Day 5 - Sible Hedingham - 12 September 2024

We have been to Sible Hedingham and Castle Hedingham many times and the castle has always been closed. Today, we are able to see through it. Tim and Angela have a friend who is a volunteer guide at the castle, and he has very kindly offered to take us through.  He has approval and we have to be there mid-morning.  

So, after another breakfast watching the wildlife in the garden, we were off to the castle.  We met Andy at the carpark and walked up to the castle over an amazing brick bridge.

The Castle

The bridge

The castle was built in 1140 and would then have been surrounded by houses, stables and other buildings.  The remaining building is actually a "Keep" where the family would fend of attackers. The castle did not have a moat, only a deep trench.  

Andy explained things really well and we were able to appreciate how life was for the gentry hundreds of years ago.  People arrived at the castle to pay taxes. I wondered what people would have thought to travel from their very humble house to a castle to then hand over money that they had earned from hard labour.  That is how it was at that time.

The castle has the effect of making you feel insignificant.  The main floor is huge.  There is a fireplace at one end and the Earl of Oxford, Aubrey De Veer, sat at the table directly in front.  People would then meet him at the table and the taxman would take the dues.

The main floor with the fireplace and table

The castle has examples of how knights lived and also how they prepared for battle. They have examples of helmets, chain mail, swords and shields.  The armour weighed about 40 lbs (20 kg) which is a huge additional weight.

Don with helmet, sword and shield

I found it interesting that musicians and artists actually performed on the next floor so that everyone could see them.  They did not perform on the main floor.  The nest level is actually a walkway around the floor and during wet weather, that is where the ladies got their exercise.

The history of the Keep is fascinating.  King Heny VII and VIII visited Hedingham Castle as did Queen Elizabeth I.  In 1918, the army was posted there and after lighting a stove on the roof to keep warm, set fire to the castle.  Fortunately, the main structure remained standing and could be repaired. 

The banquet hall with the table and fire

Many of the masons who built the castle were from Europe and they all had their own "mark". Throughout the castle, Masons' Marks can be found. There is so much history.

There are a lot of people who hire the castle for their wedding.  Apparently, there are on average, two weddings a week at the castle. The top level is where the servants would live and that has a section converted to a "honeymoon suite" that can be rented at 475 pounds a night. There is a four-poster bed, and all facilities.  I think that it would be very popular.

What an amazing bed

There is a bath in that

The grounds are amazing and, like all English gardens, are so green and lush. They seem to go on forever.

The garden looking from the castle

It took two hours to go through the castle.  It was really interesting.  We headed back to Tima and Angela's place for lunch and then took a walk around the local area, stopping to sample the blackberries and apples on the way.  They definitely taste better straight from the vine.  The countryside is beautiful and very different from Australia.

On the walk

It is beautiful walking around the English countryside.  We arrived back just in time to get ready for dinner at the Bell Inn in Castle Hedingham. Andy was to join us.

Well, there is nothing that would properly explain the atmosphere of "The Bell".  It is a typical, old English pub with many regulars.  The meal was just superb and the beer was outstanding.  We all stayed for hours.

The bar in The Bell

 Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the night and we left The Bell very late.  What a perfect way to end a day.