Pictures of Framlingham Castle

a Castle in the town of Framlingham, in the county of Suffolk

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About Framlingham Castle

On reaching the curve of Market Hill a quaint, colourful sign proclaims to the visitor that you have arrived in the pretty market town of Framlingham. The town has several attractive colour-washed cottages, and centred close to the Market Square are interesting historic properties, some showing beautiful pargetting. A short distance from the village is the site of a famous windmill, said to be one of the oldest of it's kind in the country. However, charming as everything is here, the focus of attention is the historic castle which once belonged to the Earls of Norfolk.

Framlingham Castle is the 12th-century castle where Mary Tudor was proclaimed Queen. It was built by Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk. At this time it was the most modern type of defensive castle known. It's style of continuous curtain walls with strong projecting square towers (13) replaced the romantic keep and bailey style fortress.

The Bigod family had a rebellious nature and were often at odds with the crown. In 1213 King John stayed at the castle, three years later, he besieged and captured it, and it passed to the important Mowbray family. Later, it became the home of the Howard's, Dukes of Norfolk. It was the Howard family that added the attractive Tudor brickwork of the 15th-century, and it was shortly after this that Henry VIII seized it back to the crown and gave it to his sister, the Princess Mary. History records that whilst Queen, Mary restored the castle to the Howard's, only for it to be seized again by Elizabeth I when she took the throne. Elizabeth kept the castle and used it as a prison for Catholic priests. It was not to be restored to the Howard's until after her death in 1603 and thirty two years later, it was sold to Sir Robert Hitcham.

After Robert Hitcham died the demise of this once great castle began. Whilst falling into various degrees of disrepair it was used as a poor house and as a place of rest for victims of the plague. Other uses found for the building have been its use as a courthouse, meeting hall, a workhouse, drill-hall, and finally before passing into the hands of English Heritage, it was a fire-station!

English Heritage have restored much of what was left of the castle and although little remains of its once grand interior, visitors can enjoy the curtain walls and magnificent square towers. None-the-less, the castle remains are evocative of its chequered history, it rings with the cries of the poor priests imprisoned in the time of Elizabeth I and with the happy laughter of the young Princess Mary whilst she waited to become Queen. The castle, its architecture and colourful historic residents form an important piece of English history and thus, Framlington castle makes an interesting day out for all the family.
Please see below for other recommended attractions and towns to visit near Framlingham Castle.

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Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Framlingham Castle

Easton Farm Park Country Park	(3.7 miles, 5.9 km, direction S)	Pictures
Sutton Hoo	(9.4 miles, 15.1 km, direction S)	Pictures
Leiston Abbey	(9.7 miles, 15.6 km, direction E)	Pictures
Minsmere Nature Reserve	(11.1 miles, 17.9 km, direction E)	Pictures
Westleton Heath Nature Reserve	(11.2 miles, 18.1 km, direction E)	Pictures
The Moot Hall Museum	(11.6 miles, 18.7 km, direction E)	Pictures
Orford Castle	(11.9 miles, 19.2 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Orford Ness Nature Reserve	(12.3 miles, 19.8 km, direction SE)	Pictures
St Peter's Hall	(13.5 miles, 21.8 km, direction N)	Pictures
Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich	(13.8 miles, 22.2 km, direction SW)	Pictures

All attractions in Suffolk
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Framlingham Castle

Wickham Market, a Historic Market Town in the county of Suffolk (5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction S)
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Yoxford, in the county of Suffolk (7.4 miles, 11.9 km, direction NE)
Delightfully situated close to the meandering River Yox, this lovely village was once an important stagepost on the road between London and Yarnmouth.
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Snape, in the county of Suffolk (7.7 miles, 12.4 km, direction SE)
Snape is not simply unique for its beautiful location at the head of the River Alde, it is also unique as a village with an international reputation for music.
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Woodbridge, in the county of Suffolk (9.3 miles, 14.9 km, direction S)
Many of the houses that surround the old Market square round which this Port has grown are exceedingly attractive and of major historical interest.
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Eye, in the county of Suffolk (10.6 miles, 17.1 km, direction NW)
Eye is one of our smallest towns. Centuries ago it was an island town to which King John granted a charter in 1205.
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Sutton, in the county of Suffolk (11.1 miles, 17.8 km, direction S)
Sutton is an old village overlooking the waters of the River Debden as it makes its way towards the sea.
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Sizewell, in the county of Suffolk (11.6 miles, 18.6 km, direction E)
In latter day history Sizewell is perhaps best known for the huge nuclear power stations built here in the 1960's.
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Thorpeness, in the county of Suffolk (11.7 miles, 18.8 km, direction E)
Thorpeness's quaint village sign gives the visitor some hint of the surprises to come, it depicts the House in the Clouds and Windmill, for which the village is most noted.
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Aldeburgh, in the county of Suffolk (11.7 miles, 18.9 km, direction E)
Aldeburgh is a seaside retreat with boundless charm. The history of the resort quite possibly reaches back to Saxon times, certainly during the Middle Ages it was a prosperous port and later it became known as a fishing centre.
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St Peter South Elmham, in the county of Suffolk (13.0 miles, 21.0 km, direction N)
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All towns in Suffolk
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Wickham Market Station	(5.6 miles, 8.9 km, direction SE)
Saxmundham Station	(6.2 miles, 9.9 km, direction E)
Norwich Airport	(31.0 miles, 49.8 km, direction N)
Cambridge Airport	(49.9 miles, 80.2 km, direction W)
M11 Junction 9	(50.9 miles, 81.9 km, direction W)
M11 Junction 10	(52.1 miles, 83.8 km, direction W)
Framlingham Castle to London	(80.3 miles, 129.3 km, direction SW)

Accommodation & Hotels near Framlingham Castle

Hotel Name
The Crown Hotel	(0.5 miles, 0.7 km)
Best Western Ufford Park Hotel	(7.7 miles, 12.4 km, direction S)
The Bull Hotel & Restaurant	(9.3 miles, 15.0 km, direction S)
The Westleton Crown	(10.1 miles, 16.2 km, direction E)
The Thorpeness Hotel	(11.4 miles, 18.4 km, direction E)
The White Lion Hotel	(11.9 miles, 19.2 km, direction E)
The Brudenell	(12.1 miles, 19.4 km, direction SE)
The Four Horseshoes	(12.1 miles, 19.5 km, direction W)
The Cornwallis Country Hotel	(12.1 miles, 19.5 km, direction NW)
Brome Grange Hotel	(12.3 miles, 19.7 km, direction NW)
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts