Acton Burnell Castle, located in Shropshire, was constructed toward the end of the 13th century by Robert Burnell, a friend of King Edward I. The complex consisted of the church, barn, and this mansion or "castle" as it is called. The only remains of the castle are the ruins that can be seen today; the barns no longer exist. The castle was lived in by Burnell's descendants until the early 1400s. King Edward I actually stayed at the castle for a couple of months at the end of the 1200s.
Parking to visit the castle is down through a small narrow lane that is a dead end. The gate to the alley contains parking for a small church and cemetary and is shut outside opening times. The college next door manages this access. A very short walk through a grove of trees leads to the ruins and information boards of the castle, which can be glimpsed behind the church.
The castle was designed to show wealth and power instead of being built as a defensive structure. By the time it no longer served as a home, it was used as an agricultural building as the land was farmland and hunting grounds. In the 1700s and 1800s, the ruin became a "Romantic Ruin", which was basically a picturesque place to wander around and to enjoy the atmosphere of from an artistic view.
A very large tree is growing out of one corner of the castle.
The interior of the building is a shell with a couple of small areas or rooms.
A couple of information boards are located around the castle grounds to read the history. The other side of the castle looks more "castle-like" with battlements. The ground floor would have been the storage, and the top floor contained the chambers and the Great Hall.
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