Castle Farmhouse And Ruins Of Melbourne Castle And Outbuildings

Castle Farmhouse and the ruins of Melbourne Castle, with associated outbuildings, date back to approximately 1311, with subsequent additions from the 15th and 16th centuries, and further work in the early 18th century, the 19th century, and the 20th century. The farmhouse is constructed of red brick on a stone plinth, featuring flush stone quoins and a plain tile roof with brick coped gables and a central brick ridge stack. The castle walls are built of ashlar and rubble stone.

The farmhouse is two storeys plus attics, with a three-bay front, plus a single-storey wing to the east. The main east-facing elevation is partly obscured by a glazed lean-to, with a brick porch at the south end. Behind this is a flat-headed two-light casement window to the north, a wide, segmental-headed three-light window centrally, and a 19th-century four-centred arched doorcase, containing a 20th-century studded door. To the south, the single-storey wing has two 20th-century three-light windows. Above, there are two tall, flat-headed two-light windows, with a small blocked opening between. Further up, in the attic, are five gabled roof dormers. The north gable wall has segmental-headed three-light windows to the ground and first floors, and a tall, similarly sized two-light window above. The east elevation exhibits a similar mix of segmental-headed and flat-headed windows. All windows have 20th-century leaded casements.

Attached to the east of the farmhouse stands a tall castle wall of rubble construction, approximately 20 feet high and extending around 20 yards. Various later brick outbuildings are attached to the north side, while the south side has been excavated to reveal the moulded ashlar plinths of two polygonal towers.

The farmhouse interior contains three large raised oak cruck trusses in the attic, and remnants of an oak newel staircase. There are large chamfered beams to the ground and first floors, likely re-used from the castle, along with various re-used 17th and 18th century doors from other houses.

Melbourne Castle was initially built around 1311, when a license to crenellate was granted by the Duke of Lancaster to Robert Holland. Significant repairs were undertaken between 1483 and 1485. It was sold in 1604 by the Crown to the Earl of Huntingdon, who subsequently demolished it in 1637.