#framlingham

// requested by anonymous

Tomb of the Earl of Surrey, the last man to be executed by Henry VIII

In any case, its clear that the swimming scene in Witchfinder General was not filmed here, but at Kentwell Hall at Long Melford.

Framlingham Castle is located in the town of Framlingham in the county of Suffolk, England. Built upon an earlier motte and bailey castle destroyed by Henry II, the castle was constructed on a bluff overlooking the Ore River. The new castle was built in the 12thcentury by the Bigods, a powerful Norman family, who designed the castle with a curtain wall with thirteen mural towers for defense instead of constructing a central keep. The area has three parts, the inner courtyard, the bailey, and the lower courtyard. Framingham Castle was the home to the Dukes of Norfolk for 400 years. King John laid siege to the castle in 1216 since Rodger Bigod II refused to accept the Magna Carta. The castle surrendered in two days, but the loss of the castle was temporary, and it was restored to the Bigods. In the 14thcentury, the castle passed to the Brotherton family. Margaret Brotherton, daughter of the 1stEarl of Norfolk, was the first to be made a duchess in her own right. Margaret’s grandson inherited the castle, and Framlingham eventually passed to the Howard family in 1483. Due to the disgrace of Thomas Howard, 3rdDuke of Norfolk, the castle fell to the ownership of Mary Tudor, daughter of King Henry VIII, in 1552. (Howard had played a major role in Henry VIII’s government) Once queen, Mary restored the estate and dukedom to the Howards. In 1635, the castle was purchased by Sir Robert Hitcham. Upon his death, Hitchum left instructions for the castle buildings to be leveled and a poorhouse erected. It took years of legal battles, but the first poor families arrived around 1729. One hundred years later, the poor left, and the building was utilized as a parish hall. In 1913, the castle was given to the Ministry of Works, and in 1984, the castle passed to the English Heritage. The castle boasts a wall walk, a workhouse, exhibition spaces, hands-on activities, a shop, and a café. Framlingham Castle is closed at this time.

Framlingham market, and a walk around the mere. We had a day to wander about whilst waiting to view the results of our family portrait photography session (very exciting!) so we arrived early, had coffee, wandered about, had lunch, checked out the castle again for good measure, then wandered some more. We felt like we were having a little holiday, it was ever so relaxing 😌

My boyfriend and I rescued a duck yesterday

Tudor chimney, Framlingham Castle, Suffolk