Things to see and do at Farleigh Hungerford Castle
To help you plan your trip to Farleigh Hungerford Castle, here's more details about the things to see and do, including the free audio guide, special activities for kids, and what to expect to see in the castle, chapel, crypt and Priest's House.
Take the audio tour
The free audio tour at Farleigh Hungerford Castle describes the role the Hungerford family and the castle played in history, as well as taking you to key points of interest around the site.
The Hungerford family suffered more than its share of troubles. Two family members were executed during the Wars of the Roses. A Tudor Lady Hungerford burnt her murdered first husband's body in the kitchen furnace. And the Lord Hungerford who imprisoned his wife here for four years was beheaded by Henry VIII for treason and witchcraft.
Hear all this and more in the entertaining free audio guide when you visit.
Tour the Towers
Two towers remain visible providing clues as to their circular design. Inside, there would have been a spiral staircase to reach the five stories.
Patches of the plasterwork still exist. The South West or Lady Tower, which is the tallest surviving tower, is thought to be where Lady Elizabeth Hungerford was imprisoned by her husband in the 1530s.
Explore the chapel
Pass through the lovely garden and the gateway to see a carving of the Hungerford badge as you move towards the chapel. Inside you can see the faded wall paintings, carved family tombs and grave slabs as well as the beautiful stained-glass windows.
Still used for local events, the chapel at Farleigh Hungerford has a pulpit and altarpiece carved from timberwork salvaged from the state rooms of the original castle.
Learn about lead coffins in the crypt
Underneath the chapel at Farleigh Hungerford is a burial vault holding the best collection of human-shaped lead coffins in Britain.
The coffins still contain the embalmed remains of four men, two women and two children, thought to be members of the Hungerford family.
If you look closely, you can see that some have faces moulded onto them - death masks cast from the faces of the deceased. It's a chilling glimpse into the past. Read more about these coffins here.
The Priest's House
Built in 1430 to accommodate the chantry priest, The Priest's House later became a dairy and then a famhouse after the Reformation.
Today it houses an exhibition of the history of the castle. Inside, you can see displays of Hungerford armour, a model of the castle and a collection of finds from the castle, as well as pictures of the castle from different periods. Read more about the history of Farleigh Hungerford Castle here.
Family-friendly Farleigh Hungerford
Families are very welcome at Farleigh Hungerford castle. Visit, and you'll find a range of activities including bows and arrows (and targets!) in front of the shop for active outdoor playing, plus a reading room with a book box in the Priest's House for any little ones who fancy a quieter moment during their visit.
There are also activity sheets for children, and we regularly offer special family-friendly events during the school holidays. Check out What's On for Families for more details.