Warwick Castle's medieval trebuchet listed on Facebook Marketplace for £100k

By James Smith 26th Oct 2022

The trebuchet has been fired nearly 11,000 times since it was built in 2005 (image supplied)
The trebuchet has been fired nearly 11,000 times since it was built in 2005 (image supplied)

The trebuchet at Warwick Castle is 'up for sale' for £100,000 according to an advert that has appeared on Facebook Marketplace.

Visitors to the castle will have spotted the 'for sale' sign erected next to the 22-tonne siege weapon and a listing placed on social media advertising that the trebuchet is available "without its fixtures and fittings".

Built in 2005 with the support of Dr Peter Vemming from The Mediaeval Centre in Nykobing, Denmark, and the Wiltshire Oak company, the trebuchet is no longer in working order.

Reaching a height of 18 metres, Merlin Attractions says it has been put on the market "by order of Guy De Beauchamp, the tenth Earl of Warwick".

The machine has a range of 200 metres and has been fired nearly 11,000 times since it was first installed at the town's main tourist attraction. 

The replica trebuchet is currently the world's largest example of this particular type of 13th to 14th century war machinery and is nicknamed 'Ursa', which is Latin for bear, after Warwickshire's famous bear and ragged staff emblem.

'Guy de Beauchamp' said he decided to sell Ursa as it had done a "fair bit of mileage".

He said: "I think I've got the best castle in the country - it's incredible looking - but frankly the old trebuchet parked outside is bringing down the overall look of the place.

"In years gone by, it worked like a dream, but now it's time to sell it on. It would make a nice trebuchet for a less important nobleman who is keen to undertake some repairs – or just add a mighty looking but older trebuchet to their grounds."

Find the Facebook Marketplace listing here.

     

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