South East - Isle Of Wight
CARISBROOKE CASTLE
Castle Hill, Newport,
Isle of Wight
PO30 1XY
t: 01983 522107
e: carisbrooke.castle@english-heritage.org.uk
w: www.english-heritage.org.uk/carisbrookecastle
Mighty medieval fortress, prison for a tragic king and home of Queen Victoria’s youngest daughter, Carisbrooke Castle has stories to intrigue any group. Key to the Isle of Wight’s defence for over nine centuries, the castle was founded around 1100, strengthened by the formidable Countess Isabella in the 1200s and reinforced against the Spanish Armada by Queen Elizabeth I. It served as a prison for King Charles I before his trial and execution and much later as the Edwardian home of Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria’s ‘loyal prop and support’. Now the most famous modern residents are our friendly Carisbrooke donkeys.
- Enjoy an overview of the people and events which have shaped the castle’s history through our introductory film.
- Patrol the battlements and climb the steep steps up the massive castle mound for unrivalled views from the Norman keep.
- Explore the powerful medieval gatehouse and the ruins of ‘Carey’s Mansion’ – the stronghold’s original domestic buildings, adapted by later residents.
- See the room from which Charles I attempted to escape – but got stuck in the window bars.
- Enjoy the Edwardian-style Princess Beatrice Garden, with its fountain and plantings in the rich colours of the royal arms.
- Don’t forget to greet the Carisbrooke donkeys on their daily 10-minute stint of treading the water wheel – demonstrating how it was used for centuries to draw up water from the castle well.
- Admire the statue of the war horse Warrior, loaned to English Heritage as part of the commemoration of the centenary of the First World War.
ITINERARY IDEA
Combine a visit to Carisbrooke Castle with a visit to Osborne, where you can relive Princess Beatrice’s childhood in the refurbished Swiss Cottage.
