Rockingham Castle: A Storied Stronghold Through the Ages

Overview

Established by William the Conqueror and rebuilt in stone by his son, Rockingham Castle has evolved from a royal fortress to a Tudor home, survived Civil War sieges, inspired Charles Dickens, and remains a family residence with its medieval structure and unique 'elephant hedge' intact.

History

Rockingham Castle was built as a motte and bailey castle on instruction from William the Conqueror shortly after his conquest in the late 11th century. Remarkably, though the originally wooden structure was shortly after replaced by a stone castle, much of that which was built by his son William II remains today, with both a thick curtain wall and stone keep added. Though Edward I spent plenty of money on Rockingham, adding windows and fireplaces, and building a bedroom for Queen Eleanor, by 1485 the castle had fallen into disrepair, and to ensure the continued use to the site, Henry VII built a hunting lodge in the park. When Henry VIII visited Rockingham with his fifth wife Catherine Howard in 1541, he was surprised to find Rockingham in a bad way. Three years later leased it to Edward Watson who moved into the lodge and began doing up the castle, transforming it into a Tudor family home. The Watson family bought Rockingham from James I in 1619, and the house has remained in their family ever since. Rockingham has experienced a spicy history; it was taken over by Oliver Cromwell’s Roundheads during the Civil War and then promptly besieged by the king’s troops, and during the 18th century it was mostly empty while the Watsons were away becoming powerful political leaders. Taking over in 1836, the new Richard Watson modernised the castle again, with help from the architect Anthony Salvin, adding the flag tower. During this period, the author Charles Dickens, a friend of the family stayed at Rockingham five times, and is supposed to have found inspiration there for Chesney Wold in his 1852 novel Bleak House. In 1925, the Rockingham estate was inherited by Sir Michael Culme-Seymour, 5th Baronet, who, in turn, passed it to his nephew Commander Michael Saunders Watson in 1967. Today, Rockingham is the comfortable family home of the Saunders Watson family, led by James, like his late father Michael, a former officer in the Royal Navy.

Drop by

The Sondes Arms in Rockingham village, for all sorts of refreshments.

Need another local heritage fix?

Deene Park, just six miles away, is home of the Brudenell family.

Our favourite line

‘Of all the country-houses and estates I have yet seen in England,, I think this is by far the best’ – Charles Dickens, 1849