Carisbrooke Castle

Over het museum

Carisbrooke Castle stands on a hill above the village of Carisbrooke, near Newport, and probably began as an Anglo-Saxon fortified site against Viking raids. After the Norman Conquest the island was granted to William FitzOsbern, and around 1100 Richard de Redvers raised the motte-and-bailey castle on the site. His descendants added stone walls, towers and the shell keep over the next two centuries, until Countess Isabella de Fortibus sold the castle to the Crown in 1293.

Because of its position on the Solent, the castle was an important stronghold in the Hundred Years' War, when the French besieged it in 1377. Under Elizabeth I, new earthwork defences were added after the threat of the Spanish Armada. In 1647 and 1648 Charles I was held prisoner here after his defeat in the Civil War, and he tried and failed to escape through a window.

In the 19th century the castle lost its military role and became a tourist attraction. Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria's youngest daughter and governor of the Isle of Wight, opened a museum in the restored gatehouse in 1898 as a memorial to her husband, and she lived at the castle from 1913 until her death in 1944. In 1952 the museum moved to the former Governor's House, and the Great Hall became part of its galleries. Today the site is cared for by English Heritage, and visitors can climb the keep, walk the walls, see the museum and meet the Carisbrooke donkeys, which still demonstrate the treadwheel that once raised water from the castle well.

Hoogtepunten

• Shell keep on its mound, reached by 71 steps, with views over the island
• Wall walk around the castle ramparts
• Carisbrooke donkeys and the well-house treadwheel
• Carisbrooke Castle Museum with memorabilia of Charles I
• Princess Beatrice Garden in Edwardian style
• Exhibition and film about the castle's history

Vaste collectie

• Carisbrooke Castle Museum – The museum in the castle's Great Hall and Constable's Lodging tells the history of the castle and the island and holds memorabilia of Charles I.
• Castle exhibition and film – A presentation with a subtitled film and a virtual tour that follows the castle's long and turbulent history.

Opgericht

1898

Beheerder

English Heritage

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Prices depend on the date and are lowest when booked online until midnight the day before (off-peak adult £12.32, standard days £13.85, peak days £15.38). Tickets bought on the day cost more, with an adult gate price from £14.50. Prices exclude the optional Gift Aid donation. English Heritage members enter free.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: niet aanwezig
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: niet aanwezig
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The well house and the ground floor of the museum are accessible to wheelchair users; the wall walk and the upper floor of the museum have steep stairs and are not. There is no lift. Paths are gravel, tarmac and grass and fairly flat, but some ground in the moat and around the bowling green is uneven, steps are of historic stone, and some stone and grass areas are slippery when wet. Ramparts lack handrails in places. Designated disabled parking bays are close to the entrance. Wheelchairs can be borrowed, and accessible toilets and an adult changing area are available. Braille guides, an induction loop (ask at the counter) and a subtitled introductory film are offered. Assistance dogs are welcome.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Verschoonruimte

Children enjoy meeting the donkeys, a dressing-up box in the gatehouse, 'Step Inside' family guides at events and a World Builder trail. Pushchairs are allowed. Baby changing is in the toilet block in the courtyard, and the tea room has two high chairs, bottle warming and children's lunchboxes.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The castle is 1 1/4 miles south-west of Newport; follow the signs to Carisbrooke village and then to the castle. Bike racks are available.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Restaurant: niet aanwezig
• Museumwinkel

Tea room with locally produced hot and cold food, sandwiches and cakes. The shop sells Isle of Wight products and English Heritage gifts. Picnic tables and lawns are available.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

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