Castles are thin on the ground in Buckinghamshire. The closest thing to an authentic castle is probably Boarstall Tower, a fortified manor house dating to about 1312. Only part of the house remains, including a much-altered gatehouse.
There are several more fragmentary remains of castles throughout the county, including Buckingham Castle, which was built around 1154 and torn down by 1215. The outer castle wall remains, and acts as a retaining wall for the churchyard.
In the village of Caisthorpe, north of Milton Keynes, you can see the earthwork remains of an 11th-century motte and bailey castle. Another castle motte still stands at Cublington. The motte is known locally as 'The Beacon' and stands roughly 550 yards from the church. It isn't much of a beacon, for it stands just 20 feet high!
A more impressive beacon is Beacon Hill, above the village of Ellesborough. The hill is topped by Cymbeline's Mount, also known as Cymbeline's Castle. The name Cymbeline refers to the early British king of that name who fought a battle here against the Romans. The name 'Cymbeline' was later used by Shakespeare in his play of the same name. The site was much later used for a medieval motte and bailey castle.
One final castle deserves mention; Bolbec Castle, in Whitchurch, was built by Hugh de Bolbec during the tumultuous Anarchy of 1147, when King Stephen and Empress Maud vied for the crown. Bolbec did not seek permission to build the fortification, and Pope Eugene III was moved to criticise the new castle. The bailey and motte stood on either side of what is now Castle Lane. The castle was levelled by Oliver Cromwell in the Civil War and only earthworks remain.
There are several more fragmentary remains of castles throughout the county, including Buckingham Castle, which was built around 1154 and torn down by 1215. The outer castle wall remains, and acts as a retaining wall for the churchyard.
In the village of Caisthorpe, north of Milton Keynes, you can see the earthwork remains of an 11th-century motte and bailey castle. Another castle motte still stands at Cublington. The motte is known locally as 'The Beacon' and stands roughly 550 yards from the church. It isn't much of a beacon, for it stands just 20 feet high!
A more impressive beacon is Beacon Hill, above the village of Ellesborough. The hill is topped by Cymbeline's Mount, also known as Cymbeline's Castle. The name Cymbeline refers to the early British king of that name who fought a battle here against the Romans. The name 'Cymbeline' was later used by Shakespeare in his play of the same name. The site was much later used for a medieval motte and bailey castle.
One final castle deserves mention; Bolbec Castle, in Whitchurch, was built by Hugh de Bolbec during the tumultuous Anarchy of 1147, when King Stephen and Empress Maud vied for the crown. Bolbec did not seek permission to build the fortification, and Pope Eugene III was moved to criticise the new castle. The bailey and motte stood on either side of what is now Castle Lane. The castle was levelled by Oliver Cromwell in the Civil War and only earthworks remain.
