North Elmham Castle

North Elmham Castle
	Breckland, Norfolk, England
	North Elmham Castle
	<div style="position: absolute; top: Expression error: Missing operand for *.%; left: -6.4%; height: 0; width: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> North Elmham Castle
Coordinates	grid reference TF988216
Site information
Condition	Earthworks only remain

North Elmham Castle, also known as North Elmham Bishops Castle and North Elmham Bishops Chapel, is a ruined castle in the village of North Elmham, in the county of Norfolk.

History[]

The castle was built on the site of the Anglo-Saxon cathedral of Elmham in the 11th century.^[1] It was the see of Herbert de Losinga, Bishop of Norwich.

On 29 December 1387 Henry le Despenser, Bishop of Norwich, obtained a license to crenellate the church. He then fortified the structure into a double-moated castle. The castle fell into disrepair during the 16th century, and by the 19th century nothing was visible above ground.

Present[]

English Heritage, which currently stewards the site, excavated it during the 1970s, revealing the earthworks and ruins. Remains of a kitchen hearth, arches, cathedral towers, and walls are all visible. Visitation of the ruins is free and open year round. The castle is a grade I listed building and a scheduled monument.^[1]

Debate[]

There is debate over some of the ruins at the site. Though it is known for certain that part of the ruins are from the castle and 11th-century church, the building which stood there prior is in doubt. It was thought to have been the site of a Saxon cathedral built of stone and flint, and used as the seat of the bishops of East Anglia during the late Anglo-Saxon period until 1075. Architectural historians now believe that though an Anglo-Saxon church made of timber did exist on the site, the stone remains are actually of a Norman chapel built after the Norman invasion.^{[citation needed]}

References[]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 North Elmham Bishops Castle, Gatehouse website, accessed 4 June 2011.

External links[]

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[Gatehouse-1] 1.0 ^1.1 North Elmham Bishops Castle, Gatehouse website, accessed 4 June 2011.

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