Painting of Castle Rising in this week’s Lynn News Picture This

Picture This with Lynn Museum from the edition of Tuesday, March 19:

One of the most important twelfth-century castles in England, Castle Rising was built in 1140 by William D’Albini. It was inspired by the castle at Norwich to reflect D’Albini’s rise in significance following his marriage to the widow of Henry I.

In the thirteenth century, the castle passed onto Roger de Montalt through marriage and was sold to the Crown after his death.

Queen Isabella settled there around 1328 following her alleged part in the murder of her husband, Edward II.

Inheriting Castle Rising, the Black Prince added the castle to the Duchy of Cornwall and invested in its refurbishment.

With the death of the Prince, the castle fell into ruin. The disrepair of the castle is depicted in the painting above.

The keep was in such bad condition that demolition was considered in the late sixteenth century, but eventually, it served as a quarry for stone.

In 1544, Henry VIII granted Castle Rising to Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk and the castle passed to different branches of the family, still remaining in their hands today.