Balbecs Castle, Medmenham

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Other/Unknown), and also as a Questionable Fortified Manor House

There are no visible remains

NameBalbecs Castle, Medmenham
Alternative NamesBolebecs Castle; Bolbeck; Bullbank's; Bulbek; Bulbank
Historic CountryBuckinghamshire
Modern AuthorityBuckinghamshire
1974 AuthorityBuckinghamshire
Civil ParishMedmenham

Medieval castle possible situated within the eastern rampart of Danesfield Camp (SU 88 SW 15). The building was described as being in ruins in 1771. No traces of the castle have yet been identified. (PastScape)

Legendary site of Bolebec's Castle is actually Iron Age hillfort, Medmenham Camp (Bucks SMR).

Gatehouse Comments

There are two Iron Age camps in the parish and have been two manors. However, as there was not actually a separate manor at Medmenham before 1415 the most likely site for this castle would be Medmenham Camp, beside the parish church, and near the water mill. This site shows signs of being quarried and landscaped. The mentions of this as a castle are slight and it's usually described as a manor in historical documents. If located on eastern rampart then would have been defended on one or two side but the absence of other earthworks suggests this was not a strongly fortified site.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSU805845
Latitude51.5539016723633
Longitude-0.836889982223511
Eastings480500
Northings184500
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print

Books

  • Page, Wm (ed), 1925, VCH Buckinghamshire Vol. 3 p. 85-87 online transcription
  • Plaisted, A.H.. 1925, The Manor and Parish Records of Medmenham p. 56
  • Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (London: Methuen and Co)
  • Sheahan, J., 1862, History and Topography of Buckinghamshire p. 906-7
  • Langley, Thomas, 1797, History and Antiquities of the Hundred of Desborough (London) p. 335-9 online copy

Primary Sources

  • Gairdner, J. and Brodie, R.H. (eds), 1894, Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII Vol. 14.1 p. 590 no. 1345.45 online copy
  • Hearne, T. (ed), 1771, Liber Niger Scaccarii Vol. 1 p. 195 online copy