Walton Castle

Has been described as a Possible Masonry Castle

There are no visible remains

NameWalton Castle
Alternative NamesWaletune
Historic CountrySuffolk
Modern AuthoritySuffolk
1974 AuthoritySuffolk
Civil ParishFelixstowe

The site of the Roman Saxon Shore fort known as Walton Castle. It was probably built between AD 276-285 and stood circa 30m above sea level before being destroyed by sea erosion in C18. The fort was subsequently reused by the Normans who used it as the bailey for a castle built there by one of the Bigod earls, probably Roger who died in 1107. The castle was strengthened by Hugh Bigod, Roger's second son, but was confiscated and garrisoned by King Henry II (1154-1189). In 1175-6 the castle was dismantled by Henry in 1175-76, for his new castle at Orford. However, it would appear that the walls of the Roman fort survived this demolition has they were recorded as still standing in C18 before being undermined by the sea. It has also been suggested that Walton Castle was one of the possible locations of Dommoc or Dumnoc, named by the early eighth-century historian Bede as the site of the first East Anglian episcopal minster, given to St Felix by King Sigeberht who ruled from 630 to 635. It was originally given that Dommoc or Dumnoc was located at Dunwich, although concrete evidence for either site has yet to be provided. Moreover, it is also quite possible that this Minster never existed. (PastScape)

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTM322358
Latitude51.9728012084961
Longitude1.38011002540588
Eastings632250
Northings235800
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Goodall, John, 2011, The English Castle 1066-1650 (Yale University Press) p. 126-8
  • Purton, P.F., 2009, A History of the Early Medieval Siege c. 450-1220 (Woodbridge: The Boydell Press) p. 311
  • Liddiard, Robert, 2005, 'The Castle Landscape of Anglo-Norman East Anglia: A Regional Perspective' in Harper-Bill, C. (ed), Medieval East Anglia (Woodbridge, Boydell) p. 33-51
  • Salter, Mike, 2002, Index and Amendments to Mike Salter's English Castles Books (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 9
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of East Anglia (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 87
  • Martin, Edward, 1999 (3edn), 'Medieval Castles' in Dymond, David and Martin, Edward (eds) An Historical Atlas of Suffolk (Lavenham) p. 58-9
  • Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 239 (slight)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 460
  • Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p. 313
  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 338
  • Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (London: Methuen and Co)
  • Page, Wm (ed), 1911, VCH Suffolk Vol. 1 p. 287-91 online copy
  • Mackenzie, J.D., 1896, Castles of England; their story and structure (New York: Macmillan) Vol. 1 p. 286 online copy
  • Grose, Francis, 1787, Antiquities of England and Wales (London) Vol. 8 p. 127-8 online copy

Journals

  • Fairclough, John, 2008, 'Bigods at Walton Hall and their Successors' Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology Vol. 41.4 p. 405-425 online copy
  • Fairclough, J., and Plunkett, S.J., 2000, 'Drawings of Walton Castle and other monuments in Walton and Felixstowe' Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History Vol. 39 Part 4 p. 419-59 online copy
  • Rigold, S.E., 1974, Journal of the British Archaeological Association Vol. 37 p. 97-102
  • Rigold, S.E., 1961, Journal of the British Archaeological Association Vol. 24 p. 55-9
  • Brown, R. Allen, 1959, 'A List of Castles, 1154–1216' English Historical Review Vol. 74 p. 249-280 (Reprinted in Brown, R. Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 90-121) view online copy (subscription required)
  • Braun, H., 1934, 'Some notes of Bungay Castle' Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology Vol. 22 p. 112 online copy

Primary Sources

  • Stubbs, Wm. (ed), 1876, Radulphi de Diceto decani Lundoniensis Opera Historica. The Historical work of Master Ralph de Diceto, Dean of London (London, Rolls Series 68) Vol. 1 p. 377, 404
  • Howlett, R. (ed), 1889, 'The Chronicle of Robert of Torigni' in Chronicles of the Reigns of Stephen, Henry II, and Richard I (Rolls series 82) Vol. 4 p. 192 online copy
  • 1904, The Great Roll of the Pipe for the twenty-second year of the reign of King Henry the Second, A.D. 1175-1176 (Pipe Roll Society Publications 25)
  • Stubbs, W. (ed), 1880, The Minor Works comprising the Gesta regum with its continuation, the Actus pontificum, and the Mappa mundi, by Gervase, the Monk of Canterbury (London: Longman Rolls series 73) Vol. 2 p. 427 online copy