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ACTON BURNELL CASTLE

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The remains of Acton Burnell Castle, a 13th century fortified residential complex. In 1284 Robert Burnell, who served as secretary to Edward I, was granted a licence by the king to crenellate and fortify a property at Acton Burnell, replacing the earlier house in which Robert was born. Work continued on the manor throughout Burnell's lifetime, and it seems likely that it was still in progress at his death in 1292. The property stayed in the family but ceased to be used as a residence by 1420. It subsequently passed by marriage to the Lovells of Titchmarsh, and was consficated by Henry VII in 1485 and given to the Earl of Surrey in return for his services at the Battle of Flodden. In the 16th century it became part of the estates of the Duke of Norfolk and by the 17th century had passed to the Smythe family. By this time most of the original buildings had been demolished. In the 18th century Acton Burnell Hall was built to the north of the castle, and the estate was remodelled to create the parkland seen today, Burnell's chamber block being incorporated into the park as an ornamental barn. It is a two-storeyed building of coursed sandstone ashlar and is the grandest building known to survive from Burnell's rebuilding campaign. The block constitutes a self-contained suite of rooms and was designed as the main dwelling for the Chancellor and his household. It lies on a roughly rectangular platform along which a moat can be traced for most of its circuit on the east, north and west sides.

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