Guildford Castle

 Guildford Castle was raised shortly after the Norman invasion by William I as one a chain of fortifications intended to secure control of London. It was rebuilt in stone during the twelfth century including construction of a Great Keep intended to serve as a Royal residence. By the thirteenth century the castle was being used as the county gaol and continued 

in this role until 1544.

Guildford Castle was built by William the Conqueror after the battle of Hastings and was originally a Norman motte and bailey castle.

Early in the 12th century the wooden defenses were replaced by a stone castle. A polygonal shell keep, a further two story square flanking keep and an outer bailey were all added in the 1130�s and the keep became both a jail and the headquarters for the county sheriff. 

During the 13th century Henry III ordered improvements to be made. The great hall was decorated with paintings and colored glass windows, his apartments were painted green with gold and silver stars, he added a garden with marble columns and the bailey was extended with a set of rooms being built for his son Edward.

The castle was never involved in any battles or sieges and from the 14th century started to fall into disrepair, by 1379 everything but the Kings chamber and the keep had fallen down. The keep continued to be used as a jail until 1544 when it relocated and the gardener John Daborne was left in charge.

In 1611 King James I granted the castle to Francis Carter who removed the roof and rented out parts of the grounds for farming. In 1885 the current owner Lord Grantley sold the site to the Guildford Corporation who restored the walls and tower and opened it to the public. 

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