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GiftofT. Whitney Blake.
Fronfi the Library of
Prof. William P. Blake.
1912

HISTORIC AND DESCRIPTIVE
HANDBOOK

OF

CARISBROOKE CASTLE,
NEAR NEWPORT, IN THE ISLE OF WIGHT.
1876.

PEELIMINARY REMARKS.

The Royal Castle of Carisbrooke has long been the property
of the Crown, and is frequently visited by Queen Victoria and
Royalty. It is the chief object of attraction in the Island, and is truly
interesting, from its varied and remote structure, both to the
antiquary and historian; while, from its picturesque and lofty
position, and the very extensive and magnificent prospect, it is
rendered atlractive to the numberless visitors who resort to this
enchanting place.
This Castle was the stronghold and place of refuge and security
for the Islanders in bygone days^ who were frequently assailed
and plundered, and their towns burnt by various foreign invadeTS.
The foundation of this Castle is so ancient, that no record can
resolve its precise beginning.
Some authorities state it to have been founded by the Celts,
and others, with better evidence, by the Romans; the remains
of one of their villas having been discovered at the foot of the
hill, and some of their coins found in the neighbourhood.
Saxon chronicles state it was besieged and taken by Cerdric,
A.D. 530.
It received considerable additions, and was partly rebuilt im
mediately after the Norman conquest, and is principally a Norman
erection. William the Norman gave the island to his kinsman William
Pitz Osborne, grand seneschal of Normandy and Earl of Hereford,
who built his feudal keep at Carisbrooke, and gave the priory
near, to the Abbey of Lire, at Brreux in Normandy.

His son forfeited his lordship by treason, and Henry I. gave it
to Richard de Reparias or Rivers, Earl of Devon, who had married
the offender's sister.
Nearly two centuries later it was sold or bequeathed, with other
extensive possessions in the island, to Edward I, by the Countess
Isabella de Fortibus, who had survived all her family. She had
greatly improved the Castle.
The Lords of the Wight for some time exercised almost sove
reign rights in their island; like the Kings of the Isle of Man;
and maintained great state and dignity. Rut the last of these
petty viceroys were two of the Woodvilles, favorites of Edward
IV, for the sake of the Queen, their sister. The round towers
were built in 1464, by Anthony Woodville, Lord Scales.
When the French invaded the island in 1377, burning Newport
and Yarmouth, their attack was repulsed at Carisbrooke by Sir
Hugh Tyrrel, and nearly the whole of their army slain.
In 1545 the French landed at Ryde and were resisted.
The greatest improvement to the Castle was made in the reign
of Queen Elizabeth, when Sir George Grey was governor : who
induced the Government to build the wall surrounding the old
Castle and the embankments, in 1598. In this work the gentry
of the island contributed £400, whilst the peasantry gave their
free labour.
At the commencement of the unfortunate struggle between
Charles and the Parliament, the Captain of the island was Jerome
Earl of Portland, a partisan of the King: but he, having rendered
himself obnoxious to the prevailing faction by his loyalty, was
seized and imprisoned ; his Countess still retaining possession of
the Castle, and with a garrison of twenty men only, commanded
by Colonel Brett, defended it against the Republican party, until
she obtained honourable terms of capitulation.
In 1647 the Castle was commanded by Colonel Hammond
nephew to Dr. Hammond, chaplain to the King; and the unfortu
nate Charles, as is well known, when unable any longer to make
headway against the Parliament, sought refuge with him, vainly

hoping to find the hand of friendship extended to him in his
misfortunes. King Charles I, in November, 1647, after his escape from
custody at Hampton Court, was detained as a prisoner, till his
removal to the Grammar School at Newport, from whence he was
taken to Hurst Castle, on December 1st, 1648; from which place
he was conveyed at Christmas, to his trial and death at Whitehall.
His two young children. Princess Elizabeth and Henry, duke of
Gloucester, were confined some time in the Castle. The Princess
died there on the 8th of September, 1650, aged 14 years. Her
grave was accidentally discovered in 1793. Her brother remained
at the Castle two years longer and was then sent abroad, but died
in 1660. They were not at the Castle during their father's im
prisonment. The Castle has been since used as a military prison, and also as
a hospital; and is now the head quarters of the Isle of Wight
Militia. After the annexation to the crown of England, the appointment
of Governor of the Island and of the Castle, has generally been
conferred by the Crown on the gentry of the island. The present
governor is Lord Bversley. Several of these who resided at the
Castle, have made additions and improvements for their own
accommodation, and the reception of its princely and aristocratic
visitors. The Crown restored the principal part of the governor's
house in 1856, and has continued to make trifling reparations up
to the present time.
The present Castle, we may fairiy infer, represents the "Buek"
which then yielded to the English conquerors, and witnessed the
slaughter of so many men at their hands. Nor can we doubt that
the samg place (whether the exact spot or not,) is meant, in the
entry under the year 544, which records the death and burial of
Witgar.

THE ROYAL CASTLE OF CARISBROOKE.

This Castle claims our first notice; not only from its antiquity,
but also because all lands were held of the Lord, as of the Castle
of Carisbrooke, by the service of defending it against an enemy,
whence it was called the "Honour of Carisbrooke."
Edward III. — The landholders were by tlieir tenures obliged
to defend the Castle of Carisbrooke for forty days at their own
charges; and every person having twenty pounds per annum in
lands, was obliged to find a horseman completely armed.
The King also sent a hundred bowmen and slingers, and the
city of London three hundred.
The King, at his own cost, furnished the Castle with ten tuns
of wine, one hundred quarters of wheat, one hundred quarters of
malt, fifty quarters of beans and peas, and one hundred quarters
of oats, with salt, coals, &c.
It appears from Domesday book, to have been built by William
Fitz Osborne, Earl of Hereford, the first Lord of the Island, soon
after the Norman conquest; and most probably at the same time
as he founded the Priory, in the city of Carisbrooke. The land on
which the Castle stands was part of the Manor of Avington.
The following translation of the survey of that manor in Domes
day Book is given, to prove that the Castle was erected soon after
the conquest.
"The King holds Avington. Donners held it in the time of
King Edward (the Confessor,) rated at two hides and a half, but
now it is rated at only two hides, because the Castle stands upon
one vingate (20 acres) of land. It contains six caracutes of land.

8
wherein are eight villeins, and two cottagers with four caracutes,
two mills of the value of five shillings, and six acres of meadow.
It is valued at three pounds per annum, but pays four pounds
rent. Perambulation.
The Castle stands on a small hill about a mile south-west of the
town of Newport, and overlooking the village of Carisbrooke; the
walls of the original fortress include about an acre and a half of
ground; and in figure, are nearly a rectangular parallelogram.
The greatest length is from east to west.
The old Castle is surrounded by a more modern fortification of
pentagonal form, defended by five bastions. These outworks,
which are in a circuit of nearly a mile, are encompassed by a deep
ditch and mounds, and circumscribe in the whole, about twenty
acres. These were added in the time of Queen Elizabeth, and
are said to have been constructed on the same plan as those at
Antwerp, by an Italian engineer named Genehella, who had like
wise been employed in the fortifications of that city. At the
north-west angle of the wall, on a projecting shield, is cut the
date, 1598.
The entrance is on the west side of the curtain, between two
bastions, through the Elizabethan gate- way; above the arch is
the date, 1598, with the initial letters, E.R.
This gate leads to another of much greater antiquity, machico-
lated and flanked by two bold round towers. It is supposed to
have been built by Lord Woodville in the time of Edward IV, his
arms being carved on a stone at the top, and the roses of York on
each side.
From the existing grooves in the stone jambs of two other
door-ways, it is evident that the approach was further protected
by portcullis at these places.
The old oak gate with its wick6t of strong lattice work, fastened
with large nails at every crossing, is still remaining, and opens
into the Castle yard or bailey.

On the south or right hand against the boundary wall, and
much -elevated, are remains of the armoury. Further on are the
guard rooms, where the bailifis of Newport were regaled in by
gone days, with beef and garlic.
Adjoining is the Parochial Church of St. Nicholas, but now in
a ruinous state. It was erected on the site of an ancient Chapel,
endowed when "Domesday Book" was compiled. Over the
former Chapel was an armoury, containing breast, back, and head
pieces for two or three troops of horse soldiers ; but defensive
armour being out of use, they were sold by order of Lord Cadogan
when governor. It was re-built at the expense of the Crown in
theyear 1788. Over the door is carved CH. 1758; and by a
stone tablet at the east end we are informed that it was re-built
during the government of Lord Lymington. The roof was taken
ofi", the seats removed, and rendered a ruin about the year 1860.
In this Church the bailifi's, and afterward the Mayors of Newport,
were sworn into office. The original burial ground on the south
side is now cultivated as a garden.
Although Divine service has not been performed for a long
period, yet a stipend is paid. Part of Newport is in the parish of
St. Nicholas, and several pieces of land pay rates.
On the left hand are the ruins of the gunner's house. Here
are steps ascending to the ramparts, on the walls which surround
the area of the original Castle ; they were about 20ft. high, and
14ft. thick, having a footway and battlements. The same steps
also lead to the remains of buildings said to be those in which
King Charles the First was confined ; and a window is shown as
the one through which he attempted to make his escape.
Adjoining are the kitchens, with ovens, and several rooms
attached. Then are the additions made by the several governors
of the Castle, containing various apartments, with banqueting and
ball-rooms. On the second floor is the room in which the Princess Elizabeth,
the second daughter of King Charles I., died. And especially
deserving notice is the once chaste and ornamental domestic

10
Chapel, which has been very sadly mutilated to make room for
the present staircase.
The lofty stone building, originally the governor's house, which
has been restored by the Crown, is now occupied by the keeper
of the Castle, and is considered private.
Near the last building is the well-house, having a well 150 feet
deep, with a spring of delicious water, raised by a donkey treading
inside of a wheel.
PATHWAY TO THE KEEP.
On the east side of the governor's buildings is a massive old
chimney. In the walls adjoining are several early English win
dows : the central division is formed by a round shaft with moulded
base and carved capital, — very interesting specimens, — giving
light to what was then the domestic Chapel.
At the foot of the steps leading up to the keep is a sunk arched
passage terminating with the postern door or' sally-port.
THE KEEP.
On the north-east angle of the base court, on a mound raised
considerably above the other buildings — being 240 feet above, the
river Medina — stands the keep or donjon, the highest part of
an ancient Castle, employed as a watch tower, and the last retreat
of the garrison; its figure is an irregular polygon of seventeen
cants ; the ascent to it is by 72 steps up the side of the mound
to the entrance door, above which are two other flights of
steps leading to the ramparts. This multangular tower bears
evident marks of great antiquity; some of the angles are
strengthened by walling of hewn stone. Edward IV. added the
entrance or watch turret at the top of the steps, and the several
door-ways have well pointed arches ; the first was protected by a
door, a passage with a groined ceiling, — the second doorway was
protected by a portcullis. A second passage having an arched
ceiling with ribs, resting on a carved corbel ; this passage leads

11
to a second flight of steps. There is a well here said to be 300
feet deep, but it has been partly filled up. The keep icommands
a most extensive and beautiful prospect of rich island scenery, the
adjacent coast, the New Forest, and Portsdown, with occasional
peeps at the sea at difierent points.
The Castle of the Normans, as described by Mr. Strutt in his
"Hora Angel Cynnan," corresponds exactly with this of Caris
brooke. He says : " The Norman Castle consisted of a base
court, surrounded by lofty earthen banks, topped with a strong
wall of stone, and to this they added a keep or donjon, which is
a high hill of earth raised at one end of the fortification." He
also observes " that the difierence between the Saxon and Norman
Castles is this : the Saxons built one regular entire fortification
round, or as near so as the situation of the place would admit;
while the Norman Castles consisted of two separate fortifications
— the keep and base court." It is probable, therefore, that the
keep or dungeon of the Castle of Carisbrooke is a Saxon fortifica
tion, and that the base court was added by the Normans ; and
what favours this conjecture is, that a part of the wall of the
base court, which adjoined to the keep on the east side of the
mount, has fallen and has left the place where it abutted so very
entire, as to make it probable at least that the keep was originally
one separate building. May not the keep, or at least the mound
on which it stands, have been constructed by the Romans as a
look-out station or castle of defence, they having a, villa situated in
the valley at the foot of the ancient city of Carisbrooke. Some
Roman coins have been found in the neighbourhood.
PATHWAY TO PARADE GROUND.
On the side is a lofty and ancient wall, with a series of curious
arches and piers, forming part of the original barracks, store
rooms, and stables, and once used as a military hospital. These
buildings by recent alterations and additions, have been converted
into store rooms, offices, guard room, and head quarters of the
Isle of Wight Militia,

12
MONT JOY'S TOWER.
On the south-east bastion once stood a tower called Montjoy
tower. It was supposed to perpetuate the" name of a governor of
Tournay, in the time of Henry VIII. The approach is at the back
of the buildings used by the Isb of Wight Militia. At the foot of
the bastion, in a garden, is a pointed door-way, giving access to
an irregularly formed room. The whole area is encompassed by
a rampart. The walls are about 20 feet high and 8 feet thick,
including a once embattled parapet and foot-way.
PLACE OF ARMS, OR PARADE GROUND
The place of arms or barbican tilt ground, situated on the north
side of the wall of the original Castle, and used as a parade
ground, is a level area of ground, forming a parallelogram with
the angles cut off; the length is 305 feet; the width, 173 feet;
it is surrounded by mounds rising one above the other, similar to
the amphitheatres once used for public exhibitions, and was most
probably British work. A. E. p.
The level area occupies  1 017
The surrounding mounds  1 026

Making a total of  a2 1 3
When King Charles I. was detained a prisoner. Colonel Hammond
converted this area into a bowling green, and at one side erected
an agreeable summer-house for his amusement, where the King
passed his vacant hours.
Near the entrance to this ground, projecting from the wall, is a
lofty erection, probably one of the watch towers.
REPAIRS AND ENLARGEMENTS.
The Castle was probably repaired by Montacute, Earl of Salis
bury, who held the lordship of this island in the ninth year of
Richard II. ; the three lozenges (the arms of that family) being

13
placed on the buttress of the lofty stone building of the governor's
house. The offices generally, the outer walls, and gateway, were
built in the time of Queen Elizabeth, who, at the solicitation of
Sir George Carey, when England was threatened by the famous
Spanish Armada, gave £4,000 towards the expenses. Sir George
also procured £400 from the gentlemen of the island, and the
commonalty contributed their personal labour by digging the
outer ditch gratis.
The governor was assisted in the direction of these works by
Thomas Worsley, Esq. An armourer and fletcher paid by the
Queen was resident here in that reign, as appears by the appoint
ment in Sir Richard Worsley's patent.
The lords of the island and the governors since their time
have made this Castle their place of residence generally.
The first charter of the Countess Isabella de Fortibus to the
town of Newport is dated from hence ; and the will of Philippa,
Duchess of York, was published here in the ninth year of
Henry VI. , wherein she styles herself "Duchess of York and Lady
of the Isle of Wight."
Carisbrooke Castle has been rendered remarkable by the con
finement of Charles I. who, taking refuge here (then under the
command of Colonel Robert Hammond, governor of the Island),
was detained a prisoner from November, 1647, to September,
1648, when he was suffered to remove to the Grammar School at
Newport, and in the school-room to . renew his treaty with the
Parliament. From thence he was removed to Hurst Castle. He
was beheaded at Whitehall, January 30, 1649, aged 49 years.
On the King's death it was converted into a prison for his
children, wherein died, September 8, 1650, aged 14 years, the
Lady Elizabeth. She was buried in the chancel of St. Thomas'
Church, Newport, where Queen Victoria has had a recumbent
monument erected recording the event.
It was likewise made a prison by Cromwell and Charles II.
The Castle has been governed by the wardens, captains, and
governors of the island. The persons honoured with this charge

14
were generally elected from among the principal gentlemen of the
island, and commonly commissioned by the Crown, though some
times appointed by the lord of the island, or with permission,
elected by the inhabitants.
The first instituted to this office was in 1210, when Walliren de
Ties was appointed warden. In 1340, three wardens were consti
tuted. The present governor of the island, also of the Castle, is
Viscount Eversley, appointed by government.
It was usual for the person honoured with the guardianship to
reside in the Castle.
The last governor who resided was the Duke of Bolton in the
year 1770, who made various alterations and improvements in the
governor's apartments, also in the grounds, by planting trees and
forming roads and paths.

APPENDIX.

The following antique entries are descriptive of works done and
prices paid in 1598 : —
Works and reparacons done upon Her Majesties Castle at
Carisbrooke. First, the said accomptaunts are allowed for money by them,
sayed to be layed out and disbursed for workes and reparacons,
viz : — Upon the south ravalin — upon the east ravalin — chardges
of the masons worke of the south-east and south-west knightes
the keep, a ravelin on the north parte of the same Castle, takinge
downe two towers, .and making the loopes of the same agreeable
to thold walls, stoppinge all the loopes of the walls with planks,
according to a plot thereof drawn and said to be remayning with
the right honourable the Lord high Threar of Bnglaunde, and
making a new bridge at the Castle gate, making a tread-whele for
the well with the gudgeons, shafte, and other yron and carpentry
worke about the same, with sondrye other reparacons and fortifi-
catons done there within the tyme of this accompte. The
particularetys whereof, with their several natures and quantetys,
are set downe as hereafter followeth . —
"Lyme per quarter, 2s. 8d. ; bricks per thousand, withcarryage
4 miles, 13s.; sande, for digginge and carryage per lode, lOd. ;
wynninge of rough stone, 3d. and 4d. the lode ; wynnynge and
carryage for hard platten stone, 8d. the toone; wynninge and
staplinge of freestone, 2s. the lode; masons per diem, 12d. ;
carpenters per diem, 12d. and lOd. ; sawyers sawing plankes and

16
boordes at 2s. 8d. the 100; labourers, 8d. per diem, helping wyn,
lode and unlode stone, sande, lyme, water, and soundry works."
In all chardges of the said workes, as by the booke thereof
signed with thands of Sir George Carey Knighte and John Daniel
to said accomptaunts hereuppon duly perused, caste, tried and
examined, may appear the some totall, £470 18s. 5d. of the
peticons and payments aforesaid. (Signed) W. Bueghlet,
J. FoETiscuB, y Auditors.
J. 0. CoNTEES.

Strong as this Castle was considered to be as the safeguard of
the island in days of yore ; what would be the result if it were
exposed to the fire of a "Woolwich infant," either from Mount
Joy, the present cemetery, or Alvington down in the opposite
direction ?

ROBERT BULL,

141 & 142, HIGH ST., NEWPORT, I.W.

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