Chichester Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Castle, Newcastle |
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| Chichester, West Sussex | |
The Castle
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 The Castle, Newcastle
Shown within Chichester
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| Coordinates | 50°50′23″N 0°46′33″W / 50.839814°N 0.775799°W |
| Type | Norman |
| Site history | |
| Built | 11th century |
| Built by | Roger de Montgomery |
Chichester Castle was once a strong fortress. It stood in the city of Chichester in West Sussex, England. This castle was built a long time ago. It played an important role in the history of the area.
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Chichester Castle: A Look Back in Time
Chichester Castle was built by the Normans. They were people from Normandy, France. They conquered England in 1066. After this, they built many castles. These castles helped them control the land.
Building a New Castle
The castle was built shortly after the Norman Conquest. A powerful lord named Roger de Montgomery ordered its construction. Chichester Castle was one of eleven castles built in Sussex before 1100. It was made mostly of wood. Some wooden castles were later rebuilt in stone. However, there is no sign this happened at Chichester.
The castle was located in the north-east part of Chichester. The city walls helped protect it. To make space for the castle, some buildings were likely removed.
Who Owned the Castle?
The first owner was the Earl of Shrewsbury. Later, the Earls of Sussex owned it. This was between 1154 and 1176. After that, the castle became property of the King. This is known as passing to "the Crown."
Castle Life: Court and Jail
In the early 1200s, Chichester Castle had a new use. It became a place for courts and a jail. This was quite new for castles back then. Most city castles eventually started being used this way.
Wars and Destruction
In 1216, a war called the First Barons' War began. Many castles in southern England were captured. Chichester Castle was one of them. French forces took control of it. They were fighting against King John of England.
But the English recaptured the castle quickly. This happened in the spring of 1217. In the same year, King Henry III gave an order. He commanded that Chichester Castle be destroyed.
What's Left Today?
After the castle was destroyed, its land was given away. Between 1222 and 1269, Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall, gave the site to a group of monks. They were called the Greyfriars. They built a friary there.
Today, you can still see parts of the castle. The remains of its motte are visible. A motte is a large mound of earth. It was part of the castle's defenses. You can find it in Priory Park. This motte is a protected historical site. It is called a Scheduled Monument.
