Discover Fillongley: Castle Yard, Hastings and wine

Castle Yard, Castle Hills and Blabers Hall Wine Estate appeal to different interests: medieval castle forms, historical use and vineyard tours. These details can help you choose the focus of your stay without combining the attractions into a single itinerary.

Castles and their history

Castle Yard is on the southern edge of Fillongley. The monument includes the remains of the masonry and earthworks of a ringwork castle, as well as its associated bailey. Castle Yard is one of only two known examples of this type of monument in Warwickshire. This allows the site to be understood both through its structure and its significance in comparison with others in the county. The surviving masonry and earthworks point to different parts of the castle complex; the bailey broadens the view of the monument beyond the core of the fortification.

From the early 12th century, Castle Yard was occupied by the Hastings family and served as their principal seat in Warwickshire. This role adds a specific historical context to the architectural classification: alongside the question of what type of castle it was, its role for the Hastings family is also central. If you are interested in local history, Castle Yard brings together the study of a fortification and the history of a family and its principal seat in the county.

Castle Hills is a well-preserved example of a motte-and-bailey castle. The monument also includes an area of ridge-and-furrow cultivation. The castle form provides a different point of comparison from Castle Yard’s ringwork: the motte is the raised part of the castle, while the associated bailey completes the site as an outer enclosure. The cultivated area further broadens the historical perspective to include land use. Castle Hills is therefore about not only the castle form, but also the farmland associated with the monument.

The two sites can therefore be viewed through different features. At Castle Yard, the ringwork castle, the bailey and its role as the Hastings family’s principal seat are central themes. Castle Hills represents the well-preserved motte-and-bailey form and the area of ridge-and-furrow cultivation. This comparison helps you distinguish between architectural form, historical use and agricultural context, rather than grouping both monuments together under the general term “castle”.

Vineyard tours and tastings

Blabers Hall Wine Estate adds a different focus to the historical themes. Adele and Clarke Adams founded the winery when they planted the first vines at their home in Fillongley. This origin story puts the beginnings of the winery and its two founders at the centre. Unlike Castle Yard and Castle Hills, the focus here is not a castle complex, but the founding of a winery and viticulture.

Blabers Hall Wine Estate offers vineyard tours and tastings. If you would like to include one of these experiences in your travel plans, check the arrangements for tours and tastings before you arrive. This lets you plan specifically for the part of your trip that involves a wine experience.

Choose the focus of your stay

For a history-focused stay, Castle Yard brings together castle architecture and the Hastings family; Castle Hills adds a different castle form and an area shaped by agriculture. If you are more interested in wine, Blabers Hall Wine Estate offers a distinct experience, with its founding story as well as tours and tastings. Consider which subject matters most to you: the different historical aspects of the monuments, or an offered vineyard experience. This distinction gives your travel plans a clear direction.

Discover more destinations: Leamington Spa, Alcester, Baginton, Haseley, Southam, Kingsbury, Sutton Coldfield, Lapworth

For the broader travel overview: Warwickshire.