Bungay Castle and Visitors Centre

Here on the high ground, virtually surrounded by the Waveney and a site of earlier fortifications, Hugh Bigod, as feudal lord, built a massive Norman keep in 1165. From this site the truculent Hugh terrorised the local Saxons and at times illegally occupied the castles at Norwich and Orford. In 1174 he supported Henry 11's rebellious sons in armed insurrection, which ended in surrender of the Castle to the King's forces and the payment of 1,000 Marks for his disloyalty. Hugh Bigod was killed in Syria on a crusade in 1178, at last fighting for his King.

A second castle was built by Roger Bigod in 1294, which protected the town with curtain walls and provided the famous twin towers of the gate house which remain today. Further information can be found on the Bigod Castle plinth by the entrance to the site and on our history page.

Following a successful bid for European 5b matched funding in 1997 by the Bungay Castle Trust, money was obtained for the conversion of a derelict garage site, on the approaches to the Castle, into a visitors centre.

The centre, officially opened in July 2000, provides a new entrance to the Castle and improved facilities for visitors. These include a courtyard cafe area, tourist information, heritage area and a model of medieval Bungay produced by The Bungay Society.
Initially the centre will be open during the tourist season but is available for booking for exhibitions and other events throughout the year.

Bungay Festival

The Festival starts and finishes at the Castle when the Bigod Flag is hoisted.