By 1066, Britain was littered with forts, the very first of which had been built by Iron Age inhabitants.
However, it was the Normans, with their revolutionary ‘motte and bailey’ design – a hand-built mound with a wooden fort on top and a high high fence all around – who ushered in the Age of the Castle in the parts of Britain they conquered.
The Normans threw up hundreds of such castles in the first 20 years of their reign. Although the vast majority have disappeared completely from the landscape, the more important castles were improved over the centuries, leaving us with some of our most dramatic and impressive examples of medieval architecture, even if little or none of their original Norman roots remain.
Here then are nine of the oldest surviving castles that had their origins in the very earliest days of the Normans plus, as a bonus, Scotland’s oldest known castle:
Chepstow Castle
Britain’s oldest surviving stone fortification after the Roman era, Chepstow is also one of the very first castles built in Wales (albeit initially with timber). It was the work of Earl William fitz Osbern, one of William I’s closest friends, who chose to site it on a dramatic limestone cliff above the Wye in 1067.
Over the centuries, it was improved, adapted and enlarged – each phase in its life reflecting the evolution of the arsenal of weapons available to those who might attack it. Having seen service in the English Civil War (when it fell to the Roundheads) it was turned into a prison before being abandoned, becoming a star attraction in the early days of tourism.
Today it provides a fascinating insight into the development of British castles from their earliest incarnations to their last hurrahs.
Useful information
- Location: Town Centre, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP16 5EY
- Opening Times: Generally open daily from 9.30am to 5pm, with extended hours in summer. Closed over Christmas and New Year.
Check Chepstow Castle's website for prices and visitor information.
Dover Castle, Kent
Between his victory near Hastings and his coronation in London, William visited Dover, whose citizens promptly surrendered. Unmoved, he set light to the fortified clifftop town, then threw up a makeshift castle from local clay in just eight days.
The magnificent structure that stands today is mostly the work of Henrys II and III.
Useful information
- Location: Castle Hill, Dover, Kent, CT16 1HU
- Opening Times: Generally open daily (April to end of October half term) with weekend-only hours during winter.
Check Dover Castle's website for exact dates and times. Plus visitor information.
- Find out more about Dover Castle.
Dane John Mound, Kent
William’s invasion force moved on to Canterbury, where the simplest way of establishing a castle was to build up the height of the city’s ancient Roman burial mound.
This motte and bailey affair was abandoned after mere decades but the mound survives as part of public gardens first planted in 1803.
Useful information
- Location: Castle Row, Watling Street, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1YW
- Opening Times: Freely accessible as a public park. Open daily during daylight hours.
For more information visit Canterbury Archaeology
Berkhamsted Castle, Hertfordshire
Unable to seize London from the south, William circled north to Berkhamsted where he received the surrender of various Saxon dignitaries.
Probably built by his half-brother Robert of Mortain, Berkhamsted Castle controlled a major thoroughfare between London and the Chilterns. Saved from being destroyed by a new railway line in the 1830s, it’s now a picturesque moated ruin.
Useful information
- Location: Berkhamsted town centre, Hertfordshire, HP4 3EZ
- Opening Times: Generally open daily (April to September) with shorter hours during winter.
For more information visit Berkhamsted Castle
The Tower of London
Even as William was being crowned on Christmas Day 1066, work was going on to create a timber castle in London.
Keen to show his new subjects who was the new boss, the construction of the famous White Tower began in 1078 – becoming the largest building ever seen in Britain.
Useful information
- Location: Tower Wharf, London EC3N 4AB
- Opening Times: Generally open daily from 9:00am to 5:30pm (summer) with shorter hours in winter. Closed on December 24th-26th and January 1st.
Check Tower of London's website for exact dates and times. Plus visitor information.
- Discover the legend of the Ravens at The Tower of London
Winchester Castle, Hampshire
Built in 1067 on top of a huge rampart where once stood a Roman fort, Winchester Castle became the seat of Norman power in England for over a century.
Henry III’s Great Hall survives to this day and is one of the most spectacular medieval halls in the country.
Useful information
- Location: The castle is located in the southwest corner of Winchester city walls, Hampshire, SO23 7PB.
- Opening Times: The Great Hall, which also houses the Westgate Museum, is generally open: Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00am - 5:00pm (closed Mondays)
For more information visit Winchester Castle
Norwich Castle, Norfolk
Almost 100 Saxon houses were pulled down in 1067 to allow Norwich Castle to be constructed. Today’s impressive stone keep, which stands on the site of Queen Boudica’s camp, was the work of King William (Rufus) II.
The castle hosts a museum and art gallery that will re-open later this year after a major refurbishment.
Useful information
- Location: Norwich city centre, Norfolk, NR2 1NF
- Opening Times: Generally open daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Note: While some areas of the castle, particularly the Norman Keep, are currently closed for renovations, the museum and art gallery remain open to visitors.
For the latest visitor information, check Norwich Castle
- Planning a visit to Norwich Castle? Check out our weekend guide to Norwich
Warwick Castle, Warwickshire
Commanding a bend of the River Avon, William had the castle built in 1068 in order to help secure the Midlands. It later played a leading role in both the Wars of the Roses and the English Civil War.
Latterly, the impressive fortress has been converted into a sort of medieval theme park.
Useful information
- Location: Warwick town centre, Warwickshire, CV34 6AH
- Opening Times: Open daily year-round (except Christmas Day) with varying closing times depending on the season.
It's recommended to check Warwick Castle's website for exact opening hours for your visit.
- Planning to visit Warwick Castle? Check out our comprehensive guide to Warwickshire.
Arundel Castle, West Sussex
The original imposing motte, which was thrown up in 1068, still stands at Arundel, the seat of the Dukes of Norfolk for over 850 years.
Now topped with a stone tower, the mound forms part of a colossal complex that was greatly restored by the 15th Duke in Victorian times.
Useful information
- Location: Arundel town centre, West Sussex, BN18 9AB
- Opening Times: Generally open Tuesdays to Sundays (March to October, dates vary annually) from 10:00am to 5:00pm (last entry 4:00pm). Select Mondays and Bank Holidays may also be open. Closed the rest of the year.
Visit Arundel Castle's website for more visitor information.
- Planning a visit to Arundel Castle? Don't miss Arundel Wetland Centre.
Castle Sween, Argyll
Scotland came to castle-building rather later than Norman-dominated England and Wales.
Castle Sween, completed in the late 1100s, is the earliest Scottish castle that can be dated with any sort of reliability. It changed hands numerous times until, in 1647, it was burnt by Royalists led by Alasdair MacColla.
Sadly, its existence is currently imperilled by coastal erosion caused by the climate breakdown.
Useful information
- Location: Eastern shore of Loch Sween, Knapdale, Argyll, PA31 8PT
- Opening Times: Open year-round and free to visit.
Top tips:
- While there are no set opening hours as it's a ruin, keep in mind it's an exposed location and may be difficult to access in poor weather conditions.
For all visitor information, visit Castle Sween
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