Carisbrooke Castle

• 1100: Richard de Redvers and his family maintained possession of the castle. Over the next two centuries, his descendants would continue owning the castle. 
• 1293: Countess Isabella de Fortibus lived in Carisbrooke Castle. While she occupied the fort, she completed many repairs. Prior to her death, she transferred the castle to Edward I during a deathbed transaction.
• 1377: The entrance gate was erected on the castle grounds by Anthony Woodville, Lord Scales.
• 1485: Edward Woodville, brother of Anthony Woodville, was granted after the ascension of Henry VII.
• 1580s: Sir George Carey became the governor of the Isle of Wight and added many improvements to the castle’s defences.
• 1640s: King of England, Charles I was tried and convicted of treason after committing various betrayals. His execution took place in 1649. His children were also imprisoned at the castle, and it is at the castle where his daughter passed away after an illness.
• 1896-1944: Princess Beatrice, daughter of Queen Victoria, resided in the castle as the Governor of the Isle of Wight.

General Layout

Carisbrooke Castle was visible from afar, though it didn’t prominently stand out like other castles built around the same time. It boasted a large moat surrounded by a curtain wall. Just inside the wall were Celtic Earthworks surrounding the castle structures. The castle featured a large tower, various other buildings, and the Keep.

Original Layout

The first structure erected on the prominent hilltop where Carisbrooke Castle currently stands was a rectangular fortress. Buildings made of wood sat in the centre of the fortress. Later, the structures would be protected with a stone wall. This original settlement was most likely a fortified Anglo-Saxon settlement (buhr).

William the Conqueror’s helped the structure take on a new form. To hold the Isle of Wight for the future King William, William Fitz Osbern transformed the castle by adding a defensive wall and deep ditches just inside of the wall.

The Keep was originally built from wood and sat on top of a small earthen mound, and the windows were nothing more than narrow slits, designed for archers.

However, historians speculate that it was Baldwin de Redvers, a loyalist to Henry I, who shaped the castle into its modern motte-and-bailey design. Some say that it was he who had the stone walls erected, though it’s never been confirmed.

Courtyard

Guests approaching Carisbrooke Castle entered through a large gateway and into the courtyard (bailey). This large spacious area was often used for activities such as knight tournaments, jousting, and daily markets.

Inside the courtyard was the chapel, keep, and various other buildings, including a well-house with a 61 metre (200 ft) well.

On each side of the gateway sat the chapel (on the left) and the Great Hall (to the right). In the centre of the courtyard was the Keep, on top of a natural chalk mound. The original castle chapel likely sat on the site of the current chapel.

The Great Hall’s construction was ordered by Countess Isabella de Fortibus, and she was also responsible for its interior design. In the Great Hall were her private chambers and a chapel. She also commissioned the building of multiple structures around the courtyard.

For most of the Mediaeval period, any alterations made to the castle were limited to defences. William de Montacute (for whom the Montacute Tower is named after) redesigned the Great Hall and added yet another block of various chambers.

George Carey, cousin of Elizabeth I, also carried out renovations on Carisbrooke Castle. He rebuilt some of the buildings surrounding the centre courtyard, including the Great Hall’s chamber block and St. Peter’s Chapel. He also constructed Carey’s Building, which was massive and featured dozens of rooms and a long hall. He also built a massive artillery fort that featured five bastions.

Around 1642, the castle became a prison. When Charles I was imprisoned in the fort, the eastern side of the castle was transformed into a flat turfed area for playing the game of bowls.

Keep

In the early days of the castle, the Norman Keep was a basic wooden structure. Later, it was fortified by rebuilding it in stone.

The Keep sits in the centre of the courtyard and atop of a natural chalk mound. It has 11 sides and three towers on plinths. Inside are three levels, with the entrance on the first floor. Upon entrance, the arched doorway leads into a small room with stairs. These stairs lead to the second storey and into a hall. Each floor of the Keep boasts multiple rooms.

Modern Layout

By the mid-19th century, Carisbrooke Castle was no longer a residential structure. Instead, it acted as a vital setting for the Isle of Wight Artillery Militia. Various parts of the castle were no longer useful, so various renovations were ordered. The gatehouse was renovated and Carey’s Building was torn down to make better use of the space. It was also around this time that tourists began flocking to Carisbrooke Castle to view the grounds.

In the late 19th-century, the Ministry of Works began managing the care and conservation of Carisbrooke Castle. Repairs were completed, including a complete remodel of the Constable’s Lodging and the L-shaped block. The gatehouse roof and upper floor were replaced, with the upper floor being converted into the first museum on the island. The original on-site chapel was taken down. In 1904, it was built again and today, it serves as a war memorial.

In the first-half of the 20th-century, various parts of the castle were modernised to accommodate Princess Beatrice until 1938.

The Keep has been extensively remodelled over the centuries. The majority of architecture that visitors encounter today can be traced to the Elizabethan era.