Mountfitchet Castle dates from just after the Norman Conquest. The landlord of the castle was involved in an uprising against King John and his castle was burned down in 1215.
It was never rebuilt and for the best part of 700 years was little more than a couple of tree covered mounds with the odd fragment of masonry. In about 1986 the owner decided to construct a replica of the wooden castle of 1086 (as recorded in the Doomsday Book). I am nervous about historical replication, but this was based on archaeology and historical research and seems plausible.
It gives a wonderful insight for children (and adults) into life in an early wooden castle (of which no examples survive). You have to climb the mound to the bailey and pass through wooden gates to the top of this mound, surrounded by an oak palisade. You then go through another wooden barbican to the keep, also surrounded by an oak palisade. The bailey has reconstructions of all the ancillary structures of 1086: soap making, tanning, blacksmithing, bakery, a home, a chapel, pottery, prison (with torture), weaving and dying, fishing and many more.
The keep has a replica wooden hall with solar and the lord asleep in bed. This is all livened up with the odd gallows and beheading block. There are dummies which speak and detailed panels giving quite high level historical explanations - lots to see and touch and it is all great.
What struck me was how organic life was: no plastic and little metal, but a lot of wood, wool and skin. In many ways early medieval England seems to have been strikingly like rural Africa about 80 years ago.
My children are normally bored by history and stately homes and moaned about going, but loved Mountfitchet Castle and said it was “the best day ever”. The visit is further enlivened by roaming animals (goats and chickens on the loose all over), live log fires and open ponds to fall into.
The price also includes a visit to a Toy Museum which was marvellous, with lots of adult shouts of “I remember them!”. A fistful of 20p coins is good here to operate the various coin-driven machines, including the Gay Butler (ooh er).
There are also a quite fun café, a bizarre dinosaur experience (good for under 5s), toilets and an unusual shop which also sold old toys and curios. Recommended.
Mountfitchet Castle is in Essex, only two miles from junction 8 of the M11 - just follow the tourist signs to the centre of Stansted Mountfitchet village.
By rail:
The Castle is right next to Stansted Mountfitchet train station, only 40 minutes from London and 35 minutes from Cambridge.