Barnwell Castle
The castle was built during the reign of King Henry III by the powerful family of Berengar Le Moine. The 12 foot thick walls still rise to a height of 30 feet and dominate the wonderful garden and grounds of Barnwell Manor. Small vaulted rooms are concealed within the fabric of the castle walls, as is the body of Berengar's brother, Wintner - if one is to believe the ancient Northamptonshire legend. The castle has, since its construction in 1266, seen much of England's turbulent history. In 1621 it was used by its then owner, Sir Edward Montagu, as an arsenal for the Royal cause during the bitter struggle of the Civil War. Sir Edward, the grandson of the first Sir Edward Montagu, was an immensely wealthy man, and it was he who built the lovely manor in 1568 after a gift of the land by King Henry VIII.