Carisbrooke Castle

Carisbrooke Castle is a Norman castle located near Newport on the Isle of Wight in Hampshire.
The castle is now managed by English Heritage who maintain the centuries old tradition of keeping a team of donkeys to turn the wheel in the well and raise water in a bucket.

The site was originally one of the Roman Saxon Shore Forts (see below).
The site was re-occupied by the Anglo-Saxons during the 7th century CE.
Between 1100-1293 CE, the De Redvers family owned the castle and gave it a keep, walls and towers built of stone.
After 1293 CE it became a Royal castle with an appointed Warden.
In 1377 CE the castle was briefly besieged by a French Army.
The Keep was refortified by Elizabeth I in anticipation of an attack by the Spanish Armada in 1588 CE.
It was the official residence of the Governor of the Isle of Wight between 1509 until 1944.
In 1600 CE, a square rampart and ditch with bastions at regular intervals was built to completely surround the castle and protect it from cannon fire.
Between 1896-1944 CE, it was the residence of Queen Victoria’s daughter, Princess Beatrice who was the Governor of the Isle of Wight.

The Saxon Shore Forts were a chain of Roman Navy Forts in southeastern England that stretched from Portchester to the Wash, whose function was to defend the river estuaries and coastline from Pirate attacks by seaborne invaders.
The Forts date to the third century CE and are mentioned in a 4th century CE document known as the Notitia Dignitatum.

Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight