Unlike many of the West Midlands’ castles—from Warwick to Weoley—Maxstoke Castle stands unique in that it’s not only pretty much completely intact, but it also remains privately owned. In fact, the Fetherston-Dilke family have been in continuous occupancy of this 14th-century moated fortress for over 400 years.
The building of Maxstoke Castle was commissioned by Sir William de Clinton, the 1st Earl of Huntingdon, and was completed around 1345. The Grade I building would change hands numerous times in the years following, before the Dilkes family bought Maxstoke in 1599.
Where is Maxstoke Castle?
Located on the outskirts of Birmingham, on the grounds of Maxstoke Park Golf Club, Maxstoke is less than a 30-minute drive from the city centre—with its closest town being Coleshill. But as one of the oldest inhabited castles in England, you can’t just turn up whenever you want.
Maxstoke Castle only opens to the public one day a year (usually in mid-June) to raise money for local charities. You can, however, book private tours of the castle and grounds, which occur throughout the year, while Maxstoke Castle can also be hired privately. Anything from film productions to weddings.
Why visit Maxstoke Castle?
It’s well worth visiting if you can get inside. The castle is perfectly square (60 yards by 60 yards) and surrounded by a moat of flowing water. And while it has undergone some modifications over the centuries, the original medieval curtain walls remain—surviving everything from the Civil War to WW2.
Inside, you will also find a multitude of fascinating treasures, including a ‘Whispering Door’ once belonging to Kenilworth Castle following its dismantlement; a 15th-century chair on which Henry VII was crowned after the Battle of Bosworth; and a table owned by the infamous Gunpowder plotter, Sir Everard Digby.
You can keep an eye out for future openings of Maxstoke Castle by heading here.
