Cambridge Castle (NGR TL 446 592)
Cambridge Castle lies in the grounds of Shire Hall on Castle Street, on what is the highest point in Cambridge. The strategic importance of this location overlooking the River Cam was recognised in pre-Roman times and successive Iron Age, Roman and Saxon settlements were established here. In 1068 William the Conqueror gave orders for a castle to be built at Cambridge, and the Domesday Book tells us that 27 houses were demolished to make way for it. The Norman castle consisted of a motte (castle mound) topped by a wooden keep, with a ditched bailey (enclosed courtyard) to the north. The castle was remodelled in stone by Edward I in the late 13th century, when a curtain wall, wet moat, gatehouse and corner towers were added. Limited excavations around the castle have shown that the moat was 4 metres deep.
By the Elizabethan period, the castle was rapidly falling into decay with stone being robbed for use in other buildings in Cambridge. Only the south-western gatehouse survived intact and was used as the County Gaol during this period, as is shown on Fuller's view of Cambridge in 1634. In 1643 Cambridge became the headquarters of Cromwell's Eastern Counties Association. The castle defences were remodelled, with bastions added at three of the corners and a brick barracks built in the centre of the site. The defences were never tested in action and were ordered to be demolished in 1647. The barracks and gatehouse were again used as a prison, before being replaced by a custom-built County Gaol and Courthouse during the 19th century. Finally the Shire Hall building that you see today was built in 1932.
Surviving remains of the castle date to the Norman and Civil War periods, with virtually nothing to see of the Edwardian Castle. The imposing Norman motte stands over 10 metres high, and a small section of bank which once surrounded the bailey leads north-east from the motte. Earthworks remains of the north-east and south-east bastions also survive behind the car park and council buildings, but have been badly damaged by later works.
Cambridge Castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument - please treat it with respect and do not use metal detectors there.
A book on the history of Cambridge Castle is available for purchase.
More information about this and other sites is available from Cambridgeshire Historic Environment Record.
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