Eye Castle

Eye Castle, located in the town of Eye in England, was constructed by the Normans soon after their conquest of England in 1066. The castle was established by William Malet, a Norman nobleman who held significant estates in the region. The Malet family managed the Honour of Eye, a large estate network that included both the castle itself and the surrounding parkland.

The castle quickly became a notable economic as well as military asset. By the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, Eye Castle was one of only two castles recorded as sources of income, thanks to a market operating within its bailey. This market competed directly with the nearby market at Hoxne, overseen by the Bishop of Norwich.

Following William Malet’s death in 1071 during fighting against the rebel Hereward the Wake, the castle passed to his son Robert. However, Robert was eventually exiled and died in 1106, leading King Henry I to confiscate Eye Castle. Henry briefly held the castle as a royal possession before granting it in 1113 to his nephew Stephen, who later became king in 1135. During Stephen’s turbulent reign, marked by the civil war known as the Anarchy (1138–1154), Eye Castle passed through various hands, including lieutenants and Stephen’s son William. Despite unrest in the region, the castle itself saw little direct conflict during this period.

After Henry II ascended the throne in 1154, he took back control of Eye Castle in 1157 to reinforce royal authority. This action was supported by the death of William, Stephen’s son, in 1159, which ended Stephen’s family’s direct hold over the Honour of Eye. In 1173, during a widespread revolt against Henry II, Hugh Bigod, a powerful noble, attacked Eye Castle but failed to capture it. Following this, the castle was reinforced, including the construction of two square towers on its inner bailey, reflecting broader defensive improvements seen at nearby Framlingham Castle.

The castle faced significant damage in 1265 when it was attacked and sacked during the Second Barons’ War, a conflict between royal forces and rebellious barons. After this assault, Eye Castle gradually fell into disuse and was largely abandoned as a military stronghold. By the 14th century, it was mostly in ruins, though parts of the site served as a prison. The surrounding estates continued to generate income through converted monetary rents for centuries afterward.

Between 1561 and 1562, a windmill was constructed atop the castle’s motte, repurposing this prominent earthwork for industrial use. In the early 1600s, the medieval parkland that once surrounded the castle was divided into agricultural fields, marking a shift in land use.

In the 19th century, the castle’s bailey saw new developments, including the construction of a workhouse and school in the 1830s. A later windmill on the motte was demolished in 1844 by Sir Edward Kerrison, who built a stone house there for his servant who had saved his life at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. This house was crafted with flint and designed to look like a medieval shell keep. Known informally as Kerrison’s Folly, it deteriorated severely after storm damage in 1965 and has since become a ruin.

Today, Eye Castle is recognized as both a scheduled monument and a Grade I listed building, highlighting its historical importance. The traditional role of Constable of the Castle remains linked to the Lord of the Manor of Eye Sokemere, a title historically held by the Palmer family of nearby Haughley.