CASTLE RISING

Norfolk

The greatest of all Norfolk's Castles stands near King's Lynn.  Castle Rising, a huge keep surrounded by a massive ringwork, dates back to around 1139 when it was built by William d'Albini, Earl of Sussex.

The ringwork probably came first, and it's size is prodigious, almost to the height of the keep inside it, D'Albini surrounded his other major Castle, Buckenham, with a similar ringwork.  The keep, when it was built, was large and modelled somewhat on that at Norwich.

D'Albini was loyal to King Stephen, but cleverly looked after his own interests in the Anarchy. He married Henry I's widow (thus the King's aunt and Empress Matilda's mother).  The last D'Albini died in 1243 by which time the Castle was complete - a gatehouse once lodging in the gap in the ringwork of which only a few ruins now remain.

Edward III granted the Castle to his mother, Queen Isabella. When she died in 1358 the Castle passed to the Black Prince and after his death became part of the Duchy of Cornwall and fell into decline.

The only action to occur here was in the reign of Henry III when the daughter of the mayor of King's Lynn was kidnapped and taken to the Castle.  The townsfolk laid siege and eventually she was freed.  An unusual siege, at the very least!

The Castle, which is tremendously well preserved, is owned by English Heritage and is open throughout the year.

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2018