Framlingham Castle: Explore Roger Bigod's Keepless Castle in Suffolk, England
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ย. 2024
- Mom and I went to Framlingham for the Church of St. Michael to see the Howard Monuments. As we drove through the town we saw signs about castle parking. We didn't even know there was a castle in Framlingham. It was not easy to find due to regulations (the parking lot is next to a restaurant). This is where we first heard of the English Heritage Overseas Visitor Pass (OVP).
In the late 11th century Roger Bigod, Sheriff of Suffolk, or his son Hugh, built a motte and bailey castle at Framlingham. By the 12th century the Bigods were the Earls of Norfolk but they fell out with the Crown. Henry II confiscated four Bigod castles in 1157 but allowed Hugh to buy back Framlingham and Bungay for £666 in 1165. Hugh joined the rebellion of Henry's sons in 1173 and Framlingham and was destroyed.
Hugh's son Roger eventually regained royal favor. He built the current castle with no keep but a curtain wall and mural towers. Framlingham was given over to King John after a dispute during the first Baron's War in 1215. Bigod eventually regained the castle.
Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk, completed extravagant renovations to Framlingham Castle, and borrowed huge sums of money. The castle was seized again, but later returned on condition that it be granted back to the Crown after Roger's death. By the 13th century a prison had been built in the castle, probably in the Lower Court.
Edward II gave Framlingham to his brother-in-law, Thomas of Brotherton, Earl of Norfolk. After Thomas' death in 1338 the castle passed through several hands, then to Thomas de Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk. During the Mowbray occupation the two lakes were constructed, the southern one contained an island with a dovecote.
In 1476 Framlingham passed to John Howard, Duke of Norfolk, who probably added the decorative chimneys. The Great Chamber was built and the drawbridge replaced with the present bridge between 1524 - 1547. Pleasure gardens had been built in the Lower Court and Bailey, and a viewing gallery installed in the Prison Tower.
John was killed at Bosworth Field and his son Thomas placed in the Tower of London. Henry VII granted the castle to John de Vere but returned it to Thomas Howard after he fought for the Crown at Flodden in 1513. The 3rd Duke, also Thomas, was attainted for his support of "Bloody Mary", but was spared when Henry VIII died the day before his execution. The 4th Duke, another Thomas, was executed by Elizabeth I in 1572 and the castle returned to the Crown.
James I granted the now derelict Framlingham Castle to Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk, in 1613. His son Theophilus fell into debt and sold the castle to Sir Robert Hitcham in 1635. Hitcham died in 1636 and left the castle to Pembroke College on condition that they build a poorhouse.
The Church of St. Michael the Archangel dates from the 12th century, but most of the rest was built and rebuilt from 1350 - 1555. The fan tracery roof was added around 1521. One of the largest features is the "1708" Thamar organ. It was actually built around 1630, though possibly as early as 1580. Some of the pipework may date from long before that.
Several tombs are found at St. Michael's including Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Richmond and Somerset, Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, the first two wives of Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey and 1st Earl of Northampton. The 3rd Duke's tomb is one of the last to display religious imagery. In the 1840s the crypt was opened and five bodies were found: the 3rd Duke, his wife, his father the 2nd Duke, and possibly the 1st Duke and one of their wives. Mary FitzAlan and Margaret Audley, the first two wives of the 4th Duke, are represented on the same monument, yet only Margaret is buried there. The purpose of space between them is not known. In 1842 the crypt was found to contain only a skull and some ashes. Tradition holds that the townspeople hid valuables in it during the Jacobite rebellion. Henry Howard and his wife were brought to St. Michael's by their son in 1613. The figures kneeling at the head are their three daughters Jane, Katherine, and Margaret.
Hugh d'Avranches - granted Framilingham to Roger Bigod
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The Bigod family
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King Henry II
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Thomas of Brotherton
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The Ufford family
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The Mowbrays
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John Howard, Duke of Norfolk
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As a direct descendant of Roger Bigod, thank you for this video. So interesting to see his home.
Was quite the castle at one point. Beautiful.
A well presented and informative documentary.
Thanks, Mike. Tom Films has some good drone footage here: th-cam.com/video/xByILmzLFxE/w-d-xo.html . Though I should mention that what he did is illegal without a permit, and I have no idea whether or not he had one.
I LOVE ENGLISH HERITAGE, the organisation
Wow; this comment must have gotten lost in the hundred or so emails I receive every day.
NOTE: English Heritage has split into two organizations. Going online will probably not lead you to information about the OVP, nor can you sign up online. To get an OVP membership just visit one of their properties and sign up there. They are good for 9 or 16 days.
I agree. For those visiting, even for just a couple of days, the English Heritage Overseas Visitor Pass (OVP) is a great deal. It easily pays for itself in sites entered for free, and it helps pay for the maintenance of the properties.
Another one to look at is the National Trust. They don't have anything similar to the OVP, but they are affiliated with the Total Oak Society in the United States. A membership in Total Oak includes membership in the National Trust. National Trust has many more properties, but Royal Oak is always adding more. They need to advertise.
And don't forget CADW in Wales and similar organizations in Ireland and Scotland. They have their own versions of the National Trust (such as the National Trust of Scotland), and don't always honor the OVP.
Who’s buried there?