Edward I held a Parliament there in 1283, probably in the adjacent great barn, and the Statute of Acton Burnell was passed there. After Burnell died in 1292, the estate passed through his family and later to the Lovels, Howards and Smythe family, by which time the house was mostly demolished.

What is inside Acton Burnell Castle?

Inside Acton Burnell Castle were a great hall, solar, bedrooms, offices, chapel and kitchen. The surviving structure is an outer shell, so these rooms are understood from the building’s documented arrangement rather than from a complete roofed interior. The adjacent great barn also survives only in part, with its gable ends remaining.

Who owns Acton Burnell Castle?

Acton Burnell Castle is owned and managed by English Heritage. It is also a Grade I listed building, with that designation recorded since 1958. English Heritage’s role is both ownership and operation; the listing is a separate heritage designation.

Why was Acton Burnell Castle built, and what was it used for?

Acton Burnell Castle was built as a fortified manor house and substantial residence. Its three-storey arrangement included accommodation for Edward I and his retinue, soldiers and advisers, as well as a hall, private solar, chapel, kitchen and service rooms. In 1283, the adjacent barn was probably used to hold Parliament because it was the only building large enough.

Where is Acton Burnell Castle?

Acton Burnell Castle is near the village of Acton Burnell in Shropshire. The site is reached by a footpath through a small wood, and the castle stands in a lawned setting with trees nearby. Its administrative locality is Acton Burnell.

When was Acton Burnell Castle built?

Acton Burnell Castle was built in the 13th century, with construction dated to 1284. Robert Burnell was granted a royal licence to crenellate and fortify the manor on 28 January 1284. The site's first-raised year is not recorded, but both the described date and century place the surviving manor in the late 13th century.

Which family or clan held Acton Burnell Castle?

Acton Burnell Castle was held first by the Burnell family, with Robert Burnell licensed to crenellate and fortify the manor in 1284. It later came by marriage to the Lovels of Titchmarsh, was confiscated after the Battle of Stoke Field in 1487 and granted to Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk. In the mid-17th century it passed to the Smythe family.

What did Acton Burnell Castle look like in its prime?

Acton Burnell Castle was a rectangular, three-storey fortified manor house built of red sandstone. It had a tower at each corner and a continuous crenellated parapet along the roofline. Tall, narrow pointed-arch window openings and doorways pierced the outer walls, while the adjacent large barn had prominent gable ends.

Is Acton Burnell Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Acton Burnell Castle is a partial ruin, with no roof and most openings empty to the sky. The outer shell of the three-storey manor survives, together with the gable ends of the adjacent barn. Much of the building was destroyed, and by the time it passed to the Smythe family in the mid-17th century, the house had been mostly demolished.

Can you visit Acton Burnell Castle?

Acton Burnell Castle is open to the public. The surviving shell of the former private residence is accessible by a footpath through a small wood, and the site is managed by English Heritage. Public access is to the remaining shell rather than to a complete occupied manor house.

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