CASTLES BEDFORD

Cainhoe Castle is an 11th-century Norman motte and triple bailey castle located near Clophill in Bedfordshire, England. Built by Nigel d'Aubigny following the Norman Conquest, the castle served as the seat of the Barony of Cainhoe and remained in the d'Aubigny family until 1272. Occupied continuously until the Black Death in 1348, it fell into ruin by 1374 and was abandoned. Archaeological excavations in 1973, 1985, and 1986 revealed earthworks and associated features. Today, Cainhoe Castle is a Scheduled Monument, designated since 1929, and stands as a rare surviving example of Norman motte-and-bailey construction preserved as archaeological earthworks.

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.