It is thought that Conisbrough Castle dates from around the year 1070 although very little is known about the early days of the Castle other than it was built for Earl William, the Son in Law of King William the first. He had supported King William, his Father in Law during his famous Battle of 1066 and it is possible that Conisborough Castle was given to him as a Gift for this support. The Earl William was given the title Earl Warrene and had two other Estates at Castle Acre in Norfolk and at Lewes in Sussex. It is believed that he did not spend very much time at his Yorkshire
Castle. When he died in 1088 his three Estates, including Conisbrough Castle passed to his Son, another William who was also Earl of Surrey until his death in 1138. The title, along with Conisbrough Castle then passed to yet another William who died in 1147.
The first three Williams were all very closely related to the Kings of England but they were also closely linked to the Royal Nobility of France. The second William married Isobel, Daughter of Henry the 1st of France.
When the third Earl died in 1147 he left no Male Heir, only a daughter Isobel. She Married William de Blois, Son of King Stephen but he died a few years later without any Children. Another Marriage was arranged for Isobel to Hamelin Plantagenet, the illegitimate Half-Brother of King Henry the Second.
It is known that Hamelin spent a lot more time at Conisbrough Castle than any of the previous Earls. He held the Earldom for almost forty years, from 1163 until his death in 1202. During this time he carried out a lot of modernisation work to the Castle and wrote in his Journal that "he intended to turn this Castle into a place fit for a King." It would seem that his intentions came true because in 1201, the year before his death, King John stayed here for a whole Month.
Following Hamelin's death possession passed to his Son, another William until his death in 1239 when it passed to John, his son by his second Marriage to Maud. John held the Castle until his death in 1304 when it passed to the last Earl Warene, his Eighteen year old Grandson John, since his own Son William had been killed in Battle.
A Marriage was arranged for John, to Joan de Barr, Granddaughter of King Edward the first but it was not a happy Marriage and there were no Children. By 1313 the Couple had separated but the King refused to Grant them a Divorce. This signalled a very turbulent period in the History of Conisborough Castle and several Battles were fought to determine its ownership over the next 30 years, with the Castle falling into the hands of the House of Lancaster, the Crown and back to the Earl Warrene Family before revering back to the Crown who held the Castle thereafter but left it to fall into a state of disrepair.
The story of Conisbrough Castle does not however end there. It was made World famous by Sir Walter Scott in his Novel, Ivanhoe, which uses this Castle as its setting. The story of Ivanhoe and the people of Conisborough Castle during the Reign of Richard the first are largely fictitious but the descriptions of the Castle are accurate and it is known that Sir Walter Scott fell in love with this castle during his Youth and visited here many times.
The majority of the Castle as we see it today is little more than ruins but the Keep is still very well preserved. It is thought that this 100 feet high Stone Keep was built around 1180 by the fifth Earl of Warenne, Hamelin. It was restored in 1994 when a new Wooden Roof was installed and two new Floors were built.
The disrepair of the Castle is actually one of the reasons why the Castle still exists today in its present form. Had it not been neglected at the time of the English Civil War then it would have been destroyed so that the enemy did not seize it and turn it into a Fortress.
Outside the main entrance of the Castle there is a Visitors Centre. If you wish to look around the Castle there is an admission charge. Tickets must be purchased from this Visitors Centre.
Current admission charges are as below:
Adults - £4.00 Adults with concession - £2.75 Children - 6-16 years old - £2.15 Children under 5 - Free English Heritage Members - Free Family Ticket (2 adults + 2 children) - £10.00
The Castle is open daily from 10am until 4pm during the Winter and until 5pm during the Summer.
If I am honest there is not a great deal to see within the Castle when you take into account the cost. It is the sort of thing that you would only pay for as a one off event and it is possible to see the majority of the Castle and its ruins from within the Grounds for free.
When you part with your money you receive a Guide Book and a set of Headphones. The Audio Tape tells you about the various parts of the Building that you are stood in and even comes complete with some sound effects. Throughout the tour there are a series of information points that show illustrations of how the Castle would have looked in its heyday.
One of the most valuable things about Conisbrough Castle is its availably to young people and trips of Schoolchildren come here every day. As a educational tool for such people it is superb and a lot more fun of learning history in a Classroom, something that I recall on my own School trip many years ago.
The Castle is also very easily accessible by disabled people and of the 30,000 people that visit this attraction every year there are many hundreds in Wheelchairs.
Conisbrough Castle is managed by the Ivanhoe Trust on behalf of English Heritage and Doncaster Metropolitan Council.
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