So lets get down to some history on Weeting Castle-
In the 1130's Hugh De Plais, a tenant of William De Warenne, Earl of Surrey, started the construction of his family home. It was a good time to be building in Norfolk. Warenne's own state-of-the-art construction at Castle Acre was well underway in these years, as was the magnificent Castle Rising, built by the powerful D'Albinis on the North-West coast of the County near Lynn. Over in Suffolk Hugh Bigod was rebuilding his family's castle at Framlingham of stone. Weeting was a less grand affair, but it presents us with a rare surviving example of a 12th century Manor house. Weeting Castle is an example of how the lesser gentry lived as opposed to the great magnates of state, the tenants in chief of the King. By the mid-12th century the Norman elite who had conquered along with King William were well established in England. They were stamping their authority and growing wealth with series of grand buildings.
Recent excavations have unearthed evidence of a Saxon settlement dating from at least the 10th century. Ditches, burnt daub, post-holes and pottery and a coin have been dated from this era. This should not come as a surprise, the area had been a hive of industry since prehistoric times, with the mysterious Grimes Graves flint mines having been worked since at least 3,000 BC. Norfolk was a well settled county before the Normans came, with Great East Anglian landowners like Archbishop of Canterbury Stigand owning many Manors. The new feudal owners often just demolished what was there already and built on top of it. Weeting is listed in the Domesday Book, spelt Wetynge meaning "wet fields".
What was the house like? Made of mortared flint rubble with stone dressings, it was originally designed as a free-standing, two story building with a lesser hall and chamber above. Its design was copied essentially from Warennes Castle Acre. Later in the 1100's the halls were combined to create a more impressive aisled hall open to a timbered roof. The hall was the most important room, hosting guests and the scene for important events. Each side of the hall supported benches with a dais and tables at the far end. Next to the hall was a service area, complete with pantry and buttery. On the other side of the open courtyard a free standing kitchen was later built for preparing animal and other food items. This no doubt smelly and messy part of the house was hidden from view by a wall, so genteel visitors crossing the moat to come into the hall wouldn't have to see it.
Historians think the moat, added in the 13th century was less a defensive device than it was an ornamental status symbol. The De Plais family were living the good life in this part of Norfolk and they wanted friends and neighbors to think well of them by displaying their wealth. The moat, which survives today but is now dry, is about 6ft deep and up to 30 ft wide. The family had their own private chamber beyond the hall. Divided into three story's, with a central fireplace it had its own latrine block which was the last word in the luxury hygiene of its day, three cubicles drained into the room at ground level. They were cleaned through a small door near the moat.
During the late 14th century the house came into the possession of the Howard family. This ambitious clan eventually captured the title of Dukes of Norfolk, coming to national prominence during the rule of Henry VIII. With great many properties making up their portfolio. Weeting had low priority and was abandoned by about 1390. In time it was incorporated into the grounds of the now demolished Weeting Hall, and became an ornamental, romantic ruin for the owners to show off. A domed ice house was built during the later 18th century. These buildings were used to store ice throughout the year.
Well my friends there you have it, that is the history on Weeting Castle. I hope you enjoyed it and found it to be as interesting as I have.
Until next time......
