Norfolk isn't somewhere I'd immediately associate with castles and fortifications. With no necessity to defend against enemies, it's more a county of stately homes and rural retreats. There are, though, some to be found - 'humps and lumps' at Castle Acre, ruins at Baconsthorpe - of which I feel the best is Castle Rising.
The castle sits beside the village of the same name, not far from King's Lynn. From a distance it seems hidden, crouching behind the remains of encircling walls, now an earthen bank which can be walked round.
From the vantage point of the walls, the castle seems like a model, but up close its height is striking .
This wasn't a castle aimed at defense but something more akin to a country house/hunting lodge.
It's been well-preserved and restored, so you can walk up the grand staircase which visitors would have used - whether on business or pleasure.
The details on arches and doorways show this to have been a very fine residence indeed.
The floor of the main hall collapsed long ago but a corridor to its side allows you to explore.
And if you're more nimble than I am, you can go higher up a winding stairway. It's a place full of atmosphere, where it's easy to imagine past residents going about their lives.
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