Carisbrooke Castle

The castle's origins date back to the late 11th century, when the keep was constructed under Richard de Redvers. From 1262, Isabel de Redvers, the 8th Countess of Devon, had the surrounding walls built. In the 14th century, a gatehouse with two towers gave the fortification its present-day form. A French siege in 1337 proved unsuccessful. Following the passage of the Spanish Armada in 1588, the defensive structures were modernized. From 1647 to 1648, the castle served as a prison for Charles I.