Castle Rising Castle

Castle Rising stands in a quiet Norfolk village, a ruined medieval fortress built soon after 1138 by William d’Aubigny II. He raised its earthworks, baileys and stone keep to serve both as a stronghold and a grand hunting lodge. The castle covers five hectares of rolling earthworks, among the most impressive in Britain. Three baileys defend the inner keep, which rises with Romanesque pilasters and arcading. Historians Morley and Gurney call it one of the finest Norman keeps. A planned town once lay before the gates, while behind stretched deer parks and rabbit warrens. The castle’s story is tied to powerful figures. Isabella of France, the dowager queen, lived here after her fall from power in 1330. She enlarged the buildings and entertained her son Edward III. Later it passed to Edward, the Black Prince, then to the Howard family. In the 19th century Mary and Fulke Greville Howard restored the ruins. English Heritage stabilised the site in the 20th century before returning it to Baron Howard of Rising, who now opens it to visitors. Inside the inner bailey the great keep dominates, its upper walls showing later repairs. Archaeologists Creighton and Higham have studied the defences in detail. The outer baileys still carry massive ramparts of earth. Beyond the walls lie the remains of the medieval deer park, once managed for hunting. Visitors walk the grassy banks and view the keep’s Romanesque details. The quiet landscape recalls the castle’s dual past as fortress and grand residence.