Castle Hill, Cambridge facts for kids

This is Castle Mound, which is all that's left of Cambridge Castle on Castle Hill today.

Castle Hill is a famous spot in Cambridge, England. It's found in the part of the city called the Castle ward. Right next to Castle Hill, you'll find Shire Hall. This building used to be the main office for the Cambridgeshire County Council.

Discovering Castle Hill's Past

This old picture from 1845 shows a view down Castle Street, with the gate of Cambridge Castle.

Castle Hill is where the very first settlement in Cambridge began. This early town was built north of the River Cam. People lived here even before the Romans arrived.

Roman Times: Duroliponte

The Romans built a town on Castle Hill. They called it Duroliponte. This spot was perfect because it was easy to cross the river here. Back then, this part of the river was called the River Granta. It was also as far as boats could travel up the river. If you visit St Peter's Church on the hill, you can still see pieces of Roman tiles in its walls. This shows how old the area is!

Anglo-Saxon and Norman Defenses

During the Anglo Saxon period, Castle Hill was important for protection. People used its high ground for defense. Later, in 1068, the Normans built Cambridge Castle right on this hill.

Today, the castle isn't there anymore. All that's left is the large mound of earth, known as the castle mound. You can also see some of the original groundwork. These small remains remind us of the mighty castle that once stood here.