HERSTMONCEUX CASTLE - ENGLAND
Herstsmonceux Castle was one of the first castles in England to be built of brick, giving a stunning effect. Its clusters of elegant chimneys, the many towers, all in a pleasing shade of rich red, are reflected in the wide moat that surrounds it ,makes it one of the most attractive castles built in the Middle Ages.
Sir Roger Fiennes was granted a licence to build Hertsmonceux in 1441. As it was built in a Lake, it was already receiving some protection and had an impressive gatehouse with a formidable lot of murder holes and arrow slits which could deter hostile visitors.
Once the castle was no longer the property of the Fiennes family, it fell into the hands of careless owners and in the 17th century, one of them shamelessly ripped out the interior just to provide himself the raw material to build his own house, so that after a great deal of work was necessary to give it back its original magnificence.
