Falstaff knight’s ‘wonderful’ lodge saved from collapse

A HUNTING lodge built by the knight who inspired Shakespeare’s Falstaff has been saved from collapse.

Drayton Lodge in Norfolk was constructed in 1437 by Sir John Fastolf, a military commander during the Hundred Years’ War.

The Grade Ii-listed structure had fallen into ruin and was added to the Heritage at Risk Register in 1998.

It has been renovated thanks to an £11,000 Historic England grant and work by local developers, using handmade pink bricks.

James Albone, inspector of ancient monuments at Historic England, said: “Drayton Lodge tells an important story about Norfolk during the 15th century and the life of Sir John Fastolf, a fascinating character who was immortalised in caricature by William Shakespeare.

“It’s wonderful to be able to remove this historic site from the Heritage at Risk Register after over 20 years.”

Shakespeare is said to have taken the knight as inspiration for the figure of Sir John Falstaff, who appears in Henry IV, Part 1 and Part 2 and The Merry Wives of Windsor.

The character is cowardly, comical and fond of a drink.

However, historians believe the portrayal is unfair to the real Fastolf.

Documents in the National Archive reveal Falstolf to have been a distinguished commander for many years before one incident tainted his career.

In June 1429, Fastolf ordered his men to retreat from battle at Patay, against French forces. He was accused of cowardice and stripped of his position as a knight of the Order of the Garter.

However, Benjamin Trowbridge, from the medieval records team at the National Archives, said: “The Falstaff of Shakespeare’s plays [bore] little resemblance to what we understand of the real soldier.”