Later History
From 1100 The castle remained in the possession of Richard de Redvers' family, and over the next two hundred years his descendants improved the castle with stone walls, towers and a keep. This was until 1293, when Countess Isabella de Fortibus, the last Redvers resident sold it to Edward I, after which the government was entrusted to wardens as representatives of the crown.
In the reign of Richard II it was unsuccessfully attacked by the French (1377) The castle was reputably saved by local hero Peter de Heyno who shot the French commander. Anthony de Wydville, Lord Scales, later Earl Rivers, obtained a grant of the castle and rights of Lordship in 1467. He was responsible for the addition of the Woodville Gate, now known as the Entrance Gate.
The keep was added to the castle in the reign of Henry I, and in the reign of Elizabeth I; when the Spanish Armada was expected, it was surrounded by an elaborate pentagonal fortification by Sir George Carey.
Charles I was imprisoned here for fourteen months before his execution in 1649. Afterwards his two youngest children were confined in the castle, and the Princess Elizabeth died there. Most recently it was the home of The Princess Beatrice, daughter of Queen Victoria, as Governor of the Isle of Wight, 1896-1944. It is now under control of English Heritage.
The castle is located above, and to the south of Carisbrooke village centre. There is a car park accessible by a narrow road and at one particular section traffic lights operate the flow of traffic as it becomes too tight for cars in both directions to pass safely. From 20 December 2009, public transport stopped serving castle entrance, however the infrequent route 6 stops nearby.
According to figures released by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions nearly 120,000 people visited Carisbrooke Castle in 2010.
Read more about this topic: Carisbrooke Castle
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