Ashby de la Zouch Castle

The castle is now a ruin, but began its life as a manor house in the 12th century. It only achieved castle status in the 15th century, by which time the hall and buttery had been enlarged, with a solar to the east and a large integral kitchen added to the west.

Between 1474 and his execution by Richard III in 1483, Edward IV's Chamberlain Lord Hastings added the chapel and the impressive keep - like Hastings Tower - a castle within a castle. Later the castle hosted many royal visitors, including Henry VII, Mary Queen of Scots, James I and Charles I. It was a Royalist stronghold during the Civil War, and finally fell to Parliament in 1646, and was then made unusable. No under the guardianship of English Heritage visitors can now climb the 78 feet tower, which offers fine views of the countryside around, as well as also explore an underground passage from the kitchen to the tower, probably created during the Civil war. In its time Ashby Castle has also formed the backdrop to the famous jousting scenes in Sir Walter Scott's classic novel of 1819, Ivanhoe.

Jim F Bleak

Location: Ashby de la Zouch Castle , Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire Grid Reference: SK358166 Ceremonial County: Leicestershire Map Link: Multimap Aerial photo: Getting there: In Ashby de la Zouch, 12 miles S of Derby on A511. Restricted parking on site, please park in town car park. Access: Access to castle: Via 200m of grass, assistance may be required. Website: www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.11638 Other Useful Websites: Wiki Email: Address: Ashby de la Zouch Castle , Leicestershire Postcode: LE65 1BR Telephone: 01530 413343 Opening Times: 21 Mar-30 Jun and 1 Sep-31 Oct  Mon + Thu-Sun 10am to 5pm 1 Jul-31 Aug 10am-6pm Daily; 1 Nov-31 Mar 12pm-4pm Mon + Thu-Sun Charges: FREE to English Heritage Members. Everyone else Adult £3.70; Children: £1.90; Concession £3 and Family £9.30 Nearby Locations:  Conkers   and  Moira Furnace & Country Park, Leicestershire Other Location Pages: Notes:   CIN Page Ref: ashby_castle Classification: Castles Date Updated: 07/2008

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