Castle Rising aerial view
Castle Rising Castle, Norfolk — Aerial View (2024)
Castle Rising is one of the most remarkable and best-preserved examples of a Norman great keep in England. Built around 1140 by William d’Aubigny, Earl of Arundel, it was intended both as a defensive fortress and as a statement of power and prestige. The massive stone keep stands within an elaborate series of earthwork ramparts and deep defensive ditches, covering an area of about 12 acres (5 hectares)—among the most impressive in the country.
The castle’s history is intertwined with royalty. In the 14th century, it became the residence of Queen Isabella of France, widow of Edward II and mother of Edward III, who lived here for more than 25 years after her husband’s deposition and death. The keep’s grand hall, chapel, and private apartments reflected her high status, while the surrounding bailey and gatehouse were protected by formidable earthworks.
Castle Rising later passed through noble families including the Mowbrays, Howards, and eventually the Earls of Suffolk, before coming under the care of the Howard family, who still own it today. It is now managed by English Heritage and open to visitors.
Archaeological excavations have revealed evidence of an earlier Saxon settlement beneath the site and extensive medieval occupation around the castle, making it a place of both military and domestic significance.
Today, the aerial perspective reveals the geometric perfection of the Norman design — the square keep dominating concentric banks and ditches, surrounded by the quiet village of Castle Rising. The scale of its earthworks is best appreciated from above, where the symmetry and strategic positioning become strikingly clear.
Location: Castle Rising, near King’s Lynn, Norfolk
Built: c.1140
Builder: William d’Aubigny, Earl of Arundel
Architecture: Norman Romanesque
Height of keep: approx. 12 metres (40 feet)
Status: Scheduled Ancient Monument, Grade I listed
Managed by: English Heritage
Castle Rising aerial view
Castle Rising Castle, Norfolk — Aerial View (2024)
Castle Rising is one of the most remarkable and best-preserved examples of a Norman great keep in England. Built around 1140 by William d’Aubigny, Earl of Arundel, it was intended both as a defensive fortress and as a statement of power and prestige. The massive stone keep stands within an elaborate series of earthwork ramparts and deep defensive ditches, covering an area of about 12 acres (5 hectares)—among the most impressive in the country.
The castle’s history is intertwined with royalty. In the 14th century, it became the residence of Queen Isabella of France, widow of Edward II and mother of Edward III, who lived here for more than 25 years after her husband’s deposition and death. The keep’s grand hall, chapel, and private apartments reflected her high status, while the surrounding bailey and gatehouse were protected by formidable earthworks.
Castle Rising later passed through noble families including the Mowbrays, Howards, and eventually the Earls of Suffolk, before coming under the care of the Howard family, who still own it today. It is now managed by English Heritage and open to visitors.
Archaeological excavations have revealed evidence of an earlier Saxon settlement beneath the site and extensive medieval occupation around the castle, making it a place of both military and domestic significance.
Today, the aerial perspective reveals the geometric perfection of the Norman design — the square keep dominating concentric banks and ditches, surrounded by the quiet village of Castle Rising. The scale of its earthworks is best appreciated from above, where the symmetry and strategic positioning become strikingly clear.
Location: Castle Rising, near King’s Lynn, Norfolk
Built: c.1140
Builder: William d’Aubigny, Earl of Arundel
Architecture: Norman Romanesque
Height of keep: approx. 12 metres (40 feet)
Status: Scheduled Ancient Monument, Grade I listed
Managed by: English Heritage