Guildford Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Guildford Castle |
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| Surrey, England | |
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The keep of Guildford Castle
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 Guildford Castle
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| Coordinates | 51°14′04″N 0°34′21″W / 51.234314°N 0.572431°W |
| Grid reference | SU 99768 49312 |
| Type | Motte and bailey |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Guildford Borough Council |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Bargate stone |
| Events | |
| Official name | Guildford Castle |
| Designated | 1 January 1920 |
| Reference no. | 1012340 |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name | Castle Keep, Guildford |
| Designated | 1 May 1953 |
| Reference no. | 1377881 |
Guildford Castle is an old castle found in Guildford, Surrey, England. Many people believe William the Conqueror or one of his knights built it. This happened soon after the Normans invaded England in 1066.
Contents
A Castle's Beginning: 11th to 13th Century
Building the Castle
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After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William the Conqueror's army marched through England. They passed through Guildford. William or one of his barons then built Guildford Castle. It is not mentioned in the Domesday Book. This means construction likely started after 1086.
The first part of the castle was a motte. This was a large mound of earth. Around the motte was a ditch. A bailey (a protected area) was also built. It had a wooden palisade (a fence of strong posts). The bailey's edge ran along Castle Street and South Hill. It also went near Quarry Street.
The bailey was probably split into two parts. These were the outer and inner bailey. The inner bailey held the motte. A wooden keep (tower) was built on the motte. This tower was used as a lookout point for soldiers.
Around the late 11th or early 12th century, a stone wall was added. This wall was made of Bargate stone. It was built around the top of the motte. This created a "shell keep." Then, around the 1130s, a taller stone tower was added. This tower was also made of Bargate stone. The stone came from nearby Godalming. Strong mortar held the stones together.
The tower might have been built over part of the shell keep. Its foundations went deep into the chalk bedrock. The tower was mostly square-shaped. It was about 14 meters (47 feet) by 13.8 meters (45.5 feet) wide. The walls at the bottom were about 3 meters (10 feet) thick. They got thinner towards the top.
The keep had a ground floor and a first floor. The entrance was on the first floor. This made it easier to defend. The ground floor had no windows. The first floor had a main chamber, a chapel, and a wardrobe. It also had a latrine (toilet). A second floor was added later. This made the keep over 21 meters (70 feet) tall. The roof was made of lead. The inside walls were plastered and painted white.
In the 12th century, the King moved to better rooms. These were located in the bailey area. The main bailey buildings likely included a great hall. There were also apartments for the King and Queen. Their own chapels were probably there too. The great hall was likely made of stone. It was probably where two houses now stand.
King Henry III made many improvements in the 13th century. These changes made the castle feel like a palace. The Queen's apartment got new, large windows. Two marble columns were also added. The great hall was decorated with colored glass windows and paintings. King Henry had his room painted green. It had gold and silver stars. He also built a garden. This garden was surrounded by marble columns. A fire damaged the hall in 1254. But improvements to the buildings continued.
In 1245, Henry bought more land. This was to make the bailey bigger. He wanted to build rooms for his son, Edward. These rooms were finished in 1246. A new gate at Quarry Street was finished in 1256. This shows Henry kept changing the castle.
Castle in Conflict
The castle was mostly a royal home. But it was also a fortress. It played a part in wars. The castle was never attacked. However, it was made stronger at different times.
The keep was likely made taller during a civil war. This war happened when King Stephen ruled (1135–1154). The castle was also strengthened during a rebellion. This was when Henry II's sons rebelled in 1173–1174.
On July 9, 1216, Prince Louis took control of the castle. This happened during the First Barons' War. This war was against King John. But there was no fighting at the castle itself.
During the rebellion of Simon de Montfort in the 1260s, there was also no fighting. However, King Henry III's son, Prince Edward, captured a rebel. His name was Adam Gurdon. Edward brought him to Guildford Castle. The castle was also used as a meeting point. This was for King Edward I's wars abroad.
Castle Keepers
People called constables looked after the castle. In 1218, William de Coniers was the constable. Later, Elias de Maunsel held the job in 1247. In 1259, William de Aguillon was in charge. He was also the sheriff of Surrey. The castle was probably used as a prison then.
In 1307, Edward de Say was the keeper of the King's prisoners. He was told to fix the prison. Oliver de Burdegala was governor in 1322. In 1337, Sir John de Brocas became constable. In 1367, Andrew Sackville took over. He was sheriff of Surrey and Sussex. He used the castle as a prison and a home. In 1377, Sir Simon Burleigh became constable. He had been a tutor to King Richard II.
From the 14th to the 20th Century
Guildford Castle was no longer needed for defense. Other royal castles inland were also neglected. From the 1360s, a royal hunting lodge was improved. This lodge was across the river from the castle. Royalty chose to stay there instead. The castle's royal rooms were left to decay. By 1379, only the King's great chamber remained. The other royal rooms were too damaged to fix.
The castle keep continued to be a prison. It held prisoners from Surrey and Sussex. This lasted until 1487. Then, people from Sussex asked parliament for a change. They wanted prisoners moved to Lewes. Lewes had a safer prison. Their request was granted.
In 1544, John Daborne became keeper of the castle garden. His family worked with the castle for the rest of the 16th century. They likely added brick windows and fireplaces. In 1611, King James I gave the castle estate to Francis Carter. In the 1630s, the tower's roof was removed. It was then used for cockfighting.
Parts of the castle grounds were used for farming. They were rented out to different people. Around 1820, the Duke of Norfolk bought the castle. In 1885, Lord Grantley sold a large part of the castle. He sold it to the Guildford Corporation. The tower and walls were fixed up. They opened to the public as pleasure gardens in 1888. This was to celebrate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.
Guildford Castle Today
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The castle gardens are very popular. They have many colorful flowers. The 12th-century Castle Keep is at the center. There is also a life-size statue of Alice Through the Looking Glass. This statue remembers Lewis Carroll. He stayed nearby from 1868 until he died in 1898.
A conservation project started in 2003. It lasted for a year. The keep was partly fixed up. The first floor was floored and roofed. During this project, old features were found. These included original battlements. The keep now has a visitor center. It is open from April to September. The center has panels about the castle's history. There is also a model of the castle from around 1300. You can climb a staircase to the tower's roof. From there, you can see the gardens and parts of Guildford.
The castle's old gatehouse now holds part of Guildford Museum. This museum shows local history and archaeology. It also has a special collection of needlework.
Images for kids
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The keep of Guildford Castle
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The ruins of the shell keep in front of the later tower keep
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Floor plan of the castle keep
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The great hall on the first floor of the keep
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Statue of Alice Through the Looking Glass in the castle grounds
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The surrounding moat is now occupied by gardens
