Clan Rising
Caludon Castle today

England · Ruin

Caludon Castle

Caludon Castle is a medieval site east of Coventry whose only standing above-ground remnant is a large fragment of a sandstone wall. The estate occupies a park today; archaeological surveys have revealed the foundations of a large hall and buried remains of the manor complex and moat. The visible wall fragment dates to the 14th century and the site has scheduled ancient monument and Grade I listed status.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1354

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1354

What Caludon Castle looked like in its prime.

An oval medieval enclosure surrounded by a stone curtain wall and a water-filled moat, entered from the east by a gatehouse and bridge; the curtain is punctuated by regularly spaced towers and a crenellated parapet. Construction is primarily grey sandstone with contrasting red sandstone dressings around window openings and corners. A large rectangular great hall lies on the north–northwest side within the enclosure; service buildings cluster to the south and east. The setting is parkland with external farmyards beyond the outer moat.

Its story

The story of Caludon Castle.

A house stood at Caludon before the Norman conquest, after which it became the property of the Earls of Chester. Around 1232 Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester, gave it to Stephen de Segrave, Chief Justiciar of England; first described as a manor in 1239, it was then the only permanent nobleman's residence in Coventry. John de Segrave's licence to crenellate from Edward I in 1305 saw the house restyled as a castle, and a second licence in 1354 brought another rebuilding.

In the second half of the 14th century Caludon passed to Thomas de Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk, whose accusation of treason against Henry Bolingbroke in 1398 ended in his banishment, after which the castle fell into disrepair. His son John inherited it, and the Mowbrays held Caludon until 1481, when it passed to William de Berkeley, 1st Marquess of Berkeley; around 1580 it was rebuilt as a mansion.

The castle was all but destroyed in 1662 and lay in ruins until 1800, when its remains went into a farmhouse on the site. The estate was divided and largely sold in 1815, and after the First World War the Coventry Corporation bought most of the land for housing. Today a single large fragment of sandstone wall stands in an urban park run by Coventry City Council.

Step inside

10 places to explore in 1354.

The record describes 10 distinct spots at Caludon Castle, including 5 interiors: great hall (33 x 13 m), north range / living quarters, kitchens and service yard (south-east) 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 east gate and bridgeCurtain wall with towers and battlementsEast-facing great chamber wall with traceried windowsGreat hall (33 x 13 m)North range / living quartersKitchens and service yard (south-east)ChapelUndercroft beneath the great windowsCurtain walk and battlementsMoated farm enclosure (190 m south)

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Whose castle

Clans who held Caludon Castle.

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

  • Segrave

    Given to Stephen de Segrave c.1232 and held by the Segraves, who crenellated it as a castle under licences of 1305 and 1354, until the second half of the 14th century.

  • Mowbray

    Held from the later 14th century by Thomas de Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk, and his heirs until 1481, when it passed to William de Berkeley, 1st Marquess of Berkeley.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Caludon Castle.

Coventry Cathedral, EnglandCathedralCoventry Cathedral4 km awayCoventry Building Society Arena, EnglandStadiumCoventry Building Society Arena4 km awaySt Andrew's, EnglandStadiumSt Andrew's29 km away

Questions about Caludon Castle

What is the history of Caludon Castle?

Caludon Castle’s history begins with a house occupied before the Norman conquest, which became a manor and then a castle in the 13th and 14th centuries. Stephen de Segrave received it around 1232, and licences to crenellate in 1305 and 1354 led to rebuilding. It later passed to the Mowbrays and Berkeleys, was rebuilt as a mansion around 1580, badly damaged in 1662, and became a ruin.

What is inside Caludon Castle?

Caludon Castle contains documented remains of a great hall measuring 33 by 13 metres, north-range living quarters, kitchens and a service yard, a chapel, and an undercroft beneath the great windows. Archaeological surveys found the foundations and buried remains rather than complete rooms. The surviving wall includes two large tracery windows and two smaller windows associated with the undercroft.

Who owns Caludon Castle now?

Caludon Castle is owned and managed by Coventry City Council as part of an urban park. Much of the former estate was sold and developed into housing estates, while the surviving wall is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and has had Grade I listed building status since 1955. The park is called Caludon Castle Park.

Why was Caludon Castle built, and what was it used for?

Caludon Castle began as a noble residence and manor before being restyled as a castle for status and fortified protection. John de Segrave received a licence in 1305 to crenellate the property and build a moat and wall, and another licence in 1354 led to further rebuilding. Around 1580 it was converted into a mansion, changing its use from castle residence to country house.

Where is Caludon Castle?

Caludon Castle is in Wyken, east of Coventry city centre. Its remains stand in an urban park, and the former estate extended across the area towards the River Sowe and Stoke Heath. A separate medieval moated site lies 190 metres south of the castle.

When was Caludon Castle built?

Caludon Castle was built in stages rather than in a single year. The site was occupied before the Norman conquest, was first described as a manor in 1239, and was restyled as a castle under a licence to crenellate in 1305. Further rebuilding took place in 1354, so its castle form belongs chiefly to the 14th century.

Was Caludon Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Caludon Castle was attacked and badly damaged in 1662, when King Charles II took revenge on Coventry for its strongly parliamentarian sympathies during the English Civil War. The castle did not recover from this assault: it was all but destroyed and remained in ruins until 1800, when its remains were used to build a farmhouse.

Which family or clan held Caludon Castle?

Caludon Castle was held by the Segrave family from around 1232 until the second half of the 14th century. It then passed to Thomas de Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk, and his heirs, who held it until 1481. William de Berkeley, 1st Marquess of Berkeley, took possession after the Mowbray succession ended.

What did Caludon Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Caludon Castle was an oval medieval enclosure with a grey sandstone curtain wall, regularly spaced towers, battlements and a water-filled moat. An east gatehouse and bridge formed the entrance. Red sandstone dressings contrasted with the grey wall around window openings and corners, while a large rectangular great hall stood on the north–northwest side.

Is Caludon Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Caludon Castle is a ruin, and only a large fragment of sandstone wall survives above ground. The wall fragment is thought to date from the 14th century, probably the rebuilding of 1354, and contains two large tracery windows with red sandstone decoration. The moat is now dry and partly filled in, although parts and other earthworks remain visible.

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