Knepp Castle

This article is about a medieval castle in West Sussex. For rewilding of the surrounding farmland, see Knepp Wildland.

Knepp Castle
The fragmentary remains of Knepp Castle as they stand today
Interactive map of the Knepp Castle area
General information
Location	Shipley, West Sussex, England
Coordinates	50.97578°N 0.34482°W / 50.97578; -0.34482
Construction started	12th century (probably)
Owner	Sir Charles Burrell, 10th Baronet
Height
Height	11 metres (36 ft)
Technical details
Material	Horsham Stone
Design and construction
Designations	Grade II listed building and scheduled monument

The medieval Knepp Castle (sometimes referred to as 'Old Knepp Castle', to distinguish it from the nearby 19th-century mansion) is to the west of the village of West Grinstead, in the parish of Shipley, West Sussex, England near the River Adur and the A24 (grid reference TQ163209). The castle was probably founded by the Braose family in the 12th century. King John confiscated the castle along with the Braose lands in 1208. Knepp was used as a hunting lodge, and John visited the castle several times. He ordered its destruction in both 1215 and 1216 during the First Barons' War.

The castle in the late 18th century, as published in Francis Grose's The antiquities of England and Wales, in a similar condition to today, but with a cavity at the north end which was later shored up with a buttress.

Knepp Castle continued to be used into the 14th century and hosted reigning monarchs on several occasions. The castle eventually fell out of use, and by the early 18th century was mostly destroyed. Later that century, stone from the castle was used to build a nearby road. The land around the castle is now the site of Knepp Wildland.