Clan Rising
Barnwell Castle today

England · Ruin

Barnwell Castle

Barnwell Castle is a 13th-century stone castle near the village of Barnwell in Northamptonshire. The quadrilateral castle retains substantial curtain walls and corner towers and is a protected Grade I listed Scheduled Ancient Monument. It stands on private land south of Oundle and survives today as a ruin.

Recreate this castle →Defend this castle →

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1265

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1265

What Barnwell Castle looked like in its prime.

A quadrilateral stone castle of mid-13th century form with high, thick coursed-masonry curtain walls reaching about 30 feet above ground and over 12 feet thick at the base. Three prominent cylindrical towers occupy the northeast, northwest and southwest corners, while the southeast corner is dominated by a twin-towered gatehouse set into the curtain wall. The masonry is pale local stone, the silhouette a compact square of towers and straight wall faces, set against open countryside with a tree-lined approach.

Its story

The story of Barnwell Castle.

A motte-and-bailey castle was erected at Barnwell in 1132. The stone castle followed in the reign of Henry III, built by the family of Berengar Le Moyne at the time of the Second Barons' War of 1264–67. It is quadrilateral, with cylindrical towers on the northeast, northwest and southwest corners and a twin-towered gatehouse on the southeast.

In the English Civil War the castle was used by its owner, Sir Edward Montagu, as an arsenal for the Royalist cause, and after the war the Montagu family built a substantial manor house, Barnwell Manor, nearby. Substantial parts of the castle remain, walls up to 30 feet high and over 12 feet thick, and the ruin is Grade I listed, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, and under private ownership.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1265.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Barnwell Castle, including 1 interior: gatehouse passage (interior). 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 country laneSoutheast twin-towered gatehouse (exterior)Gatehouse passage (interior)Top of the curtain wall and battlementsInner courtyard / wardNortheast cylindrical tower (exterior)Northwest cylindrical tower (exterior)Southwest cylindrical tower (exterior)

Build Your Own Castle

Recreate Barnwell Castle with AI to explore it.

The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1265, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

Recreate this castle →Defend this castle →

Whose castle

Clans who held Barnwell Castle.

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

  • Le Moyne

    The stone castle was built by the family of Berengar Le Moyne during the Second Barons' War, 1264–67.

  • Montagu

    Held by the Montagus; Sir Edward Montagu used the castle as a Royalist arsenal in the Civil War.

From the archive

Barnwell Castle on paper: the measured plan and period views.

The survey plan and photographs below are the ground truth this page's reconstructions are checked against, drawn and photographed while the castle was still a working garrison. Every image is public-domain or openly licensed, with its source named.

BARNWELL ST. ANDREWS, Barnwell Castle

BARNWELL ST. ANDREWS

1897 · J. D. Mackenzie, The Castles of England, vol. 1 (1897)

Public domain

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Barnwell Castle.

Royal Air Force Station Alconbury, EnglandMilitary baseRoyal Air Force Station Alconbury18 km awayPeterborough Cathedral, EnglandCathedralPeterborough Cathedral20 km awayBurghley House, EnglandMuseumBurghley House21 km away

Questions about Barnwell Castle

What is the history of Barnwell Castle?

Barnwell Castle has a history beginning with a motte-and-bailey castle erected in 1132, followed by the stone castle in the 13th century during Henry III’s reign and the Second Barons’ War of 1264–67. Sir Edward Montagu later used it as a Royalist arsenal during the English Civil War. After the war, the Montagu family built Barnwell Manor nearby.

What is inside Barnwell Castle?

The documented interior of Barnwell Castle is the gatehouse passage. The site also identifies the inner courtyard or ward, the curtain-wall top and battlements, and the three corner towers as points of interest, but these are described as exterior or open spaces rather than rooms.

Who owns Barnwell Castle now?

Barnwell Castle is owned by the Duke of Gloucester. It is also a Grade I listed building and a scheduled monument, with the Grade I designation recorded since 1988. These heritage designations describe its protected status rather than changing its ownership.

Where is Barnwell Castle?

Barnwell Castle is near Oundle in Northamptonshire, south of Oundle and north of the village of Barnwell. It stands in the Barnwell area, with the castle set on private land in the countryside.

When was Barnwell Castle built?

Barnwell Castle was built in phases: a motte-and-bailey castle was erected in 1132, while the stone castle followed in the 13th century during Henry III’s reign. The site’s prime date is 1265, within the period of the Second Barons’ War.

Which family or clan held Barnwell Castle?

Barnwell Castle was held by the Le Moyne family and later by the Montagu family. The stone castle was built by the family of Berengar Le Moyne during the Second Barons’ War, while Sir Edward Montagu used it as a Royalist arsenal during the English Civil War.

What did Barnwell Castle look like in its prime?

Barnwell Castle was built as a quadrilateral stone castle with high, thick coursed-masonry curtain walls and a compact square silhouette. Cylindrical towers stood at the northeast, northwest and southwest corners, while a twin-towered gatehouse occupied the southeast corner. The masonry was pale local stone, with walls about 30 feet high and over 12 feet thick at the base.

Is Barnwell Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Barnwell Castle survives today as a ruin, although substantial parts remain. Its quadrilateral curtain walls and corner towers are still standing, with walls up to 30 feet high and over 12 feet thick. The castle is under private ownership and is a protected Grade I listed Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Who built Barnwell Castle?

Barnwell Castle was built by the family of Berengar Le Moyne during the reign of Henry III. The supplied material does not name an individual architect or distinguish one from the family responsible for building the stone castle.

More castles of England

Somerton Castle, EnglandSomerton CastleCoventry Castle, EnglandCoventry CastleSandown Castle, EnglandSandown Castle
All castles of England · Castles of Europe · the best castles in Europe · explore the finished reconstructions.