BODIAM CASTLE (Sussex) - official review

LOCATION. The Bodiam Castle is in the middle of nowhere.

The only public transport you’ll get is this bus 349, running between The Moor and Hastings. Get off at the “Castle Inn” station and the entrance is right next door.

It will be a two-hour wait if you miss it so read the schedule carefully before any rash decision.


BODIAM CASTLE (Sussex)


THE TOUR. There are two tours per day, and it’s worth the time. Gather at the bridge just beside the moat. You’ll be brought around the entire ground floor, stopping at where each of the rooms is used to be – imagination required, as the wooden first floor has long been demolished. And the kitchen, and its fireplaces, and the main hall supposedly with a minstrels gallery on its side.

Many of the towers are still intact though, so go up for the best view after the tour.

An introductory film is being played again and again in one of the dungeons. To watch it before anything else, go left after you enter through the main entrance.

HISTORY. The castle was built by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge in the 1380s with the granting of a royal permission. You can imagine why such licenses were required in those days, as kings would rather be cautious in these constructions – it would be more than just annoying to tear them down afterwards if the occupants turned out naughty.

The Dalyngrigge has been famous for marrying vastly wealthy women, and Edward is of no exception – Elizabeth gave him Bodiam and 750 acres of Sussex estates. And many more fanciful stuff, mainly land and mansion houses all around England.

Clip: BODIAM CASTLE (Sussex)

DON’T FORGET. Don’t forget the WWII pillbox near the car park. You can get down there for a showcase of sound samples. And the exhibition suite (uphill, opposite the castle’s main entrance) to find more history.

Messenger me for free advice on traveling plans.

Time is asset: save it for better with 25-min museum tours. Or find yourself in my novel, check out the photo of the day and finish it off with a secret prize.


Date of visit: 2019.09

Tags - in_depth_tourism; museum; London_writer; London_travel; indie_writer; independent_blogger

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