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Waytemore Castle today

England · Ruin

Waytemore Castle

Waytemore Castle is a ruined motte-and-bailey castle in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire. Founded in the Norman period with a later rectangular stone keep and curtain wall, it was improved in the medieval period and slighted after the Civil War; today only the large motte and foundations of the square tower remain.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1350

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1350

What Waytemore Castle looked like in its prime.

A high, steep grassy motte rises from a flat town park, its summit ringed by the remains of a very thick flint-and-rubble curtain wall with crenellations. Within that wall stood a rectangular stone keep about 18–21 m high whose three straight faces and convex northern end were bonded with flint, rubble and occasional Roman brick and medieval tile and whose exterior was probably whitewashed; the motte was originally surrounded by a water-filled moat and lay in the valley above a river crossing.

Its story

The story of Waytemore Castle.

Waytemore began as a motte-and-bailey castle in the time of William the Conqueror, in what is now Bishop's Stortford. A rectangular great tower was added on the motte in the 12th century, the castle was improved in the 13th during the reign of King John, and a licence to crenellate was granted in the mid-14th century.

This was a bishops' castle, and it met a harder fate than most: while other castles held by bishops were simply confiscated, the castle at Bishop's Stortford was demolished. Slighted after the Civil War and used as a prison in the 17th century, it survives as a Grade I listed monument, the large motte, earthworks and the foundations of a square tower.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1350.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Waytemore Castle, including 1 interior: keep interior with south-west well. 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 the town greenBase of the motte, looking upOutside the summit curtain wallFrom the top of the keepKeep interior with south-west wellAcross the moat to the baileyClose-up of summit foundations

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The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1350, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Waytemore Castle.

Audley End House, EnglandMuseumAudley End House17 km awayImperial War Museum Duxford, EnglandMuseumImperial War Museum Duxford25 km awayTheobalds House, EnglandPalaceTheobalds House25 km away

Questions about Waytemore Castle

What is the history of Waytemore Castle?

Waytemore Castle began as a Norman motte-and-bailey castle in the time of William the Conqueror, positioned in the valley to command an important river crossing. A rectangular great tower was added in the 12th century, and the castle was improved in the 13th century during King John’s reign. It was slighted after the Civil War and used as a prison in the 17th century.

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

Waytemore Castle was built as a motte-and-bailey fortress to command an important river crossing and demonstrate Norman power. Its summit was protected by a curtain wall and later a stone keep. In the 17th century, after it had been slighted, it was used as a prison.

Where is Waytemore Castle?

Waytemore Castle is in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire. It stands in the town, in the valley above a river crossing, and is located in Bishop's Stortford.

When was Waytemore Castle built?

Waytemore Castle was built in phases from the Norman period onwards, rather than in a single recorded year. It began as a motte-and-bailey castle in the time of William the Conqueror, with a rectangular great tower added in the 12th century and improvements in the 13th century. A licence to crenellate was granted in the mid-14th century.

What did Waytemore Castle look like in its prime?

Waytemore Castle in its prime had a high, steep grassy motte surrounded by a water-filled moat. A thick flint-and-rubble curtain wall ringed the summit, while a rectangular stone keep about 18–21 metres high stood within it. The keep had three straight faces, a convex northern end, occasional Roman brick and medieval tile, and was probably whitewashed.

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

Waytemore Castle is now a ruin, with only the large motte, earthworks and foundations of a square tower surviving. The summit wall remains in part, and the original well in the keep’s south-west corner is covered by a large steel plate. It survives as a Grade I listed monument.

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