Yelden Castle

Yelden Castle is a 12th-century motte-and-bailey fortress located in Bedfordshire, England, with earthworks that remain visible today. Built in the late 11th or early 12th century by the Trelly family, the castle features a distinctive mound surrounded by baileys to the north and west, along with remnants of a large fishpond. The site was garrisoned during the reign of Henry II and largely abandoned by 1360. Archaeological excavations conducted in 1881 and 1882 uncovered a 13th-century stone curtain, revealing the castle's original construction techniques. Though only earthworks persist, Yelden Castle offers insight into medieval military architecture and settlement patterns in East Anglia.