BRISTOL CASTLE

Gloucestershire

The often rebellious and difficult city of Bristol received its first Castle as soon as William I could get near enough to found it.  Like the fragmentary City Walls not a lot remains of Bristol's once proud Castle.

The Castle was heavily rebuilt in stone by Robert, Earl of Gloucester in the 1120s.  It had a tall square keep and a double bailey, and would have had a plan not unlike Windsor or Arundel. King Stephen was briefly imprisoned after his defeat at the Battle of Lincoln in 1141.  Thereafter the Royal Castle of Bristol was one of the most important in the whole of the south west, more and more so as Bristol's importance as a port grew.

When the Civil War broke out Bristol became one of the staunchest Royalist strongholds in the country and was their chief port of supply.  General Fairfax arrived in 1645 and took the City and the Castle.  It was one of the final blows which led to the end of the first part of the Civil War.

The Castle was utterly destroyed, nothing but mud was left visible above ground.  Excavations have uncovered the base of the keep, some tower foundations and two undercrofts dating to Henry III's time.

The Castle - such as remains of it - stands in Castle Park by the River Avon, and an excellent view can be had from the top of the nearby multi-storey car park.  Bristol is a pleasant city whose heritage has sadly suffered greatly over time.

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2018