What's to see
The Norman Motte and Bailey Castle has so much to see, with its wide open spaces, reconstructed historical buildings, and free roaming animals, there’s something for all the family.
Mountfitchet Castle is a Norman Motte and Bailey Castle and Village,
re-constructed on its original historic ancient site, complete with many different buildings, siege weapons and animals roaming freely throughout the 10 acre site, providing a unique insight into community life in Domesday England.
Come and explore the Castle and roam through the Norman village hidden behind the castle walls, wander in and out of the many houses and listen out for the ancient Church bell tolling serenely across the grounds.
Mountfitchet Castle is unique as being the only wooden Motte and Bailey castle and village to be reconstructed on it’s original historic site anywhere in the world.
The House on the Hill Museum is the largest collection of Toys in the world, with at least 80,000 toys, books and games on display from late Victorian times up to 1990’s.
How better to see the illustration of the social history of our times portrayed through toys, books, games, music, entertainment and family amusement.
The museum also houses a WWI & WWII Blitz and Battle of Britain display, Showbiz Collection and a Rock ‘n’ Roll exhibition. There are many hands-on activities throughout the museum including a puppet theatre, Lego and Brio tables, Quiots to test your skills and WWI & WWII helmets and masks to try on.
Encounter our life sized dinosaurs on the way to the museum and try your hand at Fossil hunting in our Palaeontology House, can you find the Velociraptors claw?
Rescued Animals
Mountfitchet Castle prides itself on the freedom and happiness of all its animals, many of which have come from less happy backgrounds; some of the chickens are rescued from battery farms, the goats are either unwanted or outgrown pets and the deer are either road accident victims or orphans.
We are often approached to adopt injured fallow deer, which we give the necessary veterinary care and then integrate them into the herd.
It is essential for all our animals to roam freely and enjoy their life here, also for visitors, both young and old, to have a “hands-on” experience with them which will hopefully stay in their memories forever.
With our daily love and care they have become very tame and trusting of humans so please be gentle with them and treat them with the respect they deserve and please do not betray their trust.
The House on the Hill Museum
The House on the Hill Museum is one of our country’s most popular visitor attractions for both young and old.
The House on the Hill Museum contains the largest toy collection in the world with toys from the Victorian era right up to the 1990’s.
Over 80,000 individual items on display from trains, lead and tin toys, Meccano, Action Man and Sindy to Raleigh Choppers, teddy bears, annuals, games, dolls and dolls houses.
If you liked Thunderbirds, Star Wars, Six Million Dollar Man, Barbie and Sindy then you’ll love our Museum.
It’s a gigantic Aladdin’s cave of nostalgia and we challenge you not to say “I used to have one of those!”
The House on the Hill is also home to our Showbiz Collection where you will see items such as the famous Only Fools and Horses three wheeled van and a large Dads Army display.
Also some amazing film and TV artefacts including props, costumes and life size figures from Star Wars and Dr Who, come and see the Tardis and Daleks as used in the famous films and programmes.
Don’t miss the Rock ‘n’ Roll exhibition celebrating the golden era of the 60’s and 70’s. See our original Wurlitzer Juke Box, rare concert posters and a vast amount of guitars signed by the stars of the time.
Marvel at the life-size figures of the Beatles, Elvis and even an animated Marilyn Monroe.
The Museum is full of surprises around every corner. You can enjoy playing on the ‘end of the pier’ amusement slot machines with real old pennies and see the ‘What the Butler Saw’ machines that shocked Edwardian England.
View a fascinating display on the 1914- 1918 and 1939-1945 World Wars including the Blitz years and Battle of Britain memorabilia and relics.
Stand next to life sized figures of Pirates, Cowboys, Clowns, Terminator and even a giant Polar Bear for super photo opportunities.
Did you know we have the only surviving replica of the Royal Crown Jewels in England? And when was the last time you saw a Sinclair C5?
A great hands-on and interactive experience.
So….don’t forget to visit the Museum whilst here at Mountfitchet Castle.
Spookily located within the Museum is The Haunted Manor, if you’re feeling brave enough to walk through the chilling chambers to the bewitched Victorian bedroom then a small extra entrance fee per person applies if you dare! Encounter our life sized dinosaurs on the way to the museum and try your hand at Fossil hunting in our Palaeontology House, can you find the Velociraptors claw?
The Haunted Manor
Spookily located within the Toy Museum is The Haunted Manor, if you’re feeling brave enough to walk through the chilling chambers to the bewitched Victorian bedroom then a small extra entrance fee of £1.00 per person applies. But beware… this is not for the faint hearted!
The Haunted Manor is spookily located within the Toy Museum and if you’re feeling brave enough to visit the bewitched tunnels and chambers a small extra entrance fee applies. But beware…this is not for the faint hearted!
Tearoom & Gift Shop
Tearoom and Picnic Area.
The Castle complex has a tearoom located in the visitor centre which seats approximately 50 people.
We have huge windows along one side of the dining room where you can enjoy a view of the castle grounds and grassy slope leading up to the huge wooden palisade and Main Gate.
For your entertainment and enlightenment whilst enjoying your beverages we have a large wall mounted TV showing a DVD on the History of Mountfitchet Castle which I’m sure you will find fascinating.
Just outside the dining room we have an outdoor covered picnic area which can accommodate approximately a large number of people. There are even better views from here of the castle – you can enjoy your picnic whilst soaking up the atmosphere and peacefulness of the animals grazing and wandering around the castle grounds and also listening to the ancient church bells tolling serenely out from behind the castle walls.
Visitors are asked to not eat outside of the picnic area. Hand washing facilities are available by the picnic area.
The tea room sells a range of freshly made sandwiches and delicious toasted sandwiches, toasted provencette baguettes, pizzas, hot dogs, lovely hot soup-of-the-day with a roll and butter, Cornish pasties, sausage rolls, jacket potatoes, hand made cakes and cookies, freshly popped popcorn, ice creams as well as a selection of hot and cold drinks – assorted teas, coffees and cold drinks and hot chocolate to die for!
The Toy Museum has an indoor seating area which can accommodate 25/30 people, which visiting groups are welcome to use to eat their sandwiches.
Castle Gift and Souvenir Shop
We stock a huge range of gifts, souvenirs, jewellery, books, biscuits and fudge in our shop with prices ranging from pocket money items starting at 50p to the more valuable rare collectables in our antique centre.
We have the good old favourites of pens, pencils, rubbers and rulers, fridge magnets, keyrings, thimbles and post cards as well as lovely keepsakes more geared towards a medieval castle and Norman village – castle and knight playsets, real Roman coins dug up in the grounds, you can even purchase replica medieval armour including swords, helmets, chainmail, axes, shields and daggers made from various metals and purely for decoration purposes only.
We have recently extended the gift shop, which is situated adjacent to the tearoom, giving improved access for wheelchairs and push chairs through a new ramped entrance.
