John Constable, Hadleigh Castle,
Then and Now

1829 painting by John Constable

The castle today, 200 years on and less of it survives

This is the nearest correct angle for the wall and tower but I am too low down, I need to be immediately behind where I am standing on the top of a piece of remaining tower.

Back further and you can see the piece of wall running along on the left and the tower on which Constable stood to do his painting on the right. There would have been more of it in his time.

Another view the wall is now in front and the remains of the tower he stood on behind.

Looking back from the larger tower on the top, you can see more of the wall remains.

Its still wide open from up here and when we took these photos in March 2010
 it was windy and very cold, although a nice day.

Quite a bit of the walls and parts of a number of towers from this castle, that was built starting in 1274, still exists in what is now a country park.

Edward III was the first King to see the strategic importance of Hadleigh Castle. It was ideally situated as a base for defending the Thames Estuary against French raids during the Hundred Years War.

Edward's claim to the French throne had led to war with France. The need for a more systematic defence of the Thames Estuary led the King to refurbish and extend Hadleigh Castle and to build Queenborough Castle on the opposite Kent shore.

In 1370 it was refurbished over a period of 10 years by Edward III, and was one of the Kings favourite retreats.

English Heritage's page on the History of the Castle has a drawing of what it probably looked like when complete.

Location: John Constable, Hadleigh Castle, Hadleigh, Essex Grid Reference: TQ810860 Ceremonial County: Essex Map Link: Multimap Aerial photo: Getting there: At the end of a road from Hadlieigh, and a walk up the hill. 3⁄4 mile South of A13 at Hadleigh. Access: Open site. by path, car parking at the end of the road (roadside - free) Website: English Heritage - own     History of the Castle Other Useful Websites: copy of painting maybe another  Wikipedia on the Castle Email: Address: Postcode: Telephone: Opening Times: Open all the time Charges: None Nearby Locations: Other Location Pages: Then and Now Locations     John Constable Painting Locations     John Constables Painting Locations Then and Now   Flatford Mill Other Relevant Pages: Then and Now Photography Notes:

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By: Keith Park	Section: Photography Section	Key:
Page Ref: Constable_Hadleigh_Castle	Topic: Comparative Photography	Last Updated: 08/2010

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