Bury St Edmunds 'Castle'

Has been described as a Questionable Uncertain

There are uncertain remains

NameBury St Edmunds 'Castle'
Alternative Names
Historic CountrySuffolk
Modern AuthoritySuffolk
1974 AuthoritySuffolk
Civil ParishBury St Edmunds

Castle-guard was temporarily transferred here from Norwich in 1139-45 (RRAN III, 757) and the town gates are mentioned in 1194 (Jocelin de Brakelond, ed. Butler, pp. 55, 103). (Renn)

Gatehouse Comments

Renn does not usually mention town defences and it is unclear as to if he thought there was a separate lost castle in Bury or if he is referring to the Abbey or Town defences. There is nothing else to suggest a castle at Bury and the tenurial history of this Abbey dominated town would normally exclude a castle. Gatehouse suspects the transfer of 'castle-guard' was to the abbey defences, and it should be noted that the medieval use of the term 'castle' was very flexible and could include town defences.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTL850640
Latitude52.2448997497559
Longitude0.715749979019165
Eastings585000
Northings264000
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 353

Primary Sources

  • Cronne, H.A. and Davis R.H.C. (eds), 1968, Regesta Regum Anglo-Normannorum, 1066–1154 Vol. 3 Regesta regis Stephani ac Mathildis imperatricis ac Gaufridi et Henrici ducum Normannorum, 1135-54 p. 279 No. 757 online copy