A Visit to Carisbrooke Castle

A trip to the Isle of Wight would not be complete without a visit to Carisbrooke Castle. This magnificent structure is one of the Isle of Wight’s most popular tourist destinations. Along with Osborne House, it is also one of English Heritage’s landmark sites in the South of England. Carisbrooke Castle lies in the heart of the island and is a must-see for anyone visiting the Isle of Wight.

A Brief History of Carisbrooke Castle

A motte and bailey castle has stood at Carisbrooke since around 1100. A supporter of the Empress Matilda in her struggles against King Stephen, Baldwin de Redvers was likely responsible for the beginnings of the imposing structure we see today. Baldwin’s descendant, Countess Isabella de Fortibus sold the castle to Edward I in 1293 and the castle has belonged to the crown ever since.

However, Carisbrooke’s history is much older. It was a significant place for the Anglo-Saxons. Indeed there is evidence of burials on the site during the 6th century. But these early beginnings are not what Carisbrooke is famed for.

King Charles I and Carisbrooke Castle

King Charles I was held prisoner at Carisbrooke Castle following the royalist defeat in the English Civil War. Despite being held prisoner, for most of his stay, Charles was afforded some luxury and freedoms. He was permitted to keep a household of around 30 servants and a bowling green was built for his use.

He made several failed attempts to escape. One of which occurred in March 1648. At this point, Charles’ subsequent execution in 1649 was not something he would have conceived could have happened. However, Charles hoped to rally support to renew the cause of the royalist. Charles and his accomplices had planned for him to climb out of his bedroom and lower himself to the ground using a make-shift rope made from a bedsheet. However, Charles was unable to fit through the window and so the attempt was abandoned.

The Museum

Carisbrooke Castle is home to a museum which is mostly dedicated to Charles’ stay there. Within this museum, visitors can enter Charles’ bedroom and see the site of this failed attempt.

The museum also has on display a number of artefacts associated with Charles. One such artefact is a lock of hair said to be Charles’.

There is also a shirt said to be worn by Charles at his execution. Charles famously wore two shirts at his execution, to prevent him from shivering lest the crowd should think he was afraid. A linen sheet said to cover the body of the king following his execution can also be seen. The material objects associated with the Stuart king really bring history to life.

Other items on display include letters and jewellery, nightwear and miniatures. The artefacts really bring history to life and make a visit to Carisbrooke Castle all the more interesting.

The Donkeys

Donkeys are a major part of Carisbrooke Castle. Since the 17th century, donkeys have been used at the castle to bring water up from the well. This is a task they still perform today. You can observe the donkeys drawing up water from the well at certain times of the day.

When they’re “off duty” you can see and even pet the donkeys in the stable area.

The Castle Grounds

Visitors have the opportunity to walk along the castle walls and enjoy the stunning views of the local area. Unfortunately as one of our party has mobility issues, we couldn’t manage the climb. Nevertheless, we were able to explore other areas within the grounds.

The castle garden is beautiful. It is awash with colours and scents. It was nice to rest our feet and take a seat in the garden and appreciate the peace and quiet for a while.

Of course, Carisbrooke Castle has a wonderful cafe which is stocked with all sorts of tasty goodies. We enjoyed scones and cake whilst soaking up the atmosphere of the castle.

Our visit to Carisbrooke Castle was certainly memorable. Walking in the footsteps of King Charles I was certainly an eerie experience.

Accessibility

As with all English Heritage sites, as much as possible is done to cater for disabled guests. We parked in disabled parking bays close to the castle entrance. The central courtyard has plenty of benches. The staff, especially the volunteers were incredibly friendly and helpful.

Furthermore, like most English Heritage sites, our dog was permitted in most areas of the castle (with the obvious exception of some indoor areas).

If you’re looking to spend the day on the Isle of Wight, we would recommend you combine your visit to Carisbrooke Castle with a trip to Quarr Abbey.