Herstmonceux's History

A brief run-down of the Castle's history (based on the Queen's University website and the ever-reliable Wikipedia):


William the Bastard-cum-Conqueror led the Norman invasion of England in 1066. Sometime after the Battle of Hastings (of Bayeux Tapestry fame), one of William's supporters granted tenancy of the manor at Herste, a small Saxon settlement, to a guy named Wilbert. This grant is recorded in William's very ominous sounding Domesday Book, a survey of England meant to assess taxes owed by landholders.


Around the end of the next century, a lady of the Herste manor - presumably one of Wilbert's descendants - married a Norman nobleman of the Monceux family. The manor became "Herste of the Monceux," and then finally "Herstmonceux." But don't be fooled by the apparent Frenchness of the name - the correct pronunciation is "Herst-mon-soo."


In the mid 15th century, a Monceux descendant by the name of Roger Fiennes was appointed Treasurer of the Household of King Henry VI. Roger wanted a house befitting his rank, so in 1441 construction on Herstmonceux Castle began at the site of the old manor. 


Fun fact: Herstmonceux Castle is the oldest brick building of any note still standing in England!


Somewhat more recently, the Castle passed through several private owners until 1946, when the British Admiralty converted it into the home of the Royal Greenwich Observatory. Roughly half a century later, Queen's University alums Drs. Alfred and Isabel Bader bought the Castle. They donated it to their alma mater with the idea that it could serve as an international study centre. 


And here I am, studying internationally.