Framlingham Castle

- 1100s (First Castle Built)

A motte and bailey castle was erected on the site, though the actual date of construction is unknown. The castle may have been built by Roger Bigod or Hugh Bigod. There are even  suggestions that there may have been two castles on the site, with one being demolished to make way for a bigger fortress.

- 1157 (Castle Confiscated)

When Hugh Bigod took part in the Anarchy in opposition to King Stephen, the Crown was displeased. When King Henry II took the throne, he wanted to showcase his power and influence, so he confiscated all castles owned by Hugh, including Framlingham.

- 1165 (Castle Returned)

After negotiations, King Henry II granted ownership of Framlingham Castle back to Bigod — but only after he paid fees to the Crown totalling £666.

- Late 1160s (First Stone Buildings)

Hugh Bigod began construction of the first masonry buildings within the castle.

- 1173-1174 (Castle Slighted)

Hugh Bigod once again fell out of royal favour after he participated in the uprising led by King Henry II’s own sons. However, Henry II remained in power after the revolt failed. Once again betrayed by Bigod, Henry II ordered Framlingham Castle to be slighted. The buildings were destroyed and the moat was filled in.

- 1189 (Roger Bigod Takes Over)

After the betrayals by Hugh Bigod, King Henry II also felt suspicious of Hugh’s son, Roger. So, when Roger Bigod laid claim to his father’s estates (and the earldom), King Henry II wouldn’t allow it. However, King Henry’s reign eventually ended, and King Richard I took control. He happened to like Roger Bigod, so he granted him the castle and Roger Bigod began building a new castle on the site.

- 1213 (Castle Finished)

Roger Bigod didn’t officially finish Framlingham Castle until the beginning of the 13th century. Once it was completed, it contained a large curtain wall, thirteen towers, a lower court with additional walls and towers, and a bailey.

- 1215-1216 (Castle Seized)

Like his father before him, Roger Bigod would also go on to betray the Crown. He participated in The First Barons’ War in opposition to King John. As a result, King John sent troops and his army to Framlingham. The garrison surrendered without a fight and King John took the castle.

- 1217-1224 (Roger Regains Castle)

Some time after King John seized Framlingham Castle, the castle fell back into the hands of the Bigod family, though the exact circumstances are uncertain.

- 1225 (Roger’s Grandson Inherits)

Roger Bigod passed Framlingham Castle down to his grandson, also named Roger.

- 1270 (Park Built)

The Great Park was established around Framlingham Castle. It was around this time that Roger Bigod, 5th Earl, inherited the castle and completed major renovations.

- Late 13th Century (Castle Willed to the Crown)

By the 13th century, the Bigod family was indebted to multiple people, including the Jewish community, Italian merchants, and King Edward I. As such, when King Edward I suggested raising taxes and additional funds to support his wars, Roger led the opposition against him. In retaliation, King Edward I took Roger’s estates. However, he later returned them after Roger agreed to will the estates to the Crown upon his death.

- 1306 (Castle Passes to the Crown)

Roger Bigod, 5th Earl, made good on his word. The castle was passed to the Crown after Bigod’s death in 1306.

- 1312 (New Ownership)

During Edward II’s reign, he gave Framlingham Castle to Thomas of Brotherton, Earl of Norfolk. After Thomas took ownership, he commissioned the building of a bakery and horse mill.

- 1338 (Castle Passes to Mary de Brewes)

Thomas of Brotherton died young, only 38-years-old. His widow, Mary de Brewes took ownership of Framlingham Castle upon his death.

- 1362 (Castle Passed to the Ufford Family)

After Mary de Brewes died, the Ufford family took control of Framlingham Castle.

- 1381 (William de Ufford Holds The Castle)

When the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 broke out around the town of Framlingham, William de Ufford occupied the castle. He held it successfully.

- 15th Century (The Mowbrays)

Around the 15th century, Thomas de Mowbray took ownership of the castle. Framlingham Castle remained in the Mowbrays’ family for much of the century.

- 1476 (Castle Improvements)

John Howard, Duke of Norfolk, took ownership of the castle at the end of the 15th century. During this time, the castle underwent multiple improvements. Elaborate brickwork was completed and chimneys were added. The Great Chamber was also built at this time.

- 1485 (Thomas Forfeits the Castle)

Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk, took ownership of the castle. However, when Thomas’s father, a Yorkist supporter, was killed by Henry VII during the Wars of the Roses, Thomas was arrested. He forfeited his title as Duke, Framlingham Castle, and all additional estates before being imprisoned. King Henry VII then transferred ownership of Framlingham Castle to John de Vere.

- 1513 (Thomas Regains the Castle)

To win back favour from the Crown, Thomas Howard fought at Flodden. King Henry VIII, grateful for his service, gave Framlingham Castle back to the Howards. During this time, the castle was elaborately decorated.

- 1524-1547 (Bloody Mary Takes Over)

Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, took possession of Framlingham. However, rumours spread that the Howard family was attempting to take the throne. As such, King Henry VIII imprisoned Thomas and sentenced him to die, but the king died before he was executed. When Edward VI became king, he kept Thomas imprisoned and granted the castle to his half-sister, Mary Tudor.

- 1553 (Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke is Released)

Upon Edward VI’s death, Mary Tudor contested the Queendom of Lady Jane Grey, believing she was the rightful heir to the throne. She was proclaimed queen in the town of Framlingham, though she wouldn’t officially take over until later. During her time at Framlingham, she released Thomas Howard from prison. However, he did not return to Framlingham, and chose to lease the castle. It began to deteriorate rapidly.

- 1572 (Thomas Howard, 4th Duke is Executed)

Queen Elizabeth I wasn’t fond of Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, and after his betrayal, she had him executed for treason. After his death, the castle passed back to the Crown.

- 1580 (Castle Used as a Prison)

At the end of the 16th century, Framlingham Castle was first used to imprison various persons, including religious priests.

- 1613 (Castle Returned)

When King James I came into power, he returned the castle to the Howard family, specifically Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk. However, the castle was in extreme disrepair and needed a multitude of renovations, so Thomas Howard didn’t reside at Framlingham.

- 1635 (Castle Sold)

Framlingham Castle was granted to Thomas’s son, Theophilus Howard. However, Theophilus was in extreme debt, so he sold the castle and the surrounding land to Sir Robert Hitcham. Hitcham would take the land of the Great Park and divide it into multiple estates.

- 1636 (Castle Granted to Pembroke College)

Hitcham died only a year after purchasing the castle. Upon his death, the castle was willed to his university, Pembroke College, with the promise that they would demolish all of the current interior buildings to create a poorhouse, or workhouse, on the grounds to help the unfortunate.

- 1650s (Work on Workhouse)

The college made good on its word and demolished the interior buildings and began construction on the workhouse. The workhouse was a failure, so it was later closed and utilised as a public house.

- 1666 (Plague)

Framlingham Castle was used as an isolation ward during the outbreak of plague. In the aftermath, England had lost nearly two-million people to the disease. Another workshop was built 30 years later, though it, too, failed.

- 1839 (Final Poorhouse)

After three attempts, the final poorhouse was erected within the inner court in 1729. It was officially closed 110 years later.

- 1913 (Guardianship)

Pembroke College placed Framlingham Castle under the guardianship of the Commissioner of Works. The Commissioner of Works performed maintenance on the site.

- WWII (War Defence)

During World War II, the British used Framlingham Castle as a defensive structure.  A concrete dug-in guardpost (also known as a pill box) was built, corrugated iron barracks (Nissen huts) were set up, and a lorry park was established.

- Present

Today, Framlingham Castle is in the care of English Heritage. The Lanman Museum is situated within the old workhouse.