Just a short walk from Guildford's busy High Street, lies this small but delightful Castle and peaceful gardens, which provide a wonderful refuge from the modern noise and bustle of Saturday shoppers.
Guildford, the County Town of Surrey, is thought to have been founded by early Saxon settlers around 400AD. By the 10th century it had a mint, and may well have had an early castle. By 1086, it was listed as a town in the King's possession in the Domesday Book.
The Castle itself was started shortly after the Norman Conquest, on the familiar Norman pattern of a large motte (mound) and bailey (enclosure). The wooden defences were replaced by stone ones during the 12th century. Initially the motte acquired a shell keep (basically a simple wall, against which buildings were built inside), and then the small tower keep which we see today.
As the only royal castle in Surrey it became the centre for administration and justice, and it would have been used as a residence by visiting Kings albeit in slightly cramped surroundings. Because of this, the royal apartments were moved to a palace in the bailey below, and the keep became a jail.
Under Henry III these apartments were extended into one of the most luxurious royal residences in England. But the castle fell into decline after Henry III's death in 1272, and the palace buildings became ruinous. The castle was purchased by the Local Authority in the 19th century, who turned it into a small park.
The Keep has recently been restored to first floor level, and reopened, with a small interpretation centre on the ground and first floors. The first floor would have housed the Great Hall, a Chapel, and a latrine. A small cell off the Hall may have provided a small (and rather cramped) bedroom, or he could have slept in the main room. A small spiral staircase goes up to the roof, which provides fine views over the town. To be honest, there's not a great deal to see inside: the most interesting feature is ante-chapel, once the entrance to a small chapel, which has some Norman blind arcading, complete with mediaeval graffiti, possibly dating from the 14th century.
The gardens lie in what would have been part of the bailey, and the path up to the motte provides excellent views across modern Guildford to the Cathedral on Stag Hill. read more