Hedingham Castle

Modern man, accustomed to all the benefits of civilization, it is difficult to imagine the life of the Middle Ages. For a deep dive into history, visit Hedingham Castle in Essex. Behind the high walls of the castle as if time stopped, preserving the sharp aroma of the era of knightly tournaments.

Hedingham Castle was built at the beginning of the XIII century, in the era of William the Conqueror. The location on the hill allowed the castle to occupy a dominant position over the surrounding lands. The first owner was Aubrey de Vere, a Norman baron. Today, the castle is still privately owned - Jason Lindsay and his wife are its full owners.

The castle looks exactly as we imagine medieval fortresses: a harsh stone hromada soars up four tiers, powerful walls do not leave hope for an early victory, narrow loopholes hide in their shadow archers capable of hitting the enemy. It's simple, rigorous, functional. The same, without much frills, was the situation of living quarters. Fireplaces on each tier, narrow windows, almost no light, simple wooden furniture, pieces of leather hanging instead of doors - this was how the inhabitants of the castle lived. Of course, today everything inside looks much brighter and more elegant, but the harsh stone walls and steep stairs keep the spirit of the time.

The owners of the castle offer their “household” for unusual wedding ceremonies and thematic candlelight parties, and the area around the castle is actively used for falconry, archer competitions and costume performances.