Hadleigh Castle

HADLEIGH CASTLE, CASTLE LANE

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1123687
Date first listed:
07-Aug-1952
List Entry Name:
Hadleigh Castle
Statutory Address:
HADLEIGH CASTLE, CASTLE LANE
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Location

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Date:
2004-06-03
Reference:
IOE01/12080/01
Rights:
© Mrs Angela Clark. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1123687
Date first listed:
07-Aug-1952
List Entry Name:
Hadleigh Castle
Statutory Address 1:
HADLEIGH CASTLE, CASTLE LANE

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
HADLEIGH CASTLE, CASTLE LANE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
Essex
District:
Castle Point (District Authority)
Parish:
Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:
TQ 80978 86090

Details

HADLEIGH OFF CASTLE LANE TQ 88 NW 2/6 Hadleigh Castle 7-8-52 - I

Ruins of castle rebuilt by Edward III mid-Late C14 on the site of a castle built by Hubert de Burgh early C13. Reigate stone, ragstone some rubble and tiles, much cockle shell in mortar. Built on a spur overlooking the Thames estuary most of the southern features have slipped to a lower level. Only the foundations or bases of the curtain wall remain between the 8 towers, most of which are low in height. The 3 western towers of square plan, the others circular. To the south and east of the north west square and circular high towers are foundations of kitchen buildings, a hall and solar and a C16 lead melting hearth. The Barbican adjoins the 3 storey High Tower to the west. Low level north tower. The north east tower outer walls are of 3 storeys, with plinth and band of panelled stone and knapped flint over, 2 small square headed windows to ground and first floors and part of a similar window to upper storey, part of a flue to inner wall. South east tower of 3 storeys, with only the western face demolished. Plinth. Knapped flint band over. Each floor with 3 square headed variously spaced windows visible externally. Holes for bars visible. Various putlog holes. Within the south west wall is a garderobe, with chutes discharging externally onto the plinth through 3 square headed openings with sloped cills. 2 flues to north. The south side of the bailey has slipped downhill, but remains of the south and south west towers can be identified. Wall bases of former residential buildings lie between these 2 towers. Low level remains of west tower. The castle is of exceptional interest, being the only work of its type in the country. There is documentary evidence of the progress of the work in 1365-6. Essex Archaeological Society Transactions. N.S. 1, 86 et sq. S.A.M. RCHM 2.

Listing NGR: TQ8097886090

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
116824
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
An Inventory of Essex South East, (1923)
Transactions of the Ancient Monuments Society in Transactions of the Ancient Monuments Society, ()
Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society in Newsheet 1, (), 86

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Hadleigh Castle

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 05-Jun-2026 at 13:26:33.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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