Nottingham Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nottingham Castle |
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| Nottingham, England | |
The Castle taken from the top of the former Broadmarsh shopping centre on Canal Street
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The Castle Gate House shows the medieval architecture of the bridge and lower towers against the Victorian renovation of the upper towers and gate house
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 Nottingham Castle
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| Coordinates | 52°56′57″N 1°09′17″W / 52.9493°N 1.1546°W |
| Type | Enclosure castle |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Nottingham City Council |
| Controlled by | Nottingham Castle Trust |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1068 |
| Built by | William the Conqueror The 1st Duke of Newcastle |
| In use | Museum and art gallery |
| Events | English Civil War 1831 reform riots |
Nottingham Castle is a famous landmark in Nottingham, England. It sits high up on a natural rock called "Castle Rock." This rock has cliffs that are about 130 feet (40 meters) high on its south and west sides.
The first castle here was built by the Normans in 1068. Over many years, it became an important royal fortress and sometimes a home for kings and queens. By the 1500s, the castle started to fall apart. After the English Civil War in 1651, most of the old castle was torn down. Only some walls and gates were left.
Later, in the 1670s, a grand house called a "ducal mansion" was built on the same spot. This mansion was burned down by angry people in 1831. It stayed a ruin for a long time. In the 1870s, it was fixed up and turned into an art gallery and museum. Today, it is still used as a museum and art gallery. You can still see parts of the old castle, like the gatehouse.
Nottingham City Council owns the castle. After a big £30 million renovation, the castle reopened in June 2021. It was managed by a charity called Nottingham Castle Trust. However, the trust closed in November 2022. The castle reopened again for visitors in June 2023.
History of Nottingham Castle
The First Castle: Medieval Times
The very first castle on Castle Rock was made of wood. It was a "motte-and-bailey" castle. This means it had a tall mound (motte) with a tower on top, and a fenced-in area (bailey) below. William the Conqueror ordered it to be built in 1068. This was just two years after the Battle of Hastings.
Later, during the time of King Henry II, the wooden castle was replaced with a strong stone one. This new castle was very impressive. It had different sections: an upper part on the highest point, a middle part with the royal living areas, and a large outer part to the east.
For many centuries, Nottingham Castle was one of the most important castles in England. It was in a great spot near the River Trent. It was also a fun place for kings and nobles. This was because it was close to royal hunting grounds like Sherwood Forest. The castle even had its own deer park nearby.
Famous Events at the Castle
When King Richard I (also known as "the Lionheart") was away on a Crusade, his brother Prince John took over Nottingham Castle. In the famous stories of Robin Hood, Nottingham Castle is where Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham have their final fight.
In March 1194, King Richard I came back to England. He attacked Nottingham Castle to take it back from Prince John's supporters. King Richard used special machines to attack the castle. After only a few days, the castle gave up.
A very dramatic event happened at Nottingham Castle in 1330. King Edward III was almost 18 years old. He wanted to take power from his mother, Isabella of France, and her lover, Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March. They had been ruling England while Edward was too young.
Edward and some friends used a secret tunnel to get into the castle at night. They surprised Mortimer, arrested him, and also arrested Queen Isabella. Mortimer was later executed. This event marked the start of King Edward III's own rule. People believed that the caves under the castle were carved out by a knight named Lancelot.
Nottingham Castle as a Royal Home
King Edward III often stayed at Nottingham Castle. He even held important meetings of Parliament there. In 1346, King David II of Scotland was held prisoner at the castle. Edward III also added new towers and a prison to the castle.
Many other kings visited the castle. King Richard II held important meetings there to deal with problems in London. From 1403 to 1437, it was the main home for King Henry IV's queen, Joan.
After Joan lived there, the castle was not kept up very well. It started to fall apart. But during the Wars of the Roses, it became important again for military use. King Edward IV ordered new royal apartments to be built. These were described as "the most beautifulest part and gallant building."
By the time of King Henry VII, the castle was still a royal fortress. Henry VIII visited in 1511 and ordered new tapestries for the castle. He also made the castle stronger and increased the number of soldiers there. However, by 1525, parts of the castle were already in "ruin."
The English Civil War and Destruction
By 1600, Nottingham Castle was no longer a royal home. It was also becoming less useful because of new cannons and artillery. When the English Civil War began in 1642, the castle was already partly ruined.
King Charles I chose Nottingham as the place to gather his armies. But soon after he left, the castle was taken over by the Parliamentarians (those who supported Parliament). They were led by John Hutchinson. They defended the castle against several attacks from the Royalists (those who supported the King).
In 1651, two years after King Charles I was executed, the castle was completely torn down. This was done to stop it from being used in any more wars.
Building the Ducal Mansion
After King Charles II became king again in 1660, a new, grand house was built. This was the "Ducal Mansion." It was built for the 1st Duke of Newcastle. His son, the 2nd Duke of Newcastle, finished it after his father died. This new palace was considered one of the most beautiful in England.
Even though the old castle was destroyed, some parts still remain. You can find rock-cut cellars and medieval arches under the mansion. There's also a long secret passage that goes to the bottom of the rock. This passage is famously known as Mortimer's Hole. You can take guided tours through it today.
The mansion was built in a style called "Artisan Mannerism." This was a special way of building that was popular at the time. However, the later dukes didn't like the mansion as much. Nottingham became a busy industrial city with many poor areas. In 1831, people living in these areas rioted. They were protesting against the Duke's opposition to a new law called the Reform Bill. During the riots, they burned down the mansion.
Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery
The mansion was left as a burned-out shell until 1875. Then, it was rebuilt by Thomas Chambers Hine. In 1878, it opened as the Nottingham Castle Museum. This was the first public art gallery in the UK outside of London. The new museum was designed to have a large picture gallery, like the famous Louvre museum in Paris.
The old gatehouse of the medieval castle and parts of its walls were kept. They were used as a garden wall for the new mansion.
In 1996, a part of the castle rock collapsed because of a leaking water pipe. This revealed some of the original castle foundations. After some discussion, the area was rebuilt with traditional stone. This terrace now offers great views of the city.
Recent Renovation (2018-2021)
Nottingham Castle closed in 2018 for a big renovation project. It cost £30 million and took longer than expected because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The renovation added a new visitor center and new exhibition galleries. There are also interactive displays and a fun adventure area for children. This area is in the old castle moat and is themed around the time of Robin Hood. The renovation also shows off local industries, like Nottingham Lace.
On June 1, 2021, the Nottingham City Council handed over the castle to the Nottingham Castle Trust. The castle officially reopened to visitors on June 21, 2021.
What You Can See at Nottingham Castle Museum
The ducal mansion is now a museum and art gallery. It holds many important collections from the City of Nottingham. You can see fine art, decorative art, and learn about the history and archaeology of Nottingham. It also has the museum for the Sherwood Foresters regiment.
Some interesting things you can see include:
- Carvings from the 1400s made of Nottingham alabaster.
- Beautiful watercolours by artists like Richard Parkes Bonnington and Paul Sandby.
- A collection of Wedgwood Jasperware pottery.
- Special salt-glazed stoneware, including local "bear jugs."
- A collection of costumes, including examples of Nottingham lace.
- Roman votive offerings from a temple in Italy.
There is also a special memorial dedicated to the 20 people from Nottinghamshire who received the Victoria Cross. This is the highest award for bravery in the British military.
The Long Gallery in the castle displays fine art from Britain and Europe. You can see works by artists from Nottinghamshire and other famous artists.
See also
In Spanish: Nottingham Castle para niños
- History of Nottingham
- Grade I listed buildings in Nottinghamshire
- Listed buildings in Nottingham (Radford and Park ward)
