Conisbrough Castle

About the museum

Conisbrough Castle was the centre of a lordship given to William de Warenne after the Norman Conquest. The stone castle seen today was most likely built by his descendant Hamelin, Earl Warenne, and his wife Isabel, probably in the 1170s or 1180s. Its round keep, strengthened by six large buttresses, is unusual in England and is among the best-preserved buildings of its kind.

The Warenne family held the castle for generations, and King John stayed there in 1201. After the last Warenne earl died without heirs in 1347, the estates passed to the Crown and then to the House of York. Richard of Conisbrough, an ancestor of later kings, was executed in 1415 for his part in a plot against Henry V. By the late fifteenth century the castle had been abandoned, and by 1538 the keep had lost its roof and floors.

The ruins later inspired Walter Scott when he wrote his novel Ivanhoe, published in 1819. The castle passed through several private owners until it entered state care in 1950. A local trust ran it in the 1990s, and English Heritage has managed it directly since 2007. Today visitors climb the keep, with staged displays on each floor and a small chapel, and learn more in the visitor centre.

Highlights

• Twelfth-century round keep with six buttresses
• Climb to the roof for views over the Don valley
• Staged displays on each floor of the keep
• 3D model of the castle in the visitor centre
• Link with Walter Scott's novel Ivanhoe

Permanent exhibitions

• The keep – Staged displays on each floor of the round keep show how the castle was used, with a chapel and a climb to the roof.
• Visitor centre exhibition – An introduction to the history of the castle with a 3D model of the site.

Founded

1100

Operated by

English Heritage

Admission & discounts

Prices depend on the season and on booking. Advance online tickets, booked by midnight the day before, save 15%: adult £7.65 to £9.26, concession £6.88 to £8.50. Tickets bought on the day or at the gate cost more (adult £9.00 to £10.90). A voluntary donation of about 10% can be added to a ticket. English Heritage members enter free.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The visitor centre, shop and ground floor are accessible, but wheelchair access is restricted inside the keep, which has over 100 steep steps and no lift. Surfaces are varied and there are steep slopes, including one into the bailey. Accessible bays are directly outside the visitor centre, and a drop-off is possible at the visitor centre if arranged by phone beforehand. Seating is provided on each keep level. There is no induction loop and light levels in the keep are low. Some objects can be handled. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area: not available

Family activities include a book box, activity sheets, reconstruction drawings and object handling, and children get their own activity sheet. There is room to play outside the visitor centre but no playground; ball games and kites are allowed on the grass. Pushchairs are allowed except inside the keep. Bottle warming is available.

Getting there & parking

The castle lies north-east of the town centre off the A630, about 4½ miles south-west of Doncaster. For satnav use the postcode DN12 3BU.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The shop in the visitor centre sells souvenirs, books, sweets, toys and costumes. Picnics are allowed in the grounds.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit