Overlooking the Essex Marshes on the edge of the Thames Estuary, Hadleigh Castle offers a romantic ruin of a once royal fortification. The original structure was begun by Hubert de Burgh in 1230, but the was extensively overhauled in the 1360s by Edward III. There is a fine barbican and two striking eastern drum towers remaining. Research by archeoligists has found evidence of Roman activity on the site which is now overseen by English Heritage.
