Hedingham Castle was built in around 1140 by Aubrey de Vere an Essex land owner. The castle is rectangular in plan and stands to a height of 110 feet. The walls are in places 12 feet thick. The castle originally had a fore-building that acted as the main entrance, but like many of the other existing Keep Towers, this section has been removed. On the second floor of the castle is a huge Norman semi-circular arch with a span of 28 feet, one of the largest of its kind. The keep is similar to Rochester and could have been designed and built by the same architect. The de Veres earned the title of Earls of Oxford by assisting the Empress Matilda with her cause against King Stephen during the Civil War.
Hedingham Castle keep floor layouts
1
Fore-building: This secton of the castle has been destroyed but would have offered protection for the main entrance on the first floor.
2
The entance to the castle is on the first floor.
3
The one and only spiral staircase in this castle extends to all four floors.
4
The main hall of the castle extends upwards two floors. A large arch provides support for the roof of the hall.
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Small rooms are built into the thickness of the walls.
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Dotted lines show the position of the arch supporting the roof of the hall.
7
A passage built into the second floor walls provides extra light and a viewing location.
8
The ground floor of the castle was used for storage and could only be reached vai the spiral stairs.
9
The top floor provided sleeping space or private chambers for the Lord of the castle. Again there are a series of small rooms built into the thickness of the walls.
Stephen Langton returned to England and resumed the role of Archbishop of Canterbury. He performed a ceremony in Canterbury in which relics from St. Thomas Becket were put in a tomb. The 7th of July became St. Thomas of Canterbury's Day; a major holy day.
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