Herstmonceux Castle
Herstmonceux Castle and gardens, East Sussex, England, UK
A Herst settlement is recorded in William the Conqueror's Domesday Book. By the end of the 12th century, a lady named Idonea de Herst, married a Norman nobleman Ingelram de Monceux. From this period their manor became known by the two names, as ‘Herst of the Monceux’ and later the two family names combined as Herstmonceux manor. A few hundred years later in 1441, building work began on Herstmonceux Castle, on the site of the older manor house. A descendant of the Monceux family Sir Roger Fiennes, Treasurer of the Household of Henry VI of England, was responsible for the construction of the new palatial residence, Herstmonceux Castle. In 1777, the castle’s interior suffered the misfortune of its then owners, falling under the influence of the architect, Samuel Wyatt’s iconoclastic concept to reduce the Castle interior to a ‘picturesque’ ruin by demolishing the interior parts, fortunately leaving the exterior walls standing: the castle remained in that sorry state until the early 20th century. The Castle received three significant restorations in the 20th century. Since 1994, it has been used by the Bader International Study Centre of Queen's University, Canada. Herstmonceux Castle and gardens also hosts events and cultural activities.
A Herst settlement is recorded in William the Conqueror's Domesday Book. By the end of the 12th century, a lady named Idonea de Herst, married a Norman nobleman Ingelram de Monceux. From this period their manor became known by the two names, as ‘Herst of the Monceux’ and later the two family names combined as Herstmonceux manor. A few hundred years later in 1441, building work began on Herstmonceux Castle, on the site of the older manor house. A descendant of the Monceux family Sir Roger Fiennes, Treasurer of the Household of Henry VI of England, was responsible for the construction of the new palatial residence, Herstmonceux Castle. In 1777, the castle’s interior suffered the misfortune of its then owners, falling under the influence of the architect, Samuel Wyatt’s iconoclastic concept to reduce the Castle interior to a ‘picturesque’ ruin by demolishing the interior parts, fortunately leaving the exterior walls standing: the castle remained in that sorry state until the early 20th century. The Castle received three significant restorations in the 20th century. Since 1994, it has been used by the Bader International Study Centre of Queen's University, Canada. Herstmonceux Castle and gardens also hosts events and cultural activities.