castle castle english county essex thames estuary ridge south town built reign castle surrounded important economic defensive role significantly expanded turned property designed defend potential french attack provide king convenient private residence close london built unstable hill london clay castle subject combined sale stonework 16th century led ruined remains preserved english_heritage protected law grade listed building scheduled monument history 13th century castle built 1st earl kent key supporter king john given honour john reward services chose develop existing instead building new fortification south town exact date construction uncertain believed work conducted early tenure site permission officially confirmed licence site chosen local ridge overlooking thames estuary formed unstable london clay 13th century stretched away south castle tide occasionally reaching far base hill area wooded today park formed castle including woodland stables park lodge castle associated wider estate including castle built site probably octagonal design running ridge protected square semi circular mural towers guarding eastern entrance probably resembled white castle period built castle built cemented mortar containing large proportion particularly beds neighbouring valuable tidal built essential making bread castle recent archaeological work suggests positioned wharf reaching estuary south east castle gardens built south castle overlooking estuary probably including finally fell favour imprisoned finally stripped rest century retained royal castle estate containing acres agricultural land park castle mill castle fallen neglect despite investment given queen eleanor remained relatively poor condition mill vital operation wider estate appears maintained new metre wide metre long foot foot hall adjacent solar complex built castle collapsed shortly castle given complained quality building insisted repairs carried husband edward visited castle twice base hunting area 14th century took closer interest leading period renewal rebuilding reign son stayed work castle arrived including building new royal quarters repairing castle walls succumbed buildings known castle period castle hall kitchen cellar long house prison old chamber guarded garrison soldiers crises edward stayed frequently reign occasion travelling castle london royal barge docked wharf south castle acquired recovered mother isabella france taken edward deposed edward paid little initial interest castle decided greater use property ordering large parts rebuilt cost internal buildings renovated new royal built south walls east castle rebuilt entirely large circular towers installed new stretch curtain wall completed north castle rebuilt include main entrance protected large circular tower called high tower complete work probably overseen william originally historians believed edward decision rebuild castle response growing tensions france version events formed importance coastal fortification thames estuary protecting french raids current historical opinion plays motivation noting time work relations france unusually good instead suspected increasing elderly edward intended personal retreat close london stay privacy considerable comfort whilst entrance inland remained relatively basic building work created impression estuary visitors london english french passed south bank north combination communicating strong sense royal power 15th 19th centuries grandson little use use castle granted death castle passed number high status owners 15th century saw little use crown son edward castle early years passing lancaster duke gloucester richard duke york castle passed middle century tradition castle forming queen property reinstated granted wife henry_viii known use castle formed wives catherine castle parks sources navy estate began broken parks sold castle bought lord rich dismantled castle value stone primarily castle thoroughly ruined passed rich descendants english painter visited drawing castle preparation oil sketches single painting oil painting castle produced exhibited year sketches currently displayed london painting hangs british art united_states constable painting monumental works according art historians depicts early 19th century decaying man structure power nature purchased castle surrounding site use established farm train english poor prior sent overseas british colonies considerable ridge occurred causing collapse southern curtain wall today gave castle owned english_heritage classed scheduled monument grade listed building continued north east tower largely collapsed 1950s major occurred storey towers eastern stands nearly height narrow rectangular windows upper levels second tower original form sections curtain wall survived foundations great hall kitchen castle surrounded 19th century farm owned managed special regard invertebrates close castle announced venue mountain competition summer olympic games
Hadleigh Castle