Photo of Colchester Castle, a ruined castle in Essex, eastern England.

Colchester CastlePhoto Phil Hearing / Unsplash

Castles & strongholds in EssexEssex, England

18 castles in the Albion Guide across Essex — see the full castles directory, or everything to explore in Essex.

Iconic

Colchester Castle

Castle near Colchester

Largest Norman keep, built on a Roman temple.

Highlight

Hedingham Castle

Castle near Castle Hedingham

Tall, well-preserved Norman keep with banqueting hall.

Highlight

Tilbury Fort

Artillery fort near Rochester

Star-shaped 17th-century artillery fort on the Thames, England's best-preserved of its kind.

Hadleigh Castle

Castle near Leigh-on-Sea

Hadleigh Castle: an enclosure castle and an associated dam and mill

Rayleigh Castle

Castle near Leigh-on-Sea

A medieval castle in Essex.

Canfield Castle

Castle near Great Dunmow

Canfield Castle and associated moated enclosure

Ongar Castle

Castle near Shenfield

A medieval castle in Essex.

Pleshey Castle

Castle near Pleshey

Pleshey Castle and town enclosure

Bury Hill

Motte & bailey · Castle near Saffron Walden

Bury Hill: a motte and bailey castle west of Castle Lane

Bishop Bonner’s Palace

Ringwork near Stanford-le-Hope

Ringwork and bailey known as Bishop Bonner’s Palace, Orsett

Blunts Hall ringwork

Ringwork near Maldon

The earthworks of a Norman ringwork castle in Essex.

Castle Grove

Ringwork near Saffron Walden

Castle Grove: a ringwork 370m north-west of Elmdon church

Clavering Castle

Ringwork near Braughing

Clavering Castle: a ringwork with associated earthworks north of the church of St Mary and St Clement

Crump

Ringwork near Braughing

The Crump: a ringwork 600m south of Berden

Great Easton motte

Motte & bailey · Castle near Great Dunmow

Great Easton motte castle

Mount (Essex)

Motte & bailey · Castle near Great Dunmow

The Mount: a motte castle in Stebbing Park

Park Wood

Ringwork near Saffron Walden

Park Wood: a ringwork 75m north-east of Holy Trinity Church

Stansted Castle

Ringwork near Much Hadham

Stansted Castle: a ringwork and associated bailey 100m north of Elms Farm