Bodiam Castle
History of the Castle
The rear of the Castle
Bodiam was commissioned in 1384 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, a Knight for the Shire of Sussex, on his return from war in France. Dalyngrigge was a veteran of the 100 Years War and wanted the castle was to be a heraldic symbol of his military success.
Richard II agreed with Dalyngrigge's claim that there was a real threat of attack from French raiders via the estuary of the River Rother. This is particularly ironic because Dalyngrigge was probably more guilty of piracy and pillage in the past than any raiders he might have been commanded to keep out! There was, in fact, minimal risk of attack on this small river yet, on the king's orders, the castle was built with crenellations, and other features making it look fearsome and fortified when it was really little more than an elaborate country house!
Dalyngrigge used his fortune from the Civil War, gained by plunder, ransoms and extortion, to finance construction over four years until the castle was completed in 1388.
As the threat of war receded, any possibility of Bodiam playing a significant part in English history's most dramatic chapters fell by the wayside. Perhaps its most interesting period took place when a local Squire from Brightling, John 'Mad Jack' Fuller rescued the castle from demolition in 1828.
He was thrown out of Parliament on several occasions for his unruly behavior, and many of his follies litter the landscape around Brightling.
A very popular man locally, he did a lot for the poor and several books have been written on his exploits. His grave, or rather, Pyramid is 25ft tall and stands in the churchyard at Brightling. It is said that he is buried in the centre, sitting in his favourite chair, wearing top hat and tails with a bottle of his best Claret!
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