King John's castle

Odiham Castle (also known locally as King John's Castle) is a ruined castle situated near Odiham in Hampshire, United Kingdom. It is one of only three fortresses built by King John built during his reign.

The site was possibly chosen by King John because he had visited the area in 1204 and it lay halfway between Windsor and Winchester. The castle was built on 20 acres of land acquired from local lord, Robert the Parker; utilising a modified bend of the River Whitewater. The castle, which took seven years to complete, had a two-storey stone keep and a square moat. There were also raised banking and palisades. Notably the stronghold also had a domus regis or 'king's house'. Scrolls held in the public records office reveal that total expenditure between 1207 and 1214, when work ceased, amounted to £1,000 (equivalent of £11.4m in 2009). In 1215 it was from either Odiham or Windsor that King John rode out to Runnymede where met he met the barons and signed the Magna Carta. A year later Odiham Castle was captured by the French after a two-week siege during the First Barons' War in 1216, it was after the surrender of the castle, that the besieging French soldiers found out that the castle had been held by only 13 English troops. Odiham Castle might have become one of the most important strongholds in England. In 1238 Simon de Montfort married King John's daughter Eleanor just two years after she had been granted Odiham by her brother, King Henry III. However de Monfort rebelled against Henry and died at the Battle of Evesham in 1265 and Eleanor was exiled. Odiham Castle was again retained by the Crown. The castle was also involved in the rebellion led by the powerful Despenser family against Roger Mortimer and Queen Isabella of France, the wife of Edward II. During the fourteenth century Odiham hosted Parliament. Scottish King David II, after his capture at the Battle of Neville's Cross in 1346, was also imprisoned here for 11 years. However he was held under light guard and was allowed to keep a household. By the 15th century Odiham was now used only as a hunting-lodge. In 1605 the former royal castle was described as a ruin.

Odiham Castle is open to the public, The only visible remains are part of the octagonal keep and outlying earthworks. In September 2007 Hampshire County Council undertook a restoration of the shell keep under guidance from English Heritage.

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[shanstrange]

I love the music, who is it?

[graemefield01]

@shanstrange Hi, I pinched it from the "internet archive" website. I think it was some acoustic music titled "Ridgway" or "Ridgeway" good luck finding it, it is a briiliant piece of music...

[nytecam]

Nice video - must pay a visit as it's not too far from A31;-)

[hastie9]

Nice job Graeme.

[didileavethekettleon]

O.o

[ROCKSLIDZ]

I enjoyed this very much, thank you! Thanks too for the detailed history. It's such a lovely castle, it actually reminded me of the artist Gaudi's hand-built "art" cathedral in Spain.

[Olentzaro]

Interesting ruin. I wonder when it was destroyed and abandoned to the elements.

[MRBMW10]

@lliving4today true

[Faeden]

Unfortunately the council have cheapened the place now, and spoiled it by making it all tourist like and putting up fences so you cant get up close to the castle, in the name of "health and safety" I live locally, and have beautiful memories of this magical place.

[taslinTV]

Thumbs up from Taslin TV =)

I've just made a poetry video about Odiham castle....magical place with a great story

Peace!

[TheNDMUK]

Fascinating, I visited it once on a canal trip which runs just past it. I have also recently read the Bernard Cornwell novel 'Vagabond' which describes the English Victory over the huge Scottish forces at Nevilles Cross. Now I can relate where King David ended up after his defeat.

[ADZ01982]

were is all the jocks saying how good Scotland is now