Days Out: Bodiam Castle

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Bodiam Castle, a picturesque ruined castle surrounded by a moat, was built in the late 1300s. Some of the towers and rooms are accessible and visitors can see for miles from the tops of the towers. Remains of the Great Hall, kitchens, servants' rooms, chapel, and the lord/lady's rooms can be seen. The castle has many opportunities for good photographs. The sun was out, so I had perfect weather for visiting the castle.

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Bodiam castle with many visitors enjoying the view

Two of the tower areas can be climbed, and there are views of the castle's grounds and the hills outside the castle from these towers. On the left in the photograph below, you can make out the chapel's large arched window. On the right and just visible in the ruins is the remains of the Great Hall, where the banquets would be held. Between the Great Hall and the chapel is where the private lord/lady's rooms would have been.

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Bodiam Castle

The kitchen and its rooms are located just off the Great Hall. The area between the kitchen and Great Hall would have been a covered hallway where food was taken from the kitchen to the Great Hall. There are two large ovens in the kitchen, and they were used for cooking different foods.

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One of the ovens and fireplaces in the kitchen

Another interesting room is the Postern Gate, which is the gate that tradesmen would have entered. The interesting feature in this room, between the outside door and the interior door, is that it has murder holes. Unwelcome guests could be trapped inside this area, and murdered by items being thrown or shot down the holes in the ceiling.

This side of the castle, near to the Postern Gate, had some nice views and another tower to climb. The northeast tower also has a large and wide well; according to the notes on site, the well is ten feet deep. 

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Moat at Bodiam Castle

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Bodiam Castle

After the visit to the castle, I headed back out through the main entrance. The moat is covered in many large fish, and many ducks were also about. I managed to take a photograph of a duck sitting upon the land near the moat.

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Duck at Bodiam Castle

As it was nearing the end of the day, the castle became quieter, and I got a photograph looking down the bridge. The small island in the middle used to have a tower on it, and it was occupied by a guard, and the remains of a garderobe have been discovered. (A garderobe is a toilet, but they stored clothing near to the toilet in those days to prevent clothing being eaten by moths.)

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Bodiam Castle

I caught a glimpse of a bright-red ladybug. It was on one of the plants next to the moat.

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Ladybug

This wraps up my day out to Bodiam Castle.

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Bodiam Castle

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