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Conisbrough Castle, in Doncaster, South Yorkshire
CONISBROUGH CASTLEConisbrough Castle boasts the finest Circular Norman Keep Tower in the UK. This testament to the Stone Masons of medieval England was built during the 1180s by the fifth Earl of Surrey, Hamelin Plantagenet half brother of the most powerful of the Angevin Kings of England, Henry II.
Once one of the de Warenne family's northern strongholds, it is reported in Leyland's Survey 1537-39, that a section of wall, the gatehouse and one of the floors of the Keep had all fallen.
By the time of the English Civil War of the 1640s the castle was pronounced to be Indefensible by the Parliamentary Forces of Oliver Cromwell, thereby escaping the destruction that awaited so many of England's finest castles.
Since that time little had been done to preserve the fabric of the monument until the middle of the twentieth century, when the castle was given into the care of the state.
In 1988 an agreement was reached between English Heritage, Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council and the recently formed Ivanhoe Trust. This agreement allowed the day to day management of the site to be carried out by the Trust. This was the first time in the history of English Heritage that a Management Agreement of this nature had been formed, allowing people living close by to over-see the operation of one of its Historic Monuments.
The Lodge is a Grade 2 listed building constructed around 1893 by the Lord Conyers.
In recent years the castle site has seen vast improvements, a specially designed Visitor Centre, the conversion of the custodian's lodge into Tea Rooms, the installation of flood lights and in 1994 the re-institution of the roof and floors of the eight hundred year old keep tower.
Today Conisbrough Castle attracts over 37,000 visitors per year from all over the world, each one takes home a lasting impression of one of the finest buildings of Medieval England.
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PricesAdults £3.75, Concessionary Adults £2.50, Children (6 to 16 years) £2.00, Children (5 years and under) FREE, Family (2 Adults + 2 Children) £9.50, English Heritage FREE
FacilitiesThe Castle Tea Rooms are situated on the ground floor of the old Custodians Lodge opposite the Visitor Centre.
The Tea Rooms are open seven days a week during the Summer (1 April to 30 September) and six days a week (closed Monday) during the Winter (1 October to 31 March).
OPENING TIMESSummer Opening Times
1 April until 30 September
Monday to Sunday 10am until 5pm.
Winter Opening Times
1 October until 31 March
Monday to Sunday 10am until 4pm.
Last admissions to Conisbrough Castle are 40 minutes before closing each day.
Conisbrough Castle is closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.
Contact DetailsEmail: email@example.com
Telephone: +44 (0)1709 863329
Fax: +44 (0)1709 866773
Conisbrough Castle, Castle Hill,
Conisbrough, Doncaster. DN12 3BU. England
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Andrew Spencer from Harlington: In 2001 I was married at Barnburgh church in full medieval costume including chain mail, the guests also dressed for the occasion. We held the reception in the grounds of Conisborough castle where we had an absolutely wonderful time. The evening ended with my Wife & myself being "married again" in a mock celtic wedding ceremony complete with a rather portly Friar John. A day we will never forget.
Sylvia English from Preston Lancs: I lived in Conisbrough in the early 70s and attended Station Rd. Infant& Junior School. My teacher in year 3 of the infants was Mrs Ames - her husband was the caretaker of the castle and they lived in the lodge, now the tearooms. Whenever we played in the grounds we shouted 'hello'.
Andrew Swan from West lothian, Scotland.: I was born in the grounds of the castle in 1967 when my mother went into early labour. I was taken to The Montague Hospital untill sent home. I think at the time my family lived in Mexborough. Most of my relatives live in the surrounding area, and when visiting I always visit Conisbrough and the castle. Although I have lived in Scotland for 34 years, I consider myself English, and very proud of it. I am also looking forward to my next visit, around September, when I can come home to some of the nicest people and places in the world.