Berkhamsted Castle

Drainage works are currently being undertaken by Hertfordshire County Council in the roads surrounding Berkhamsted Castle, to the rear of Berkhamsted Station. During these works, Berkhamsted Castle remains open to the public.

Flooded moats – drone shot by Brian Davis 2021

For many years there has been a regular flooding problem at the bottom of Bridgewater Road, by the mini roundabout at the junction with Brownlow Road. When there is heavy rain, water runs down the surrounding hills and collects here and has been known, at times, to cover the whole junction. In February 2021, the Castle had to be closed due to the moats flooding. Berkhamsted Castle was actually built in this location by the Normans due to the abundance of water.

Hertfordshire County Council has been given permission by Historic England for that water to be channelled into the Castle’s outer moat. To provide sufficient capacity in the outer moat for the water, a substantial quantity of existing silt is being removed, restoring the moat back to the original cut depth. Run-off water entering the moat will need to pass through a new filtration system, which is being constructed in the grass verge at the end of Bridgewater Road. All of the work in the moat is being done under the supervision of Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA).

Unfortunately, this has meant there is disruption in the area around the Castle. As part of these works, the road in front of the Castle (White Hill) is closed to traffic from 3rd November for 12 weeks (reopens 16 January), between the two railway bridges, and access to the back of the station and the station car park is only via the Brownlow Road railway bridge. Berkhamsted Castle remains open to the public, and pedestrian access is provided across the works. Further restrictions or closures are planned on Brownlow Road – see the Hertfordshire County Council website for details.

A similar drainage solution will also be installed at the junction of White Hill and New Road, which also has had flooding issues.

Ecology

Amphibian specialists are also making sure the Castle’s great crested newt population is not adversely affected.

Archaeology

Unidentified wooden posts

The works in the outer moat, by the station, have recently uncovered a line of wooden posts, the purpose of which is yet to be determined. These are believed to date from works undertaken about 100 years ago, but BCT will advise of the outcome of research into these, when known.