Bodiam Castle is a medieval castle that was originally built in the year 1385 and is one of the most well-known and most admired historical castles in England. Its popularity comes not only from its breathtaking scenery- being completely surrounded by its iconic moat and greenery- but also from it’s fascinating history. Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, who was once a knight to King Edward III built the Bodiam Castle. Although, he had been the youngest child in his family and therefore inherited nothing from them he married into a wealthy household and with the land he acquired from them and the money he saved while serving as a knight, Sir Edward eventually created this beautiful historical building that is still admired today. Originally, he had only wanted to build an impressive manor home for his family to live in as well as host an array of fairs and markets. But, as a few years pasted and tensions in England had risen, Sir Edward Dalyngrigge wanted to protect his family and the surrounding inhabitants from the looming dangers of war. His previous knowledge of war and fighting from his years as a knight aided him in his design of the Bodiam Castle, helping to create a safe and secure fortress from what is thought to have been from potential attacks by the French during the Hundred Years War.
While the exterior of the Bodiam Castle is currently in good condition, the interior is in unfortunately in ruins. Although time, weather and other disruptions have caused the walls inside of the castle to crumble it is still good enough to distinguish a rough floor plan that displays how it would’ve looked in the 14th century. As the Bodiam Castle had been continuously passed down throughout the family until there were no longer any surviving members, it came in possession of the Lewknor family through marriage. “During the start of the English Civil War in 1641, the castle was owned by Lord Thanet, a descendant of the Lewknor family. He was a keen supporter of the cause of the Royalists, and he took the decision to sell the castle in order to pay for fines that were brought against him by the Parliament.” (Bodiam Castle, 2018, para.13) This was one of the main causes at the time that led to the destruction of the castle as it was bought and dismantled. After that, it was however on multiple occasions bought and restoration of the ruins was attempted, eventually making its way into the possession of the National Trust in 1925, which has also done some restoration of the historical sight by draining the original water from the moat so that they would add roofs to the towers and gatehouse. While the renovations would not be completely historically accurate and some may believe it ruins a historical sight, I think small things such as adding roofs and draining the original water- which would’ve originally been used for sewage waste- is okay as it helps people more closely and accurately envision what it would’ve actually been like in the 13th-14th century while still realizing that not everything is completely original. I believe it still has the right to be called an authentic historical sight although some altering has been done over time, as people are only trying to preserve what little we have left of these beautiful sights such as the Bodiam Castle. Also, the majority of the structure is original with only slight changes having been made.
Bodiam Castle attracts many people every year that are hoping to gain some perspective, see some history and experience on of the most well-loved castles in England. Bodiam Castle offers many different things to do and experience when visiting, such as guided tours of the castle in which knowledgeable employees recount some insight on the history of the building and how it would’ve been used during the time. They also offer tea rooms, where you can take a break and grab tea and snacks for breakfast or lunch while you’re exploring the castle as well as a gift shop to take home souvenirs or holiday gifts from your excursion. They also offer Bodiam Castle as a wedding venue, allowing for a beautiful backdrop and setting for such a memorable occasion. As well as bat walks in the spring to showcase their wildlife as Bodiam Castle is one of the largest bat roosts in south-east England.
This sight definitely encourages and supports the tourism industry in England as it offers tourists and locals a chance to experience and see a historical building from the Middle Ages, but also gives them many other things to do while not just looking at the ruins of the castle. While I do think that the added gift shop and café quite possibly ruin the historical feel of the castle I understand that to many people visiting, that these added features would be a huge contributor to their tourism success, as it would draw in children and adults alike. I think another thing that may really draw people into going to see that castle is that it was the location that many different successful movies were set, such as Monty Python, The Adventures of Robin Hood and Robin of Sherwood. Fans of the movies, could very easily be drawn to the castle as it would be interesting to see were these movies were shot. After really learning about the history and the beautiful scenery of the Bodiam Castle, although still in ruins, I would still love to go and experience it as it showcases a lot of history, architecture of the time and beautiful views. I think it would be a great day trip to experience with family, friends or even alone just to experience a great piece of history.
While reading many reviews of the historical sight, I discovered that the majority of people were very pleased with their experiences, with some even calling it “magical” and “romantic”, while others claim to not be as interested in ruined castles. Micheal Busser, wrote an article that described some of the events that took place in the castle that were amusing and an interesting way to learn about the history of the castle through a game sort of similar to that of a scavenger hunt that is narrated by Sir Edward Dalyngrigges daughter. He believes that it was an interesting way to learn about the history of the site and engage visitors. Another reviewer of the castle thought that it was an excellent attraction for all ages as it features videos, enthusiastic staff, who were more than willing to share their knowledge of the time and structure. She also said that it included many different kinds of features such as videos, that helped them to really understand and therefor enhanced their experience at the Bodiam Castle and what it would’ve been like.
Bodiam Castle is definitely a historical sight in England that I would really love to see one day especially after learning about the history of the castle, peoples review of it and the experiences offered there. With my new-found knowledge of the Middle Ages I think it would really enhance my experience of the historical sight and would make a great memory.