Clan Rising
Huntingdon Castle today

England · Ruin

Huntingdon Castle

Huntingdon Castle was a Norman motte-and-bailey castle sited in the town of Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. Nothing of the medieval buildings survives above ground today; the location is preserved as scheduled earthworks on a grassy mound in a public park.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1170

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1170

What Huntingdon Castle looked like in its prime.

A broad, rounded motte rises from a gently sloping public green, its summit and surrounding bailey expressed as low grassy banks and hollows rather than masonry. At its prime the motte would have been crowned by timber defensive works and surrounded by a continuous wooden palisade and outer enclosure; the overall profile is a dominant earthen mound set within a ring of lower embankments and flat bailey ground, tree belts framing the site.

Its story

The story of Huntingdon Castle.

Huntingdon Castle was a Norman motte-and-bailey castle in the town of Huntingdon. During the Anarchy it was held by David, King of Scotland, through his marriage to Maud, 2nd Countess of Huntingdon, and by 1173 it remained with the Scottish kings, by then William the Lion.

Parts of the castle survived for a time, including the chapel, and its ownership passed through a number of hands. Nothing of the medieval buildings stands above ground today; the site is preserved as scheduled earthworks on a grassy mound in a public park.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1170.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Huntingdon Castle, including 1 interior: site of the chapel within the castle. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Park approach looking up to the motteSummit of the motte (top of the mound)Inner bailey interiorMain gate through the palisadeSite of the chapel within the castleFoot of the motte and surrounding earthworks

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The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1170, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Huntingdon Castle.

Royal Air Force Station Alconbury, EnglandMilitary baseRoyal Air Force Station Alconbury6 km awayKing's College Chapel, EnglandChurchKing's College Chapel24 km awayMathematical Bridge, EnglandBridgeMathematical Bridge24 km away

Questions about Huntingdon Castle

What is the history of Huntingdon Castle?

Huntingdon Castle began in the 11th century as a Norman motte-and-bailey castle built for William the Conqueror. During the Anarchy, David, King of Scotland, held it through his marriage to Maud, 2nd Countess of Huntingdon. In 1173, after a siege, Henry II ordered the castle dismantled.

What is inside Huntingdon Castle?

Huntingdon Castle has the site of a chapel among its documented interior features. The medieval buildings no longer stand above ground, so there are no surviving rooms or complete interiors to see. The chapel itself is mentioned as having survived for a time, but its present fabric is not described.

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

Huntingdon Castle was built as a Norman motte-and-bailey defensive stronghold. Its later uses included service as the county gaol, while a windmill subsequently stood on the castle mound. The castle was also refortified during the Civil War, showing that its military role was revived for a time.

Where is Huntingdon Castle?

Huntingdon Castle is in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England. It was sited in the town of Huntingdon and is now preserved on a grassy mound in a public park. The site is expressed as earthworks rather than standing medieval buildings.

When was Huntingdon Castle built?

Huntingdon Castle belongs to the 11th century, although its first-raised year is not recorded. The English account gives 1068 for the construction of a Norman motte-and-bailey castle. This places its construction in the 11th century rather than providing a conflicting exact date.

Was Huntingdon Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Huntingdon Castle was besieged in 1173 by Richard de Luci, with the siege later taken over by Simon de St. Lis. It ended after Henry II arrived at Huntingdon, and the castle fell into dismantling the following day on his orders. The palisade was dismantled at a recorded cost of 7s 8d.

What did Huntingdon Castle look like in its prime?

At its prime, Huntingdon Castle was dominated by a broad, rounded earthen motte rising from a gently sloping public green. Timber defensive works crowned the mound, with a continuous wooden palisade, outer enclosure, lower embankments and flat bailey ground. Tree belts framed the site.

Is Huntingdon Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Huntingdon Castle is a ruin, with nothing of its medieval buildings surviving above ground. Its remains are preserved as scheduled earthworks on a grassy mound in a public park. Low grassy banks, hollows and the castle’s earthworks survive, while the former masonry and timber defences do not.

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