A Brief Introduction

Aerial painting of the castle © English Heritage The impressive Baconsthorpe Castle is intimately linked to the dramatic rise and fall of a single family, the Heydons, who lived here for 200 years.

The Heydons were an ambitious family. They first made their fortunes through the law profession and later from wool. Baconsthorpe Castle was built as their main residence in about 1450, and it became increasingly larger and more elaborate as the family’s wealth grew.

The Heydon’s splendour, however, was short-lived. Having accumulated large debts, the family was forced to demolish parts of the castle in 1650 to sell as building materials.