The history of Mierlo Castle

From the beginning of the 13th century on, the “free” Lordship of Mierlo was in the possession of the Lords of Mierlo. That meant that they had the rights over the population, land, roads, water, wind and everything that was built on their territory. They owned large farms, the windmill and the church of Mierlo. The streets in Mierlo, such as the Rodestraat, Dickbierweg, the Swaeffstraat, van Grevenbroeckweg and van Scherpenzeelweg, are named after these gentlemen still remind us of this history.

First mention of Mierlo Castle

In the early days, the Lords probably resided in one of the large farms when they were in Mierlo. The first written source wherein Mierlo Castle is mentioned is Hendrik Dickbier’s will from 1410, but it was probably built by this family in the 14th century. More information has been preserved about the castle owners than about the castle itself. Fortunately, there are pen drawings and copper engravings of the castle from the 17th and 18th centuries. Thanks to these images, we still know what the medieval moated castle looked like; an imposing, high and massive building.

First mention of Mierlo Castle

In addition to the high main tower, the castle also had an outer stronghold. The outer bailey included the ‘neerhuizinge’ (a lease farm of the castle), the horse stables and a chapel. The chapel dates from 1475 and was a kind of private church for the Lords. The main castle had a certain luxury because it had slate roofs. We also know that marl, bluestone and decorative molding were incorporated in and on the walls. Prison ‘Het Complex’ was built in a small fen, which partly served as a moat. The main castle was doubly secured by water. To reach it, one had to first cross the drawbridge to the outer stronghold and then cross the second drawbridge to the main castle. There was also a prison and a hostage room, which was used frequently, especially during the witch trials - at the end of the 16th century.

It was evident that it was a high castle from a story in the ‘Heerlijkheidsarchiven’ (Archives) about a prisoner who was held in the hostage room and managed to escape through a hole in the ceiling. However, when he tried to escape through a window, he did not survive 12 to 15 meters high fall.

Over the course of the 18th century, the castle fell into disrepair, especially after having seen inhabited by tenants of the hunting rights. De Heerlijkheid did not generate enough money anymore to finance major restorations to the castle and outer buildings; only the most necessary restorations were done. In 1736, the castle, including the farm, was valued at 5,000 guilders, which was the same amount as the Mierlo windmill. This amount indicates that the structural condition at that time already left much to be desired. In 1795 the first part of the castle was demolished and in the early 1800s, there was to be seen of the castle above the ground. The cadastral maps still indicate the contours of the outer castle in 1832.

The gate to the castle complex was the last one remaining in the meadows until around 1948. After the ‘Heerlijke’ rights were formally abolished at the end of the 18th century, the descendants of the Heren van Mierlo continued to use their title, but the title held hardly any rights. In 1990 a ground research was conducted on Mierlo Castle. It has been established that the foundations, or at least a large part of them, are still present in the soil, including debris and ditches.

Location Visualisation Castle Mierlo - Present

The location where the castle once stood is a depression in the middle of a meadow between Kasteelweg and Trimpert, which can recently be seen on the see-through and information boards on these streets. Now we only have one castle farm, the post mill, the completely renovated hunting lodge, a pond (Weijerke) and the invisible, but still present, foundation of the castle.

Discover Mierlo Castle in 3D

Most people from Mierlo know that there was once a castle there, but do you also know who built it at that time, where it was exactly and what remains of it? If you click on ‘history’ you can read more about the history of Castle Mierlo. There are now also some 3D visualisations to be seen.

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