"Bodiam Castle" a Bodiam Travel Page by kit_mc

Down in East Sussex, south east of London you'll find the kind of castle epitomised in Robin Hood films. This medieval castle, built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, this is a dramatic fairytale sandstone castle surrounded by the watery defence of a large moat.

Getting there by public transport is fairly difficult though there are a couple of novel ways, such as by steam railway or even a ferry. More than likely you'll arrive by car, wheeling down windy country lanes through William Blake's 'Green and Pleasant Land', better known in the un-official English anthem 'Jerusalem'.

I spent an afternoon at Bodiam Castle one Sunday afternoon. The drive from north west London took a good two hours so I'd advise leaving fairly early if you also want to stop in on any of the nearby towns such as Hastings or Tonbridge Wells. If you're here with family though and on a nice day, I think you could easily make a full day out of it though.

A walk around the grounds will give you views across a historic English landscape of rolling fields and oak trees. Pay the 4.50 pounds entry fee and you'll find yourself crossing the moat, entering under a medieval portcullis and into the central space of the castle.

You might find yourself wandering round inside for quite a few hours, exploring nooks and crannies, climbing steep spiral staircases in round towers, peering up inside the remains of massive chimneys and getting vertigo from various birds-eye views.

I surprised myself thinking that I'd probably just pop in, take a few photos and then be on my way, but in the end we were here a leisurely 5 hours including lunch at the pub across the road.

As well as the castle, there's also a train line running steam engines and a river boat cruise.

The castle was supposedly built as a defence against a possible French invasion on the orders of King Edward III, however a film shown inside the castle grounds explains that the castle was as much a comfortable aristocratic home and a statement of power and wealth as it was a proper defensive structure.

In the end, the marauding hoardes never really arrived and the castle's defenses, including holes for pouring hot oil over an enemy army, were never put into use. The castle eventually fell into decay in the 1600's after the owners picked the wrong side during the English Civil War and it became increasingly ruined until it was acquired by the politician Lord Curzon in the early 20th century. Curzon is also the man responsible for instituting the restoration of the Taj Mahal.

Upon his death the castle passed into the stewardship of the National Trust who continue to be responsible for its maintenance.