Mountfitchet Castle is a Norman Motte and Bailey Castle and Village, re-constructed on its original historic ancient site, complete with many different buildings, siege weapons and animals roaming freely throughout the 10 acre site, providing a unique insight into community life in Domesday England.
Come and explore the Castle and roam through the Norman village hidden behind the castle walls, wander in and out of the many houses and listen out for the ancient Church bell tolling serenely across the grounds.
Formerly an Iron Age hill fort, this historic site was also a Roman signals fort and later a Saxon and Viking settlement before being attacked in 1066 by William the Conqueror who built a wooden Motte and Bailey castle here.
Soon after, the Motte and Bailey castle lay in ruins and the site was taken over by nature and became covered in dense scrub, trees, brambles and bushes and laid totally forgotten until 1975 when the owner, Alan Goldsmith, had a dream to rebuild and restore the castle to its former glory.
The grounds were cleared to reveal the original earthworks and mounds and after years of battling with planners, in 1980 the work began to reconstruct Mountfitchet Castle. After many years of work, the restoration of Mountfitchet Castle was complete and was opened to the public in 1985 and is unique as being the only wooden Motte and Bailey reconstruction on its original site anywhere in the world.
This historic castle enables the visitor to travel back in time to 1066 Norman England.
Explore the Castle and roam through the Norman Village hidden behind the castle walls, wander in and out of the many houses and view the scenes, smell the log fires burning and experience the ambience of an ancient bygone lifestyle. A living history, hands-on and interactive experience.