Pictures of Castle Rising

About Castle Rising

The sea has long since withdrawn from this one-time port, but the superb Norman castle built to protect it still stands. According to an ancient legend, the ghostly screams of an imprisoned Queen echo through the keep of the now ruined castle from which the village takes the first part of its name.

In 1330, Edward III sent his mother, Queen Isabella to Castle Rising for her part in the downfall and murder of her husband, Edward II. It would seem that she lived quite a comfortable life in the castle and was often visited by her son. The castle occupies a Roman site and has a great keep in which a fascinating sequence of rooms, galleries and minor stairs are reached by a single dramatic staircase. Given that Isabella lived in a grand castle and in such comfort, one cannot help but wonder at the chilling stories of screams of lonliness and remorse!

The castle passed to the Howard family in 1544 and it was Henry Howard, Earl of Northamton who founded the attractive Almshouses to the east of the church in 1614. These single storey red brick houses were rebuilt around 1807 but behind the leaded windows are rooms containing the original 17th-century furniture. The Almshouses are occupied by elderly ladies, who on special occasions wear red cloaks bearing the Howard badge when they go to church.

The local Church of St. Lawrence, though greatly restored, is famous for its Norman west front, which has a fine doorway and beautiful arcading, and houses a richly carved square font on a circular shaft.

Castle Rising was a port on the River Babingly until ship's became too large to navigate the river and the trade went to King's Lynn in the 15th-century.

This is a quiet and peaceful village which is a pleasure to visit at any time, both the Castle ruins and the great church are well worth a visit so too, is nearby Wolfreton which has a Steam Railway centre and close to West Newton is Sandringham House. The town of King's Lynn offers excellent shopping facilities and has a good museum, the superb Custom House dates 1683 and is quite outstanding.