Knepp Castle is a medieval building between Shipley and West Grinstead, very close to the A24 south of Horsham.  The castle stands on a mound, known in Old English as a “cnaep”, which is thought to be the origin of the name “Knepp”

Built in the 12th century by William de Braose as a motte and baily fortress, the castle was rebuilt in stone in 1214 by King John, when a 2-storey keep was incorporated.  The building has hosted a lot of royalty, including Henry III, Edward II and Richard II.  In later years the castle was allowed to deteriorate and by the early 18th century it had almost completely fallen into disrepair.  A hundred years later Sir Charles Burrell started to look after the remains, fencing them and reinforcing to prevent further damage.

At around the same time, Sir Charles Burrell built a castellated gothic mansion close to the site of the castle and this building is now known as Knepp Castle.

The remains of the castle itself still stand on the “cnaep”, which was a natural mound and is surrounded by a ditch fed from a pond and ramparts.  This created a moat which 300 years ago was still full of water.  Now all that remains is one wall, around 8 feet thick, containing a doorway with an opening above and can been seen briefly as you pass through on the A24.  These remains are thought to have been part of the original keep.

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Naturally there are many things to consider when you decide to build your own home, but here are a few of the more important ones.