Visit it: Tattersall Castle - A Tower That Tells Time.
In the flat landscape of Lincolnshire, Tattershall Castle rises like a storybook tower — bold, red, and full of history. It’s not just a castle; it’s a place where centuries of ambition, design, and drama come together in brick and silence.
Built in the 1440s by Lord Ralph Cromwell, Treasurer to King Henry VI, the castle was designed to impress. At a time when most castles were made of stone, Cromwell chose brick — a rare and expensive material. Over 700,000 bricks were used to build the Great Tower, making it one of the finest examples of medieval brickwork in England.
A Castle Built to Be Seen
Tattershall Castle wasn’t just built for defence — it was built to show off. The seven-storey tower includes huge fireplaces, tall windows, and winding staircases. Cromwell’s personal emblems — a purse and a gromwell plant — are carved into the walls, quietly reminding visitors of his power and position.
The castle’s layout is clever. A double moat surrounds the tower, not just for protection but for drama. Visitors had to walk around the moats to reach the entrance, giving them time to admire the building from every angle.
A Place of Peace and Perspective
Today, the castle is surrounded by wildflower meadows, red ruins, and open skies. From the top of the tower, you can see across the Fens and Wolds — and if you’re lucky, spot planes flying from nearby RAF Coningsby. Also see if you can see Boston Stump and Lincoln Cathedral.
Inside, the castle is mostly unfurnished, but it holds treasures of its own. Flemish tapestries hang in the Great Tower, showing scenes from the Bible and ancient history. The stained glass windows, added during a 20th-century restoration, tell the story of the castle’s owners — from Norman knights to Lord Curzon, who saved the castle from ruin in 1911.
Snap It: What to Capture
The red bricks glowing in sunlight
Spiral staircases worn smooth by centuries of footsteps
Graffiti from the 1600s carved into stone
Stained glass windows lit by afternoon light
The view from the battlements — wide, quiet, and full of sky
What to Do When You Visit
Climb the 149 steps to the top of the tower
Explore the echoing chambers and turret rooms
Hunt for historical graffiti — the oldest dates back to 1634
Enjoy a picnic in the grounds or borrow a blanket from the National Trust
Visit the second-hand bookshop and browse for hidden gems
Thought Prompt: Can a building hold a memory?
Tattershall Castle does. It holds the memory of ambition, of rescue, of quiet pride. It’s a place where history isn’t just told — it’s felt.
