Carisbrooke Castle

Historic Building

Carisbrooke Castle is the most important historic monument on the Isle of Wight and one of the finest medieval castles in southern England. The castle stands on a prominent hilltop above the village of Carisbrooke, just outside Newport, commanding views in all directions. The site has been fortified since at least the Saxon period, and the current castle dates from the Norman Conquest onwards, with significant additions in the Elizabethan era when the defences were modernised against the threat of Spanish invasion. The castle is best known as the place where Charles I was imprisoned from 1647 to 1648 before his trial and execution in London. The king's failed escape attempts, including the famous incident when he became stuck in a window bar, are part of the castle's enduring story. Other features include the well house, where donkeys still operate the treadwheel to draw water from a depth of over forty metres, the chapel of St Nicholas, and the Isle of Wight Museum housed within the castle walls. The views from the ramparts extend across the island in all directions, from the Solent to the southern downs. The castle is managed by English Heritage and charges admission. It is the single must-see historic site on the island, and visitors should allow at least two hours for a thorough visit.