English Heritage

Other royal connections

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  Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight

  Charles I was imprisoned at Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight in 1647–48 following his defeat in the English Civil War and enjoyed use of his own bowling green before attempting to escape (twice).

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  Dover Castle, Kent

  Dover Castle became the strongest fortress in medieval England thanks to building work by Henry II and his successors, including the mighty keep, the Great Tower, a symbol of kingly power.

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  Eltham Palace and Gardens, London

  A manor once owned by Edward II, Eltham was a popular royal residence for the likes of Edward III Richard II, Henry IV and Edward IV, while Henry VIII spent much of his childhood there.

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  Middleham Castle, North Yorkshire

  A young Richard III (then Duke of Gloucester) may have spent time at the castle, but it was in the 1470s that he made Middleham the focus of his growing power in the north.

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  Old Sarum, Wiltshire

  After backing her sons in a revolt against her husband Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine was kept prisoner (albeit still enjoying a queenly lifestyle) at Old Sarum until Henry’s death in 1189.

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  Tintagel Castle, Cornwall

  Legends of King Arthur’s association with Tintagel (he was supposedly conceived there) were enough to see Richard, Earl of Cornwall, buy the rocky headland (now island) and build his own castle there.