What is recorded here

John Pateshull received royal permission to fortify his Bletsoe manor in 1327, creating a massive defensive ring around a ordinary home. The resulting moat stretches 130 metres across and cuts nearly three metres deep into the Bedfordshire earth. Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, was born within those walls, linking this quiet rural estate to the highest throne in England. Centuries later, human ambition dismantled much of the stone structure, yet the ancient water-filled ditch remains the true heartbeat of the castle.

The National Heritage List for England records Moated site with garden earthworks at Bletsoe Castle as a scheduled monument. The saved point comes from the centre supplied by the official record. Listing does not by itself mean that the public may enter the place.

Built in the 13th century, Bletsoe Castle was held by the powerful de Bletsoe family and later by the Mowbray Earls of Northampton, making it an important medieval stronghold in central England. Its moated site and garden earthworks reflect the social and administrative significance of the castle in the regional landscape.

The historic-place record does not grant public access. Check current conditions and ownership before entering land or a building.