Baconsthorpe Castle

Baconsthorpe Castle in North Norfolk was built by the Heydons, an ambitious local family. They had made their fortunes through the law and subsequently from wool.

John Heydon rose to prominence and influence as a supporter and ally of the 1st Duke of Suffolk, William de la Pole. During the Wars of the Roses John switched his political allegiance to serve his own purposes, and managed to amass great wealth. He was described by contemporaries as crafty and quarrelsome and Baconsthorpe was his secure base from which to operate.

The castle was built from around 1460 to 1486 by John Heydon (died 1479) and Sir Henry Heydon (died 1504). It has an ornamental lake built onto its moat, added in Tudor times.

The Heydon's fortunes declined and they backed Charles Prince of Wales in the Second Civil War, leading the destruction of the castle.