Hedingham: Inside England's Best Preserved Norman Castle

Hedingham Castle is one of the best-preserved Norman keeps in England, and was constructed around 1140 by Aubrey de Vere III, the first Earl of Oxford. The castle has witnessed key moments in English history, including sieges by King John and Prince Louis of France in the 13th century. Over its centuries of existence, the castle hosted many royal visitors, including King Henry VII, King Henry VIII, and Queen Elizabeth I. During the Tudor period, the De Vere family embellished the estate with a Tudor palace and a brick bridge, but these were later lost to time and demolition. A major fire in 1918 left the keep a burnt-out shell, but it was later rebuilt, securing its preservation. In the 18th century, a separate Georgian mansion was built on the grounds, which became the family's main residence. The De Vere family's long ownership ended in the 18th century, but the castle eventually returned to a distant descendant of the original family.

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