Astwell Castle is a manor house located in Helmdon, Northamptonshire, England. The gatehouse dates back to the 15th century, part of a medieval manor house. The manor house was later demolished by Geroge Shirley, who then built another property on the land in 1606.
Astwell Castle as it looks today.
THE HISTORY OF ASTWELL CASTLE
The exact date Astwell Manor was built is uncertain, however, the De Wauncys were amongst the earliest holders of the property. Robert De Wauncy, who witnessed the Magna Carta (1215), was documented as owning the property during the reign of Henry III (1216-1272).
The manor then changed hands a few times before being purchased by Thomas Lovett II in 1492. The Lovett family then owned the property for many years. The building of Astwell Castle has actually been attributed to Tomas Lovett II.
The castle was handed down through the Lovett family until 1763. It was then sold to Richard Grenville-Temple, a British politician. The property would later pass to his nephew, George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, and then George’s son, Richard Plantagenet Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville in 1813.
Richard Plantagenet Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville
Richard Plantagenet Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, who has possibly the longest name we have ever seen, was the 2nd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos. While he owned the property it consisted of 6 homes with 46 inhabitants.
Two fairly remarkable events took place in his life, he was divorced, at a time when it required an Act of Parliament. He also went bankrupt in 1847, despite being born in an incredibly wealthy family. His debts, of over one million pounds, is the equivalent of £135 million today. This forced him to sell Astwell Castle in 1850 to the Earl of Southampton.
The Earl of Southampton sold the property in 1862 to Lord Penrhyn, at which time there were 5 homes and 37 inhabitants. By 1874 the house had largely fallen into disrepair and was being used as a farmhouse. It wasn’t until 1958 that the property was restored for a Mrs. Joan Wake. The property also became a Grade II listed building in the 1950s.
Astwell Castle as it looked in 1914.
In 1943, at the height of WWII, a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber from USAAF station 109 Podington crashed near the castle farm buildings. It had taken off on its way with the rest of the squadron on a mission to bomb the industrial complex at Solingen, Germany. All 10 crew members died in the crash.
The memorial dedicated to the 10 US Army Air Corps Personnel at Astwell Castle.
On 9 November 2008, Lt Col Terry Hayes, Deputy Commander of the USAF 422nd Air Base Group laid a special wreath and read out the names of the US airmen. The men were included in the 2008 Remembrance Service at Helmdon parish church.
THE HOUSE TODAY
Astwell Castle went on the market for £1.5 million (just under $2 million) in 2020. The property features three reception rooms, four bedrooms, and two bathrooms. The gate tower isn’t currently in use and requires work to make it livable.
There are also numerous outbuildings, a swimming pool, stables and 30 acres of land.
