Clan Rising
Trowbridge Castle today

England · Partial ruin

Trowbridge Castle

Trowbridge Castle was a medieval motte-and-bailey castle in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. Very little survives today beyond an earthwork ditch and a fragment of medieval wall discovered in the 20th century; the site has been built over by the later town.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1139

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 1139

What Trowbridge Castle looked like in its prime.

A compact motte-and-bailey ensemble: a raised earthen motte topped by a timber palisade and a small timber keep, with an adjacent enclosed bailey of clustered timber domestic and service buildings. The bailey is ringed by a defensive ditch that runs along what is now Fore Street, and at least one low stone curtain runs along the bailey edge. The whole complex sits within the medieval town, the motte dominating the surrounding streets.

Its story

The story of Trowbridge Castle.

Trowbridge Castle was most likely built by Humphrey I de Bohun in the early 1100s, before his death around 1123, and is thought to have been a motte-and-bailey castle. Writing in 1670, Aubrey referred to it as a "ruinated castle of the Dukes of Lancaster".

Though the castle itself has vanished beneath the later town, its influence still shapes Trowbridge: Fore Street follows the path of the castle ditch, and the town keeps a Castle Street and the Castle Place Shopping Centre. The only surviving remains are the ditch along Fore Street and a possible fragment of curtain wall found in 1986.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1139.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Trowbridge Castle, including 1 interior: former anglo-saxon church inside 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.

Approach from Fore Street (ditch)Motte summit with timber keepBailey yard and domestic rangeFormer Anglo-Saxon church inside the castleOuter curtain wall near Court StreetCastle precinct burial ground

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Recreate Trowbridge Castle with AI to explore it.

The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1139, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Whose castle

Clans who held Trowbridge Castle.

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

  • de Bohun

    Most likely built by Humphrey I de Bohun in the early 1100s.

  • Lancaster

    Described by Aubrey in 1670 as a "ruinated castle of the Dukes of Lancaster".

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Trowbridge Castle.

Bath Abbey, EnglandTempleBath Abbey13 km awayRoman Baths, EnglandAncient siteRoman Baths13 km awayLittle Solsbury Hill, EnglandFortressLittle Solsbury Hill13 km away

Questions about Trowbridge Castle

What is the history of Trowbridge Castle?

Trowbridge Castle was most likely built in the early 1100s as a motte-and-bailey castle. Humphrey I de Bohun probably raised it before his death around 1123. By 1670, Aubrey described it as a “ruinated castle of the Dukes of Lancaster”. The castle later disappeared beneath the town, although its ditch and a possible curtain-wall fragment remain.

What is inside Trowbridge Castle?

The only documented interior of Trowbridge Castle is a former Anglo-Saxon church inside the castle. Very little of the castle survives today, so the known interior evidence is limited to this church. The remaining visible features are mainly earthworks and a possible fragment of medieval wall.

Who built Trowbridge Castle?

Trowbridge Castle was most likely built by Humphrey I de Bohun in the early 1100s. The castle was a motte-and-bailey complex, with a raised motte, timber palisade, small timber keep, enclosed bailey and defensive ditch. Its ditch and possible curtain wall formed part of the castle’s defensive layout.

When was Trowbridge Castle built?

Trowbridge Castle was most likely first raised in the early 1100s. The exact year is not recorded, but the site’s prime year is 1139. It was a motte-and-bailey castle, with a raised motte and an adjoining bailey enclosed by defensive works.

Where is Trowbridge Castle?

Trowbridge Castle stood in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, within the medieval town. Its former ditch followed the path of what is now Fore Street, while Castle Street and the Castle Place Shopping Centre preserve the castle’s influence in the modern town. The site is in England.

What did Trowbridge Castle look like in its prime?

Trowbridge Castle was a compact motte-and-bailey complex. A raised earthen motte carried a timber palisade and small timber keep, while the adjacent bailey contained clustered timber domestic and service buildings. A defensive ditch ringed the bailey, and at least one low stone curtain ran along its edge.

Is Trowbridge Castle still standing?

Trowbridge Castle is now a partial ruin, with very little surviving above ground. The later town has been built over the castle, leaving an earthwork ditch along Fore Street and a possible fragment of curtain wall found in 1986. The motte-and-bailey buildings themselves have vanished.

Which family or clan held Trowbridge Castle?

Trowbridge Castle was associated with the de Bohun family and later with Lancaster. Humphrey I de Bohun most likely built it in the early 1100s, while Aubrey described it in 1670 as a “ruinated castle of the Dukes of Lancaster”.

Was Trowbridge Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Trowbridge Castle was associated with a siege and slighting. No date, attacker, or outcome is provided for the siege, so the available evidence does not establish when it was attacked or whether it fell.

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