Castle Rising Castle

Castle Rising, United Kingdom

Freely accessible

Public space — no opening hours to check.

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Castle Rising, a ruined medieval fortress in Norfolk, England, was built soon after 1138 by William d'Aubigny II, an Anglo-Norman nobleman who rose to become Earl of Arundel. Conceived as both a fortress and palatial hunting lodge, it features three imposing baileys defended by earthworks covering five hectares—among Britain's most impressive fortification sites. The inner bailey contains a great keep, probably modelled on Norwich Castle, adorned with extensive Norman Romanesque detail including pilaster buttresses and arcading. After passing through various noble families, the castle became the residence of Queen Isabella following her fall from power in 1330, and later formed part of the Duchy of Cornwall under Edward, the Black Prince. By the sixteenth century it had fallen into disrepair following demolition of most buildings by Henry VIII's grantee, the Duke of Norfolk. Victorian restorers initiated its recovery and public opening; further stabilization and archaeological work followed its transfer to state custody in 1958. The site now operates as a tourist attraction under the management of Baron Howard of Rising.