Guildford Castle in Surrey
Guildford Castle in Surrey was built shortly after the Battle of Hastings by William the Conqueror. It was later used as a royal residence and also as a prison.
In the early 12th century, stone defences replaced the initial wooden motte and bailey structure. A keep was constructed in 2 stages.
It was built by William the Conqueror
Guildford Castle was built as a wooden motte and bailey fortress shortly after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. During the early 12th century the original structure was replaced by stone defences and a Keep was constructed. This was done in 2 stages and the first stage was just a shell that was later heightened and strengthened.
The castle became the sheriff’s headquarters and county jail for Surrey and Sussex. By the 13th century King Henry II had built private living accommodations within the bailey and it began to be considered more of a palace than a castle.
In 1885 Lord Grantley of Wonersh sold a large part of the castle to Guildford Corporation. It was then opened as a pleasure garden in 1888. In 2003 a year-long conservation project was undertaken which revealed many original features such as crenellations.
It was used as a dwelling
Guildford Castle was built as a wooden motte and bailey fortress by William the Conqueror shortly after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The castle was upgraded with stone defences in the 12th century, including a keep. The keep was windowless and was thought to have been a private apartment for the king.
The castle was a place of leisure, but it also served as a mustering point for royal troops during foreign wars. The keep was heightened during the civil war of Stephen’s reign, but it was not the scene of fighting.
The gardens are a major attraction, with a variety of colourful bedding that surrounds the 11th-century castle. It is a former winner of the Purple Flag award, which recognizes town centres that offer a diverse and safe night out.
It was used as a mustering point
Guildford Castle was used as a mustering point during William the Conqueror’s foreign wars. It was a convenient location that was easy to reach from London and other towns in Surrey.
In the 12th century the keep became the headquarters of the sheriff and county jail for Surrey and Sussex. King Henry II had private living apartments built in the bailey.
The garden at the castle is extremely popular with the townfolk and displays a bright display of flowers in season. It also includes a life-size statue of Alice Through the Looking Glass, a memorial to Lewis Carroll.
The tower is a square Norman keep of standard size, in Bargate stone and set on the side of a motte created atop a natural chalk spur. It was heightened in the early 14th century and was probably a mustering point during the Wars of the Roses.
It was dismantled in the 14th century
The Castle is a motte and bailey structure which was built by William the Conqueror or one of his barons shortly after the Norman invasion of England in 1066. Excavations of the motte have shown that it was surrounded by a bailey which would have been protected with a wooden palisade.
The bailey’s boundary was probably laid out along Castle Street, South Hill, what is now Racks Close and parallel with Quarry Street (although slightly to the east). Initially a wooden tower would have been built on the motte as a lookout post.
The castle was used as a palace and later a county gaol. It was sold to Guildford Corporation in 1885 and subsequently opened as pleasure gardens. Its great tower was restored in 2003-2004 and is now open to the public.
It was restored in the 19th century
Guildford Castle is a beautiful ruin of a medieval fortress in the town centre. Its gardens are extremely popular and display an amazing array of colourful bedding, centred on the 11th Century Castle Keep. The grounds also house a life-size statue of Alice from Lewis Carroll’s book Alice Through the Looking Glass and an ancient bowling green.
The castle was originally built as a wooden motte and bailey fortress shortly after the Conquest in 1066. Later it was replaced by stone defences and a Keep was constructed.
The outer ward of the castle extended down to Quarry Street and south-east towards the old liberty of Friary Street. A sally port was situated here, and at the corner of Quarry Street is the jamb of a medieval doorway.