National Trust - Tattershall Castle — Attraction in East Lindsey

Beautiful and breathtaking Castle situated in the picturesque setting of Lincolnshire Fens. It is one of the best and most iconic that the National Trust with the Castle dating back to the 1400s and the architecture is absolutely fantastic with the beautiful red bricked architecture showing how well and solid the Castle was constructed from the medieval times and the Castle has to be one of the first brick built Castles in the UK. There are various rooms to see inside the Castle as you make your way to the Roof and these include the Parlour on the ground floor where you can view an informative and interesting introductory video about the History of the Castle and also view some interesting and good conditioned Castle artefacts. The other rooms on the ascent to the roof include the Great Hall, The Private Chamber and the Audience Chamber where the fireplaces in the Great Hall and the Audience Chamber with the beautiful decorative shields above the fireplace and also the Tapestries in the Audience Chamber are beautifully presented and the attention to detail absolutely outstanding. The corridor down to the Audience Chamber is also amazing with the different shields displayed on the Ceiling. There are a number of stained glass windows in all of the rooms and again these are displayed in magnificent and marvellous detail and in each of the rooms there are a lot of information displays detailing the rooms and their uses, which is very informative, useful, enlightening and interesting. The roof of the Castle or the top of the Castle Keep as some would like to call it as some picturesque and surrounding views views towards RAF Coningsby, Boston Stump (St Botolph's Church), Lincoln Cathedral and the Lincoln Cathedral and The Lincolnshire Wolds where there informative information displays about what you can see and the distance they are away from the Castle. There is also beautiful picturesque walk around the Castle where you can marvel at the wonderful Moat and the stunning brickwork architecture and the picturesque setting also makes for a great place to enjoy a picnic. The Guardhouse which is the entrance to The Castle houses a range of second hand books and small selection of gifts and food at reasonable prices. Overall this is an outstanding Castle to visit, marvel at its stunning brickwork architecture and the beautiful picturesque views of the surrounding area and picturesque walk around the Moat. Definitely a fantastic National Trust...

Situated just over 20 miles south east of Lincoln, Tattershall Castle was built by Lord Ralph Cromwell in the 15th century when he became Lord Treasurer of England.

As the original castle built in the 13th century was not deemed grand enough for Lord Cromwell’s new position the existing castle was built in brick to show off his wealth, position and power.

The castle has a basement that was used to store spices, etc., and four floors. The ground floor was the parlour, the first floor the Hall, which was used to entertain guests. The second floor was the Audience Chamber, where only selected guests would be invited and the third floor was the Lord’s Private Chamber where he would retire for the night. Each floor has a huge gothic fireplace.

Finally at the top are the roof gallery and battlements, giving great views of Lincolnshire.

The castle has a double moat, this was not just a defensive feature but ensured visitors would need two lots of permission to access the Castle.

After Cromwell’s death, the castle passed to the Crown and granted to various loyal subjects until the 16th century when it was gifted to the Duke of Suffolk. Upon his death it was inherited firstly by the Clinton family and then the Fortesque’s. As the Fortesque’s lived mainly in Devon, the castle was abandoned and became derelict. In the early 20th century, they sold the castle to an American consortium who later sold it to Lord Curzon, who set about restoring the remaining buildings. It was first opened as a tourist attraction in 1914 and passed to the National Trust upon Lord Curzon’s death in 1925.

The Great Tower is one of the earliest and finest surviving examples of English medieval brickwork and is well worth a visit. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Although not part of the National Trust, whilst visiting, it is well worth popping next door to see the Collegiate Church of the Holy Trinity and Bebe Houses...

Tattershall Castle stands as a dramatic and unusual presence in the flat fenland of Lincolnshire. Managed by the National Trust, this impressive 15th-century red-brick tower is one of the finest surviving examples of medieval brickwork in England. Built by Ralph Cromwell, Lord Treasurer to Henry VI, the castle was designed less for defence and more as a bold display of wealth and status – and nearly 600 years later, it still delivers.

The castle consists primarily of a single Great Tower, rising four storeys high. Visitors can explore a series of grand rooms linked by a spiral staircase, with each floor offering glimpses into late-medieval life. Highlights include vast Gothic windows, carved fireplaces, and vaulted chambers. The rooftop offers outstanding panoramic views over the surrounding countryside, and the sense of elevation – both literal and symbolic – is palpable.

Interpretation across the site is clear and informative, striking a good balance between architectural detail and human story. Particularly compelling is the tale of the castle’s early 20th-century rescue by Lord Curzon, who stepped in to prevent it being dismantled and shipped to America.

Practical facilities are good: there’s parking, a tearoom, a shop, and well-kept grounds ideal for picnicking. However, the site is not easily accessible for those with limited mobility due to the many steps and absence of lifts. Families and history enthusiasts will enjoy the site, though the visit can be relatively brief – typically 1 to 2 hours.

Also worth a visit is the adjacent Holy Trinity Collegiate Church, a beautiful and historic building that complements the...