Acton Burnell Castle

The red sandstone ruins of Acton Burnell Castle are situated near to the village of Acton Burnell in Shropshire. The castle was built in the late 13th century by Robert Burnell, Bishop of Bath and Wells and advisor to King Edward I, as a fortified manor house, although the large first floor windows indicate the castle was constructed more for show than protection.

Castle Layout

The castle resembles a Norman Keep, it was rectangular and three storeys high with a battlemented tower in each corner. Inside the castle the ground floor had storage and service facilities. There was a large square hall over the second and third floor and the floors also contained living quarters. Robert Burnell also built the nearby Church of St Mary.

Further Information

In 1283, during a visit from King Edward I to Acton, the first Parliament of England at which commoners were represented was held there in an adjacent barn.  

Following the death of Robert Burnell in 1292 the castle passed down his family line but by 1420 the castle was abandoned and left to ruin.

Hauntings

Acton Burnell Castle is apparently haunted by a ghost of a young girl dressed in white and wandering about making scratching noises.  In 2004, a student captured a picture of a “misty” face and heard scratching sounds.

Present Day

Today just the shell of the fortified manor house remains but with a little imagination you can imagine what an impressive house it once was. The Grade I listed building is now looked after by the English Heritage and admission it is free to visit.