Old Sarum Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Sarum Castle |
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| Wiltshire, England | |
Old Sarum Castle (foreground), with Old Sarum Cathedral in the background at left
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 Old Sarum Castle
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| Coordinates | 51°05′35″N 1°48′00″W / 51.09309°N 1.7999955°W |
| Type | Castle |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Ruined |
Old Sarum Castle, once called Seresberi Castle, is a very old castle from the 11th century. It is a special type of castle known as a motte-and-bailey castle. You can find it in Old Sarum, Wiltshire, England.
When it was first built, the castle was made of timber (wood). Later, it was rebuilt using stone. Today, you can still see the ruins of the stone castle. Only the large mound (the "motte") and the stone foundations are left. Old Sarum Castle is looked after by English Heritage. It is open for everyone to visit, along with the rest of the historic site of Old Sarum.
Contents
History of Old Sarum Castle
Building the First Castle
In 1069, a powerful leader named William the Conqueror arrived in England. He saw that the area known as Seresberi (now Old Sarum) was a great place for defense. It was already home to an even older Iron Age hillfort. This hillfort, called Sorviodunum, was built around 400 BC. William decided to build his new motte-and-bailey castle right inside this ancient fort.
Around the year 1100, a man named Bishop Roger added a courtyard to the castle. He also started building a royal palace there in the 1130s. This palace was very large, about 170 meters (558 feet) long and 65 meters (213 feet) wide. It had thick walls, up to 3 meters (10 feet) thick! There was a big central courtyard and a long room, probably a great hall. There also seemed to be a large tower.
Bishop Roger was in charge of the castle for the king. But he was arrested by King Stephen. After this, the castle was not looked after as well. Even so, local officials continued to manage the area for the king.
Changes and Repairs Over Time
In 1171, King Henry II ordered many improvements to Old Sarum. These updates continued until 1189. New parts were added, like a gatehouse and a drawbridge. The inner castle walls were also made stronger. A special room for the treasury was built inside the castle's main tower, called the keep.
During this time, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine was held at Old Sarum. Her living areas were also fixed up for her stay. After more repairs, a new hall, kitchen, and bakehouse were built for the local sheriff between 1201 and 1215.
Decline and Demolition
By 1220, most people living in Old Sarum had moved to a new city nearby, which is now Salisbury. The castle became less important and fell into ruin by 1240. Even though it was repaired later, King Edward III ordered it to be torn down in 1322.
Around 1350, King Edward III spent money on repairs for the castle. However, more money was needed to fix the main tower, but it was never spent. So, the castle continued to get worse over time. In 1514, King Henry VIII sold the castle grounds.
Old Sarum Today
The site of Old Sarum Castle and the nearby cathedral ruins are very important historical places in Britain. In 1882, it was one of the first 26 places in England to be protected by law. This law was called the Ancient Monuments Protection Act. This protection continues today and even includes some areas around the castle.
In 1972, Old Sarum was also listed as a Grade I site. This means it is a building of exceptional historical interest. Today, English Heritage looks after Old Sarum Castle and the cathedral ruins. Visitors can park their cars in the carpark on the eastern side of the outer castle area.
