Rockingham Castle

Historic Houses & Building, Industrial Heritage, Visitor Centres, Historic Sites & Monuments

Royal castle until 1530

A Royal castle until 1530, since then home of the Watson family. Rockingham Castle was built by William the Conqueror on the site of an earlier fortification and was regularly used by the early Kings of England until the 16th century when it was granted by Henry VIII to Edward Watson whose family still live there today. The house itself is memorable not so much as representing any particular period, but rather a procession of periods. The dominant influence in the building is Tudor within the Norman walls, but practically every century since the 11th has left its mark in the form of architecture, furniture or works of art. The castle has a particularly fine collection of English 18th, 19th and 20th century paintings, and Charles Dickens, who was a frequent visitor, was so captivated by Rockingham that he used it as a model for Chesney Wold in Bleak House. The castle stands in 12 acres of formal and wild garden and commands a splendid view of five counties. Particular features are the 400 year old elephant hedge and the rose garden marking the foundations of the old keep. See Special Exhibition: "450 years a royal castle, 450 years a family home". Historic Houses Association Member. OPENING TIMES SUMMER: 4 Apr (Easter Sun) - 17 Oct Thur, Sun, BH Mons & Tue following and all Tues in August: 1 - 5pm. Grounds open 11.30am on Suns & BHs. 12.45pm on other days. Daily by appointment for parties and schools. WINTER: Daily by appointment for booked parties and schools. Closed to casual visitors