Bletsoe
Bletsoe Castle

Places > Bletsoe > Historic Houses

Bletsoe Castle stands on the site of a medieval moated manor house with an associated 16-17th century garden enclosure and landscape earthworks

Bletsoe Castle was the birthplace of Lady Margaret Beaufort who married Edmund Tudor. Their son became Henry became Henry V11 founder of the Tudor dynasty. Many of the medieval earthworks have been destroyed and Bletsoe Castle is now a private house. Crossing the moat in front of the house is Grade 11 listed 16th century stone bridge.

The antiquarian Samuel Lysons wrote of Bletsoe Castle at the beginning of the 19th century, "the greater part of the mansion has been long ago pulled down; what remains is converted into a farm-house. It appears to have formed one side of a large quadrangular building, of the style of architecture, which prevailed in the early part of the 17th century. Vestiges of ancient castellated mansion are plainly discernible, near the house"

Sources:

• Newspaper Cuttings Collection, Local Studies Library, Bedford Central Library

Bletsoe Castle, Bletsoe by Bedfordshire Libraries, 2011

Page last updated: 23rd January 2014