Overview
The castles of Old and New Buckenham lie south-west of Norwich, well off the beaten track of warfare in England.
The history deals with the Aubigny or Albini family from their arrival in England with William the Conqueror to the extinction of their earldom in 1242. The decisive battle of Fornham where some 3,000 Flemings were slaughtered in 1173 is also examined. The history then continues with the Tattershall family who inherited Buckenham with Robert Tattershall's marriage to an Albini heiress.  The castle's first siege occurred in 1263 and its second and last, which led to its destruction during the Civil War.

Genealogy
The family of Aubigny of Arundel is examined in detail as well as their spectacular match with the widowed Queen Adelize which brought them the earldoms of Lincoln which was later transferred to Chichester and finally Arundel.  The castle next passed to the Tattershalls who were prominent in Edward I's Welsh wars.  When they died out in 1310 the castle passed first to the Caillys and then the Cliftons.  During the Wars of the Roses the lady of the castle successfully held the fortress for her Knyvet husband against a feeble attempt to seize it by the Yorkists.  In the next civil war Philip Knyvet held the castle for Parliament and slighted his own fortress in 1649.

Archaeology
The construction and destruction of the first Buckenham castle, now known as Old Buckenham, is covered with reference to surrounding castle sites.  New Buckenham Castle was probably founded during the Anarchy to mark the Aubignys' rise in status.  Its ruins consist of a twelfth century great round tower, 65' in diameter, the same size as Hawarden and therefore joint biggest round tower keep in Britain, two gatehouses and the castle's increased earthwork defences which were probably added in 1216.  A copy is also reproduced of the unique woodcutting of the castle which is on display in the thirteenth century Tattershall-built New Buckenham church.  The extensive remains of outer wards and the borough defences are also planned and explored.

Copyright©2010 Paul Martin Remfry

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