Clan Rising
Gresham Castle today

England · Partial ruin

Gresham Castle

Gresham Castle is a medieval fortified manor house site south of the village of Gresham in Norfolk, England. Licensed to be crenellated in 1318, it passed through several owners in the 15th century and was later abandoned and left to decay. The site today survives as an overgrown rectangular earth-and-stone platform surrounded by a water-filled moat with fragmentary tower revetments and low curtain wall remains.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1318

Its prime

1318

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 1318

What Gresham Castle looked like in its prime.

Rectangular fortified manor platform set within a broad water-filled moat, with a pronounced rounded projection at the north-west corner suggesting a large tower or keep. Round towers roughly 35 feet in diameter stood at angles; the west side shows the revetments of two unequal corner towers and a short stretch of curtain wall rising only a few feet. The south-east tower projects forward of the platform line. In prime condition the moat is full, the curtain walls reach battlement height, and trees have not yet overgrown the interior.

Its story

The story of Gresham Castle.

Sir Edmund Bacon received a licence to crenellate his manor house at Gresham in 1318, making it one of a group of late castles fortified or built along the east coast alongside Baconsthorpe, Caister, Claxton and Mettingham. The result was a rectangular moated platform with round towers 35 feet in diameter, its waters fed from Gur Beck.

In 1427 the lawyer William Paston bought the castle and manor from Thomas Chaucer of Ewelme and Sir William Moleyns, who each owned half, adding to his already large Norfolk holdings. The purchase was challenged by Robert Hungerford, Lord Moleyns, encouraged by Paston's bitter rival John Haydon of Baconsthorpe Castle; on 17 February 1448 Lord Moleyns' forces entered the fortified manor house and began collecting rent from the tenants, driving John Paston to petition the king.

Later abandoned and left to decay, the site survives as an overgrown platform of roughly 2,844 square yards ringed by a water-filled moat 12–15 feet wide. The revetments of the two western corner towers and a stretch of curtain wall can still be traced among the trees and brambles.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1318.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Gresham Castle, including 2 interiors: base of the large north-west tower (keep), south-east angle tower projecting forward of the platform. 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 across the eastern field toward the moat and curtain wallMoat bank looking at the west elevation and corner tower revetmentsGate with timbered drawbridge and entrance passageCentral platform courtyard inside the curtain wallsBase of the large north-west tower (keep)South-east angle tower projecting forward of the platformMoat bed and service boat alongside the curtain

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Whose castle

Clans who held Gresham Castle.

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

  • Bacon

    Sir Edmund Bacon held the manor and obtained the licence to crenellate of 1318 that created the castle.

  • Paston

    Bought by the lawyer William Paston in 1427 and left to his son John, whose possession Lord Moleyns' men violently contested in 1448.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Gresham Castle.

Blickling Hall, EnglandMuseumBlickling Hall9 km awayHolkham Hall, EnglandMuseumHolkham Hall29 km awayNorwich Cathedral, EnglandCathedralNorwich Cathedral30 km away

Questions about Gresham Castle

What is the history of Gresham Castle?

Gresham Castle has a medieval history as a fortified manor house, licensed to be crenellated in 1318. William Paston bought the castle and manor in 1427, but Lord Moleyns' forces entered it on 17 February 1448 and collected rents from its tenants. After further conflict, the castle was abandoned and no rebuilding proposed in 1471 was carried out.

What is inside Gresham Castle?

Gresham Castle contains the remains of a central platform courtyard and the bases or revetments of its towers. The base of the large north-west tower, which was probably the keep, and the south-east angle tower can be seen among the overgrowth. A former entrance passage and drawbridge were also identified when the moat was cleaned in 1846.

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

Gresham Castle was built as a fortified manor house, licensed to be crenellated in 1318. Its rectangular platform, round towers and water-filled moat provided a defensive setting for the manor. It later served as a contested property of the Paston family, but was eventually abandoned and left to decay rather than being rebuilt.

Where is Gresham Castle?

Gresham Castle is in Norfolk, south of the village of Gresham. It stands in a green field site close to the village, in the north of the English county of Norfolk.

When was Gresham Castle built?

Gresham Castle was built in 1318, making it a fourteenth-century castle. Sir Edmund Bacon received a licence to crenellate his manor house that year, creating the fortified manor house associated with the site.

Was Gresham Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Gresham Castle was attacked by forces led by Lord Moleyns on 17 February 1448. They entered the fortified manor house and began collecting rent from the tenants. Lord Moleyns occupied it again on 28 January with a force of one thousand men, forcibly evicting Margaret Paston and twelve servants; John Paston reclaimed the castle one year later.

Which family or clan held Gresham Castle?

Gresham Castle was held first by Sir Edmund Bacon and later by the Paston family. William Paston bought the manor and castle in 1427 and left it to his son John, whose possession Lord Moleyns' men violently contested in 1448.

What did Gresham Castle look like in its prime?

Gresham Castle was a rectangular fortified manor platform surrounded by a broad water-filled moat. Round towers roughly 35 feet in diameter stood at the angles, including a pronounced north-west projection suggesting a large tower or keep. The curtain walls reached battlement height in prime condition, before trees overgrew the interior.

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

Gresham Castle is now a partial ruin. It survives as an overgrown rectangular earth-and-stone platform surrounded by a water-filled moat, with fragmentary tower revetments and low curtain-wall remains. The western revetments and part of the curtain wall can still be traced among trees and brambles.

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