Herstmonceux Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Hurstmonceaux; Hurstmonceux

In the civil parish of Herstmonceux.
In the historic county of Sussex (Modern Authority of East Sussex, 1974 county of East Sussex).

Fine brick courtyard castle licensed in 1441. Castle constructed in 1441 comprising quadrangle plan with octagonal towers in each corner. It was gutted for building material in 1777 and restored between 1911-30.

This site has been described as a;
Masonry Castle.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Major remains.

A Royal licence to crenellate was granted in 1441 Feb 5.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TQ64661040

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 412073

• Web site links
  • http://www.herstmonceux-castle.com/
    http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/castles/herstmonceux%20castle.htm
    http://www.castles-abbeys.co.uk/Various-Pictures.html
    http://www.sussexlife.co.uk/gils_guide/herstmonceux.html
    http://www.castlexplorer.co.uk/england/herstmonceux/hrstmncx.php
    http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_south/199/herstmonceuxcastle.htm
    http://www.touruk.co.uk/castles/castle_Herstmoncuex.htm
    http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_south/199/herstmonceuxcastle.htm
• Books
  • Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses Vol3 (Cambridge) p343-55, 440 [plans]
    Jones, R., 2003, 'Hastings to Herstmonceux: the castles of Sussex' in Rudling, D. (ed) The archaeology of Sussex to AD2000 (Great Dunham: Heritage Marketing and Publications) p171-8
    Salter, Mike, 2000, The Castles of Sussex (Malvern) p41-44
    Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) p249-51 [plan]
    Guy, John, 1984, Castles in Sussex (Phillimore) p74-83
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p471-2
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p243
    Nairn, Ian and Pevsner, Nikolaus, 1965, The buildings of England: Sussex (Harmondsworth) p534-536
    O’Neil, B.H.St.J., 1960, Castles and Cannon: A Study of Early Artillery Fortifications in England (Oxford: Claredon Press) p12, 29-30, plates 6 and 7
    Godfrey, W., 1937, in Salzman, L.F. (ed), VCH Sussex Vol9 p131-134
    Hussey, C., 1937 in Tipping, H.A., English Homes, periods 1 and 2 Vol2 (London) p281-306
    Hamilton Thompson, A., 1912, Military Architecture in England during the Middle Ages (London) p358-60
    Mackenzie, J.D., 1897, Castles of England (Heinemann) Vol1 p73-8
    Timbs, J. and Gunn, A., 1872, Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England and Wales Vol1 (London) p370-3
    Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p319-20
    Pugin, A., 1850, Pugin's Examples of Gothic Architecture (London: Henry and Bohn) Vol2
    Buck, Samuel and Nathenial, 1774, Buck’s Antiquities (London) Vol2 p291
    Grose, F., 1756, Antiquities of England and Wales Vol5 p151-8
• Journal Articles
  • Woodburn, Bill and Guy, Neil, 2005-6, 'Herstmonceux' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol 19 p60-62
    Emery, A., 2005, 'How meaningful were the defences of Herstmonceux Castle?' Castle Studies Group Bulletin Vol18 p169-184
    Goodall, J.A., 2004 Aug, 'A medieval masterpiece: Herstmonceux Castle, Sussex' The Burlington Magazine Vol146 p516-25
    Kenyon, J.R., 1981 'Early Artillery Fortifications in England and Wales: a Preliminary Survey and Re-appraisal' Archaeological Journal Vol138 p227
    Coulson, C., 1979, 'Structural Symbolism in Medieval Castle Architecture' Journal of the British Archaeological Association Vol132 p79-80
    1977, Fort Vol4 p8
    1961, Archaeological Journal Vol116 p238
    Simpson, W.D., 1942, 'Herstmonceux Castle' Archaeological Journal Vol99 p110-126
    Hussey, C., 1935, 'The Restoration of Herstmonceux III, Sussex' Country Life Vol78 p566-70, 606-12, 630-6
    Tipping, H.A.,1929 May 18, 'Herstmonceux Castle, Sussex' Country Life p702-709
    Conway, 1918, Country Life Vol43 p214-21, 242-8, 270-6
    Chester, 1900, The Antiquary Vol36 p362-6 [history of devolution]
    Phillips, CT, 1890, ' Plans of Hurstmonceux Castle' Sussex Archaeological Collections Vol37 p199
    Venables, Rev E, 1851, 'The Castle of Herstmonceux and its Lords' Sussex Archaeological Collections Vol4 p125-202
• Guidebooks
  • Calvert, D. and Martin, R., 1994, A history of Herstmonceux Castle (Kingston, Ontario: Queen's University)
    Calvert, D., 1980, The History of Herstmonceux Castle
    Crake, n.d., Castle of Herstmonceux (Lewes)
    Harington, n.d., Handbook of Herstmonceux Castle (Battle) [an abridgment of Venables 1851]
• Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
  • Calendar of Charter Rolls Vol6 p13-14
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/barkseng.html#sussex13]