Guidebook: Carisbrooke Castle

"Outstanding quality and value

"Beautifully illustrated "Written by leading English Heritage experts

"Carisbrooke Castle was the key to the defence of the Isle of Wight for more than six centuries

Carisbrooke Castle has been the most important stronghold on the Isle of Wight from at least Saxon times. The keep and main walls were built soon after the Norman conquest, and the castle was frequently updated over the centuries under the threat of Spanish invasion in Elizabeth I's reign it was transformed into a state-of-the-art artillery fortress. During the Civil War it was used as a prison, most famously housing Charles I, who twice attempted and failed to escape while he was held here in 1647-8. The castle also served as a magnificent residence for the lords and governors of the Isle of Wight, including Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria's youngest daughter, who used Carisbrooke as her summer home until 1938. This guidebook provides a full tour and history of the castle and its occupants.

Extent:40pp Illustrations: 90 illustrations(colour and b&w)

About the Series

English Heritage Red Guides bring history to life, with fascinating eyewitness accounts and exquisite drawings that recreate each site at the most exciting point in its history. Written by leading experts in their fields, they feature specially commissioned photography, fold-out plans, bird's-eye views and reconstruction drawings. Each new guide contains a tour of the site, followed by a history of the property and the people who lived and worked there.