English Heritage

A showpiece fortified manor house rather than a castle, the brick-built Kirby Muxloe Castle was begun in 1480 by William, Lord Hastings.

Today you can wander around Kirby Muxloe Castle’s picturesque moat and explore its fine gatehouse and complete corner tower. See if you can spot the ‘pictures in the walls’ created using darker bricks on the gatehouse, including a boat, a jug and even Lord Hastings’ initials.

Hastings was a leading supporter of the Yorkist King Edward IV. But when Edward died, the future king Richard III suddenly denounced Hastings as a traitor, and Hastings was beheaded without trial.

Work on Kirby Muxloe Castle stopped, and the castle was never completed.

You can visit Kirby Muxloe Castle on a guided tour on selected days.