Farleigh Hungerford Castle

Farleigh Hungerford Castle, a few miles to the south of Bath, is a ruined reminder of an age when an English knight's home was his castle. The manor at Farleigh was first fortified by Sir Thomas Hungerford in 1370 (he got into trouble for doing this without permission). Nowadays the castle ruins are not extensive, although two towers, walls, a gatehouse, crypt and fourteenth-century chapel are standing. The chapel contains grand tombs of the Hungerford family and a fresco of St George.

The castle, situated in the small village of Farleigh Hungerford, is managed by English Heritage. A good audio-guide is available to help visitors find their way around the site.

The best days to visit are when there is a special event. English Heritage organise a great series of historical re-enactments, plays and fairs. Children will love the colourful knights and storytellers. It's not all fighting, though - all the events are educational, and children (sometimes adults too) may have a go at historical activities such as dancing or archery. There's always a lot of fun as well as a lot of learning as the knights, damsels and minstrels bring history to life. A calendar of events can be found on the English Heritage website (see right-hand panel).

Farleigh Hungerford is 9 miles south-east of Bath. If you are using public transport, you should be prepared to walk or take a taxi: the nearest stations are at Avoncliff (2 miles) and Trowbridge (3½ miles) and the nearest bus stop is over a mile away.

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