Carisbrooke Castle LiDAR, Isle of Wight

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The earliest fortified settlement on this site was a Saxon burh constructed around 1000 AD, consisting of a rectangular earthen enclosure surrounded by a later stone façade. This structure underwent significant changes in the early 12th century when Henry I transformed it into a Motte & Bailey castle between 1100 and 1135. In the 13th century, Countess Isabella de Fortibus implemented substantial modifications to the stone fortifications, incorporating a grand hall with two chambers, one of which housed a chapel, as well as various courtyard buildings. The resulting architecture is the form we see today. Elizabeth I appointed George Carey as the island's captain in 1583, who subsequently renovated the courtyard structures and expanded the great hall with an additional wing. Fearing potential Spanish invasions, Carey oversaw significant upgrades to the outer defenses between 1587 and 1602, incorporating five angular bastions and making other minor adjustments. During the English Civil War, the castle was held by Parliament and served as a prison for Royalists, including King Charles I, from 1647 to 1648.