View source for Canterbury Castle

{{Short description|Norman Castle in Kent, England}}
{{about|a castle in England|the historic strurcture in Portland, Oregon|Canterbury Castle (Portland, Oregon)}}

{{Infobox Historic building
|image=File:Canterbury - Castle02.jpg
|caption=The interior of Canterbury Castle
|name=Canterbury Castle
|location_town=[[Canterbury]], [[Kent]]
|location_country=England
|map_type=Kent
|coordinates = {{coord|51.275686|1.074618|display=inline}}
|architect=
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'''Canterbury Castle''' is a ruined [[Anglo-Normans|Norman]] castle in [[Canterbury]], [[Kent]], [[England]] ({{gbmapping|TR14545743}}).<ref name="Pastscape">{{cite web|title=Canterbury Castle |url=http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=464740 |publisher=Pastscape.org.uk |accessdate=2008-05-30 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225071950/http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=464740 |archivedate=2012-02-25 }}</ref> It is a five-minute walk from Canterbury East Station and the main bus station around City Wall.

Canterbury Castle was one of the three original Royal castles of [[Kent]] (the other two being [[Rochester Castle]] and [[Dover Castle]]). They were built soon after the [[Battle of Hastings]], on the main Roman road from [[Dover]] to [[London]]. This was the route taken by [[William the Conqueror]] in October 1066; the castles were probably built to guard this important road.<ref>[https://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/archive/20051124120000/http://www.canterburytrust.co.uk/schools/keysites/castle.htm Canterbury Trust]</ref>

==Phases==
===Norman era===
A wooden [[motte and bailey]] castle was erected in 1066 - its motte may be the mound which is still visible in the Dane John gardens near the stone castle (which may, in turn, be a Roman burial mound), with Dane John deriving from ''[[donjon]]''.

===Stone castle===
The great stone [[keep]] was largely constructed in the reign of [[Henry I of England|Henry I]] as one of three Royal castles in Kent. This massive structure, which has dimensions of about 98 by 85 feet externally at the base, was originally probably at least 80 feet high. It is mainly made of flint and sandstone rubble. By the 13th century, the castle had become the county gaol. It was given up to the invading French in the [[First Barons' War]]. In 1380 a new gate was built.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030826161247/http://www.canterbury.co.uk/cgi-bin/buildpage.pl?mysql=314 Canterbury Castle 1 canterbury.co.uk]</ref>

By the 19th century, it had been obtained by a gas company and used as a storage centre for gas for many years, during which time the top floor was destroyed.

===Tourist attraction===
The Castle has been owned by the local authority since 1928.<ref>[http://www.canterbury-archaeology.org.uk/castle/4590809462 "Canterbury Castle"] Canterbury Historical and Archaeological Society (CHAS), Retrieved 10 January 2020</ref> It has been closed because of falling masonry since 2018 and although there were tentative plans for its restoration and reopening in 2021,<ref>Wright, Joe. [https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/plan-to-restore-forgotten-castle-205474/ "Canterbury Castle could reopen in 2021"], Kent Online, 29 May 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2020.</ref> as of October 2024, it remains closed.

==Images of Canterbury Castle==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="160px">
Image:Norman Castle at Canterbury.jpg|Canterbury Castle, built between 1100 and 1135. 
Image:Canterbury 20-2-07 082.jpg|The mound in Dane John gardens - a probable motte
Image:Norman Castle at Canterbury 2.jpg|Canterbury Castle 
</gallery>

==Governors of Canterbury Castle==
The Governors were responsible for the upkeep and security of the castle, which passed into private hands at the end of the reign of [[King James VI and I]] (1625).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol11/pp59-66|title=The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 11.|publisher=British History Online|accessdate=28 October 2017}}</ref>
*1216–1232: [[Hubert de Burgh, 1st Earl of Kent]] (also Governor of Dover and Rochester Castles)
*1232–: [[Stephen de Segrave]] (also Governor of Rochester Castle)
*1259–: [[Nicholas de Moels]] (also Governor of Rochester Castle)
*1261–: [[Robert Walerand]] (also Governor of Rochester Castle)
*1272–: William de Eschetesford
* ''From the late 13th century onwards the castle was used as a gaol''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/archive/20051124120000/http://www.canterburytrust.co.uk/schools/keysites/castle.htm Canterbury Trust - Canterbury Castle]
*[https://archive.today/20130420000205/http://www.canterbury.co.uk/things-to-see-and-do/Canterbury-Canterbury-Norman-Castle/details/?dms=13&feature=1&GroupId=2&venue=3030599 Norman Castle at Canterbury Castle]
*[http://www.canterburytrust.co.uk/learning/galleries/canterbury_castle/ Archaeological and historical sources, reconstructions] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130705033747/http://www.canterburytrust.co.uk/learning/galleries/canterbury_castle/ |date=2013-07-05 }}

{{coord|51.275686|N|1.074618|E|region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(TR145574)|display=title}}<!-- Note: WGS84 lat/long, converted from OSGB36 grid ref -->

{{Governors and Constables in England and Wales}}

[[Category:Castles in Kent]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kent]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Canterbury|Castle]]
[[Category:Ruins in Kent]]
[[Category:Grade I listed buildings in Kent]]