Bodiam Castle was built in 1385, in the middle of the Hundred Years’ War, by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge (or Dallingridge). Dalyngrigge was MP for Sussex and had made his fortune in France as a mercenary from 1367-77. Edward was the youngest son and so not able to inherit his father’s estates, but on his return to England he married Elizabeth Wardeux, through whom he gained a manor house at Bodiam. In the panic that followed a French fleet assembling at Sluys in Flanders in 1385, permission was given to Edward by King Richard II to fortify the manor house. Instead, a new castle was built with a wide moat and impressive defences. This was built quickly and in one seven-year phase (unlike many other castles that took decades to complete). This rapid building was partly to shore up the defences of the south coast of England from the threat of invasion by the French (Rye, Folkestone and Winchelsea had been raided between 1377 and 1380). Edward served in ten parliaments and was keeper of the Tower and governor of the city in 1392-3, dying in around 1395. His son John inherited the castle and continued to support Richard II and his successor, Henry IV. As soon as the Hundred Years’ War ended in 1453, the castle was embroiled in the fight for the throne of England between the houses of Lancaster and York from 1455. The Lewknor family inherited the castle and Sir Thomas Lewknor supported the House of Lancaster. The castle was besieged by supporters of Richard III (of York) in 1483. The castle was sold a series of times in the 16th and 17th centuries before being slighted (probably during the Civil War in 1644); this was to prevent it being reused as a fortification. Thereafter it became a picturesque ruin and was sold several more times. George Curzon, Lord Curzon of Kedleston, bought the castle in 1916 and began its restoration, giving it to the National Trust in 1925.
A QUADRANGULAR CASTLE