Hadleigh Castle is in the English county of Essex and overlooks the Thames estuary from a ridge to the south of the town of Hadleigh. The castle was built around 1215 during the reign of Henry III by Hubert de Burgh, and was surrounded by parkland it had both an important economic, as well as defensive role. Hadleigh Castle was expanded by Edward III, to defend against potential French attack as well as provide the king with a convenient private residence close to London. The ground on which the castle is built is an unstable hill of London clay, the castle has often been subject to subsidence; this, combined with the sale of its stonework in the 16th century has led to it now being ruined.
