Southwold Castle

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are no visible remains

NameSouthwold Castle
Alternative NamesSuthwaude
Historic CountrySuffolk
Modern AuthoritySuffolk
1974 AuthoritySuffolk
Civil ParishSouthwold

Richard de Clare was granted a licence to build a castle at Southwold in 1259. It is not known whether it was started. (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

A 'castle' of some form may have been built but is likely, given the lack of later evidence, to have been small and relatively domestic. The manor had just been obtained from Simon, Abbot of St. Edmunds in exchange for Mildenhall. The licence may have functioned as a legal and royal confirmation of this exchange. Site not known but possibly on site of C18 manor house at TM506762 or lost to coastal erosion. The manor and, presumably the manor house, became vested in the king in 1495 and may well have been given to the borough when this was incorporated in 1504. There was a major fire which destroyed considerable parts of the town, including the town hall and prison, in 1659. Whatever remained of the medieval manor house including any work by Richard de Clare would then have been thoroughly robbed to help with town reconstruction. Given the origin as a monastic holding it seems likely the manorial centre was close to the church at given map reference.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTM507763
Latitude52.3282318115234
Longitude1.6786299943924
Eastings650700
Northings276300
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of East Anglia (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 88 (slight)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 460 (possible)
  • Copinger, W.A., 1908, Manors of Suffolk Vol. 2 p. 155-6 (tenurial history) online copy
  • Gardner, T., 1754, An Historical Account of Dunwich online copy

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1910, Calendar of Patent Rolls Henry III (1258-66) Vol. 5 p. 61 online copy