Carisbrooke Castle

Carisbrooke Castle stands above Carisbrooke village on the Isle of Wight. It is a motte-and-bailey castle built on a hilltop that was occupied in pre-Roman times. The Romans settled nearby, leaving villas and coins that show the area was a trading hub. Vikings used the island as a base for raids on the south coast of England. After the Norman conquest, the castle was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. The castle played a key role in defending the Solent during the Hundred Years’ War. In 1377, a French attack was repelled after a local man shot the enemy commander. King Charles I was imprisoned here before his trial, and two of his children were later held in the castle. The Woodville Gate was added in the 15th century by Anthony Woodville, who was later killed by Richard III. The castle became a military store under Henry VIII and was strengthened by Federigo Giambelli in the late 16th century. Visitors find a mix of ruins and restored buildings inside the castle walls. The Great Hall and Great Chamber are open to the public, along with several smaller rooms. The keep is reached by seventy-one steps, and the domestic buildings date mostly from the 13th century. The Isle of Wight Museum occupies an upper room, focusing on the castle’s history and Charles I’s imprisonment. The castle remains a visible landmark above the village, though it does not dominate the surrounding countryside.