Carisbrooke Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carisbrooke Castle |
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| Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight, England | |
The interior of Carisbrooke Castle
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 Carisbrooke Castle
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| Coordinates | 50°41′15″N 1°18′48″W / 50.6874°N 1.3133°W |
| Grid reference | grid reference SZ486877 |
| Type | Castle |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Managed by English Heritage |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Complete |
| Site history | |
| Built | Begun in 12th century |
| In use | Until 1944 |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders |
Sir Nicholas Wadham (died 1542) Captain of the Isle of Wight, 1509–1520 |
| Occupants | Isabella de Fortibus, Charles I of England (imprisoned), Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom |
Carisbrooke Castle is an old and famous motte-and-bailey castle found in the village of Carisbrooke. This village is close to Newport on the Isle of Wight, England. One of the most well-known events in its history is when King Charles I was held prisoner here. He stayed at the castle for several months before his trial.
Contents
A Look Back: Carisbrooke Castle's History
How Old Is Carisbrooke Castle?
People think that the area where Carisbrooke Castle stands might have been used even before Roman times. There's a ruined wall that suggests a building was here in the late Roman period. An old book called the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says that Wihtgar, a cousin of King Cynric of Wessex, died here in AD 544. He was buried at this spot.
Later, around AD 1000, a strong wall was built around the hill. This was to protect the area from Viking attacks.
The Castle Grows Stronger
From the year 1100, the castle belonged to the family of Richard de Redvers. Over the next 200 years, his family made the castle much better. They added strong stone walls, tall towers, and a keep. A keep is the strongest and most protected part of a castle.
In 1293, Countess Isabella de Fortibus, who was the last Redvers family member to live there, sold the castle. She sold it to King Edward I. After that, the castle was looked after by wardens who worked for the king.
Defending the Castle
In 1377, during the time of King Richard II, the French tried to attack the castle. But they didn't succeed! A local hero named Peter de Heyno is said to have saved the castle by shooting the French commander.
Later, in 1467, Anthony Woodville, Lord Scales, took charge of the castle. He added the Woodville Gate, which is now called the Entrance Gate.
New Defenses and Famous Prisoners
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, when England was worried about the Spanish Armada, more defenses were added. Sir George Carey, who was in charge of the Isle of Wight, hired an Italian engineer named Federigo Giambelli.
Starting in 1597, Giambelli built a modern trace Italienne fortification. This was a low, wide wall with a ditch around it, supported by strong bastions. These new defenses completely surrounded the older castle. Most of this work was finished by 1600.
One of the most famous people held at Carisbrooke Castle was King Charles I. He was imprisoned here for 14 months before his death in 1649. After him, his two youngest children were also kept at the castle, and his daughter, Princess Elizabeth, sadly died there.
From 1896 to 1944, Princess Beatrice, who was Queen Victoria's daughter, lived at the castle. Today, English Heritage looks after Carisbrooke Castle, and you can visit it!
Exploring Carisbrooke Castle
Carisbrooke was the strongest castle on the Isle of Wight. Even though you can see it from far away, it doesn't stand out as much as some other castles.
You can still see signs of a Roman fort under the castle's later buildings. If you want to reach the top of the keep, you'll need to climb 71 steps!
The main buildings inside the castle are from the 1200s, with some parts added in the 1500s. Some parts are in ruins, but the main rooms were used by the governor of the Isle of Wight until the 1940s. These rooms are still in good condition.
You can visit the Great Hall, Great Chamber, and other rooms. There's also the Isle of Wight Museum in an upper room. Many rooms have some furniture to show what they might have looked like.
A big part of the museum is about King Charles I. He tried to escape from the castle in 1648, but he couldn't fit through the window bars!
The Main Gate
The tall gateway tower was built by Lord Scales in 1464. He was in charge of the castle at that time.
The Chapel
There's a chapel next to the main gate called St Nicholas in Castro. In 1904, it was rebuilt and opened again. It became a special memorial for King Charles I. Inside the castle walls, there's a well that is 200 ft (61 m) deep. Another well in the center of the keep is said to have been even deeper!
The Well-House and Donkeys
Near the main buildings, you'll find the well-house. It has a working donkey wheel! Donkeys still operate this wheel to bring water up from the well. It's a very popular attraction, and people often line up to see it.
The well is also famous from the 1898 adventure book Moonfleet by J. Meade Falkner. In the story, a valuable diamond called the Mohune diamond was hidden there.
The Constable's Chamber
The Constable's Chamber is a large room in the castle's old medieval part. This room was King Charles I's bedroom when he was held prisoner. Later, Princess Beatrice used it as her dining room.
Today, you can see King Charles I's bed in this room. Princess Beatrice's collection of stag and antelope heads is also displayed here.
The Earthworks
Around the entire castle, you can see huge earthworks. These were designed by the Italian engineer Federigo Gianibelli. They were started in the year before the Spanish Armada was expected and finished in the 1590s. The outer gate has the date 1598 and the symbols of Queen Elizabeth I.
Images for kids
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The interior of Carisbrooke Castle
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Carisbrooke para niños
