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.

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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.

Berengar Le Moyne's Stone Castle, 1132–1267

A motte-and-bailey castle was raised at Barnwell in 1132, on ground in Northamptonshire south of Oundle. The stone castle was built in the reign of Henry III by the family of Berengar Le Moyne, at the time of the Second Barons' War of 1264–67. It was laid out as a quadrilateral, with cylindrical towers at the north-east, north-west and south-west corners and a twin-towered gatehouse at the south-east.

Sir Edward Montagu's Arsenal in the Civil War

In the English Civil War the castle served its owner, Sir Edward Montagu, as an arsenal for the Royal cause. After the war the Montagu family built a substantial manor house, Barnwell Manor, near the castle.

Grade I Listed Since 1988

Substantial parts of the castle survive, its walls standing up to 30 feet (9 m) high and over 12 feet (4 m) thick. English Heritage has designated the ruin a Grade I listed building, a status held since January 1988, and it is also a Scheduled Ancient Monument. It remains in private ownership, held by the Duke of Gloucester.

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)

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Recreate Barnwell Castle with AI to explore it.

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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 record does not name an individual architect or distinguish one from the family responsible for building the stone castle.

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