Return to Gresham Castle & Moat, Abandoned since 1471, Miniature Lost World in the Middle of a Field
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ม.ค. 2025
- Gresham Castle was given license to be fortified in 1318 by Edward II. The new fortified walls and corner towers protected a large manor house within. In 1427 it was purchased by William Paston but the family came into dispute with Lord Moleyns who claimed half of the site as his own. After William Paston passed away the castle was inherited by his son John but the disagreements over legal ownership continued. In 1448 Lord Moleyns marched upon the castle with one thousand men, ejected the Pastons and then garrisoned the site against attack. By the time the Pastons reclaimed the castle after petitioning the king (a year later) it had been looted and left in a very poor condition, unfit for habitation. John Paston died in 1466 and the castle was passed down to his son (also called John). In 1471 plans were drawn up to rebuild the castle but these planned repairs were never carried out. The site has now been abandoned for 550 years. With the surrounding moat preventing access the old castle site is virtually impenetrable being overgrown in a thick vegetation of bushes, brambles and trees. The remains of two corner towers on the west elevation can be seen. Large timbres from the old drawbridge and the keel of a boat were discovered when the moat was cleaned out in 1846. Further excavations in 1846 found the entrance to an underground tunnel / subterranean passage. It has been theorised a secret tunnel once lead from underneath the castle to nearby Aylmerton Cross (a marker for pilgrims on route to Walsingham Shrine) and onto the 13th century ruins of Beeston Regis Priory. Local folklore tells of a legendary “golden calf” being hidden inside this tunnel. Many religious relics and priceless artefacts were hidden from Henry VIII and his men in the Dissolution of the Monasteries period to prevent them being stolen and monetised. Interestingly when a lady in Gresham (nearly 200 years ago) discovered a sunken pit in her cellar she was advised to excavate in an attempt to find the “golden calf”. However when the excavators began to undermine the adjoining property the excavations ceased and the elusive “golden calf” remains unfound.
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Fascinating. It's amazing to think there was once a castle and moat at that spot which is now overtaken by nature. The tunnels were an interesting discovery and the legend of a "golden calf" hidden somewhere inside the tunnel is intriguing. I really enjoyed your video and loved learning about the history of the castle and its inhabitants 😊
Thanks so much for leaving such a nice comment. It’s a mystical place - love the way it’s just been left alone for over 500 years and nature has reclaimed the site. Pleased you enjoyed the video and thanks again for tuning in - always appreciated 🙂
Amazing music 😊
Thank-you for tuning in - appreciate the comments 🙂
@Haunted and Abandoned Norfolk What is the song and artist, please?
really enjoyed this with my tea debs xx
Thanks very much and really appreciate the comments 🙂
@@HauntedandAbandonedNorfolk my pleasure you have a lovely channel debs xx
Thank-you 🙂
Always find your productions to be wonderfully compiled, well filmed and very atmospheric.
Of course, being a Norfolkman born and bred, I am a degree biased in relation to your chosen subject matter. 😛
Must also comment on your choice of music, invariably excellent.
With appreciative thanks for your endeavours,
regards, from a new subscriber.
Thank-you so much for the kind comments. There are plenty of new locations I’ll be visiting all across Norfolk in the following weeks and months. Norfolk is a wonderful county, particularly the more remote parts which have been fortunate to survive relatively unchanged through the years. Thanks again for tuning in and subscribing, it really is much appreciated 🙂
@@HauntedandAbandonedNorfolk :
It may be difficult, but have you considered approaching the MOD in relation to visiting the Stanford training area between Croxton and Watton ?
One side of my father's family originated from the Tottington/Stanford/ West Tofts area and were all evacuated during WW2, never to be allowed to return. It's one of THE most environmentally untouched areas of not only Norfolk, but Britain as a whole.
There's stately homes on it in ruins (one of which, Stanford Hall, Edward VII frequently used to covertly 'entertain' the notorious Lilly Langtree). There are also several churches (in which graveyards several of my ancestors are interred) and entire villages left as 'ghost towns'.
Maybe worth a try as it's totally and utterly surreal to visit.
Cheers !
I have considered trying to get permission to visit Stanford as it is a really fascinating place but access is seldom authorised - I’ll keep listening out for any open days 🙂
Beautiful. Amazing how it has been in ruins since the 1400s but some of it still survives. It must be an oasis of wildlife.
Hi thanks for commenting - it was an amazing place to explore - incredible it has been left relatively undisturbed for so long :)
Is this easy access to walk around?great filming
Cheers Stephen - the drone certainly helped and gave some perspective of the site 🙂
Kings & Queens of England since 1066.
Our Longest Regining Monarch.
John Padton d 1466 is my 16th great grandfather
How interesting! Thanks for sharing Sylvia 🙂
Interesting... just stop calling it overgrowth. People overgrow. Nature belongs there and is doing what it’s meant to.
True Cassandra - Mother Nature well and truly reclaimed this site - thanks for commenting 🙂
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