Faringdon Castle
Faringdon Castle was a short-lived Norman fortification built in 1144 on Folly Hill just outside the market town of Faringdon by Robert, Earl of Gloucester during the civil war known as the Anarchy. It was besieged by King Stephen's forces and surrendered after four days; the castle was destroyed within a year or two. The site later became the location of a 20th-century brick folly tower.
Its prime
1144
Today
Demolished
As it stood in 1144
What Faringdon Castle looked like in its prime.
Perched on Folly Hill, the castle at its prime is a compact hilltop stronghold defined by a continuous earthen rampart faced by a timber stockade and palisade; a single timber gate provides the only entrance. Inside are clustered wooden buildings and soldiers' tents, wooden walkways and watch platforms built on the stockade, and a cleared interior space for the garrison. The hill drops to open farmland with the town of Faringdon visible below; the fortification is intact and actively manned.
Its story
The story of Faringdon Castle.
Faringdon Castle was built in 1144, on the site now known as Folly Hill, by Robert, Earl of Gloucester in support of Matilda during the Anarchy. The contemporary Gesta Stephani records it "strongly fortified by a rampart and stockade", garrisoned with "the flower of his whole army" to restrain the king's soldiers who had been raiding out of Oxford and the castles round about.
A few weeks after it was built the castle was besieged by Stephen, and after four days the castellan, Brian De Soulis, surrendered; the castle was destroyed within a year or two. In the 1930s Lord Berners built the 104-foot brick tower known as Faringdon Folly on the site, and the story of the castle and Brian de Soulis figures in Ellis Peters's last Cadfael chronicle, Brother Cadfael's Penance.
Step inside
6 places to explore in 1144.
The record describes 6 distinct spots at Faringdon Castle — including 1 interior: interior enclosed by the rampart and stockade. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.
Create History
Recreate Faringdon Castle with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1144 — a photoreal walk that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
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