Carisbrooke Castle, Newport (Isle of Wight)

Experience 800 years of history at the Isle of Wights' Carisbrooke Castle.

Summary

13th century buildings (or older)
Gift shop
Information provided

Food and Drinks

Tea Room
Picnic area

Introduction

Experience 800 years of history at the Isle of Wight’s Carisbrooke Castle. March the battlements, feel the weight of armour, wind a cross bow, climb the keep and remember to save some time to meet the famous donkeys.

History to the present day

The site of Carisbrooke Castle may have been occupied in pre-Roman times. The existence of a ruined wall suggests that there was a building there in late Roman times. The Jutes may have taken over the fort by the late 7th century. An Anglo-Saxon stronghold occupied the site during the 8th century. Around 1000, a wall was built around the hill as a defence against Viking raids

From 1100 The castle remained in the possession of Richard de Redvers family, and over the next two hundred years his descendants improved the castle with stone walls, towers and a keep. This was until 1293, when Countess Isabella de Fortibus, the last Redvers resident sold it to Edward I, after which the government was entrusted to wardens as representatives of the crown.

In the reign of Richard II it was unsuccessfully attacked by the French (1377). Anthony de Wydville, Lord Scales, later Earl Rivers, obtained a grant of the castle and rights of Lordship in 1467. He was responsible for the addition of the Woodville Gate, now known as the Entrance Gate.

The keep was added to the castle in the reign of Henry I, and in the reign of Elizabeth I; when the Spanish Armada was expected, it was surrounded by an elaborate pentagonal fortification by Sir George Carey.

Charles I was imprisoned here for fourteen months before his execution in 1649. Afterwards his two youngest children were confined in the castle, and the Princess Elizabeth died there. Most recently it was the home of The Princess Beatrice, daughter of Queen Victoria, as Governor of the Isle of Wight, 1896-1944.

Other facilities

Toilets: Adapted WC in castle.

Shop: Ramp available.

Refreshments: Tea room. Access via Donkey Centre. Benches and picnic tables.

Access to castle buildings: Chapel, courtyard (loose gravel), well house and ground floor of museum are accessible to visitors in wheelchairs. Two flights of stairs to upper floor of museum with banister. Seats provided in museum and courtyard. Model showing the castle in 1600 may be touched and was designed to allow close access for wheelchairs. Wheelchair access to coach house exhibition.

Grounds: Accessed via gravel paths and tarmac
NB Ramps lack handrails and safety rails in places; it is recommended that visually impaired visitors are accompanied.Parking:50m from entrance, up steep hill. Disabled drivers may park within castle courtyard, and disabled passengers may be set down there.

Arrival information and how to find us

Address: Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight, , United Kingdom

Directions: Access: 11⁄4 miles SW of Newport. Follow signs for Carisbrooke village and then the castle

Bus Access: Southern Vectis 6, 7, 11, 38 and the Medina Tour Open Top servicefrom Newport, West Wight and Ventnor, all to within 1⁄4 mile

Ferry Access: West Cowes 5 miles, East Cowes 6 miles, Fishbourne 6 miles, Ryde 8 miles, Yarmouth 9 miles

Opening Times:

21 March - 30 September 10.00 am - 5.00 pm
1 October - 31 March 10.00 am - 4.00 pm

The museum will be closed on 24, 25, 26 Dec and 1 Jan.

Admission Price:

Adults: £6.50

Children: £3.30 (under 5's free)

Concessions: £5.20

Photographs courtesy of English Heritage Photo Library.