Baconsthorpe Castle in northern Norfolk dates from the 15th century, and it is a fortified manor house developed by the Heydon family, who gained wealth in the wool trade. The structure was built as an elegant house (which was later moated) to make a statement with a deer park and sculpted gardens instead of as a fort or for defense purposes. Today, visitors can view the house and walk along the grounds and explore a couple of the rooms that still exist. The structure is in a very ruined state but walls and the old castle walls do exist, and the lake is quite attractive and reflective.
The Heydon family was from a lower social status but gained wealth and bought lands from the Bacon family, where the castle and area owes its name to. The castle was called Baconsthorpe Hall and was built to show power as the family wanted to impress politically. The family got rich in the local wool trade during the 1400s, and the castle was finished. However, the wool trade declined in the 1500s and debts were building up, and it is thought that the family lived lavishly but its workers did not. They would have made a lot of enemies. The castle was inherited along with debts and the mere was created at this time. It eventually was sold for its stone and mostly demolished then, but parts of the buildings and walls exist.
The rooms in the house were described as luxurious at the time of its heydey, and visitors can make out where the upper floors would have been.
One of the panels mentions the wool trade, which is how the family got rich. They would have owned about 3,000 of the Norfolk Horn sheep. The wool was made soft and turned into cloth with stale urine and weaving processes. It was probably processed here at the castle, and then sold. The Netherlands were one of the largest buyers of the wool.
Baconsthorpe Castle is managed and maintained by English Heritage, and it is free to visit. It is located close to the market town of Holt in northern Norfolk.
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