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Hedingham
Highlights
The Great Hall
Hedingham Castle was built, starting in about 1141, by Aubrey de Vere, earl of
Oxford and is still owned by one of his descendants.
Hedingham has the best-preserved interior of any 12th century keep. More than
anywhere else in the country, at Hedingham we can imagine what living in such
a splendid castle must have been like.
The main selling-point of Hedingham is the second floor, which contains the great
hall. Here Aubrey de Vere would have dined in style and been entertained by poets
and musicians. It is almost twice the height of the other floors, and is lit by
a minstrel's gallery which runs around the top of the walls. The hall's most spectacular
feature is the great arch which spans the entire width of the room. At 8.4m (28ft)
across, this is the biggest Norman arch in England.
The transcript from the voice over for the video:
“Come in and take a look at this. Headingham Castle is in amazing nick.
It was built just a few years after Rochester, almost contemporary. More than
anywhere else in England, I think, you really get a sense of luxury of medieval
living at the top of society. I mean look, look at the detail in this carving.
Its like it was carved yesterday, and yet it was carved 850 years ago. And over
here, this fantastic fireplace, again think back to Rochester. Think how worn
away all these kind of details were, and look at this one.
Rochester has had to put up with the wind, the rain for hundreds of years because
the floors disappeared where as Headingham, the owners have managed to keep the
floors. Just take a look at this. This is the centrepiece of the room. A fantastic
Norman Arch, the biggest Norman arch in all of England.”
Graphic version
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