Castle Rising

I have finally been to my first castle! (Not counting the ones in Disney.)  Castle Rising is about 10, 15 minutes away from where I am staying.  I had actually driven by it once before and didn't realize it.  It is set back a little ways from the road and is surrounded by what use to be a defensive mound.  So, unless you know it's there, it's very easily missed.

I went on a really sunny Saturday, which is probably going to be much harder to come by here in the future.  It was a great day to just wonder around the castle and it's grounds.  There were only a handful of people there that day, so I was able to get a really good look at the place.  It was really neat to go around and think about all the things that had gone there in it's history (it was built around 1140).  And the grounds around the castle are beautiful.

Castle Rising isn't a very large castle...actually they describe it as a stone keep.   And the center of it no longer has a roof...or floors for that matter. When you are there you can make out where the floor use to be, although I don't know how clear that comes across in these pictures.

Now for a little information about Castle Rising.  The castle and defensive mound were originally half their current size.  The present appearence is the result of a major building program of the late 12th or 13th century.



As I said earlier, it was built around 1140.  In the more than 870 years since it has been built it has served as a hunting lodge, royal residence, a mint producing pennies for King Stephen and even housed a mental patient.

The famous period for the castle was when it came to the mother of Edward III, Queen Isabella, following her part in the murder of her husband Edward II.  She was not a prisoner here, but led life like a dowager Queen.  She is said to have died here.

There's not a whole lot more to talk about without sounding like a history book.  It's a great place to bring your family and lots of room for kids to run around.  While this was my first visit there, I'm sure it won't be my last.  Now for some more pictures.