Bramber Castle is a Norman motte-and-bailey castle that was founded by William de Braose as a defensive and administrative centre for Bramber, one of the six regions into which Sussex was divided after the Norman Conquest. It is located in the village of Bramber, West Sussex, near the town of Steyning, overlooking the River Adur. It was held by the de Braose family until the 14th century, and then by the Mowbray family until 1450. It was confiscated by King John in the early 13th century, who also imprisoned and starved Lady de Braose and her two sons for defying him. The castle suffered from subsidence and decay in the 16th century, and its stones were used for building roads. It may have been occupied briefly by Parliamentarian forces during the Civil War.

The most visible feature of the castle today is the gatehouse tower, which still stands to almost its full height. Beyond it are the foundations of the living quarters, a kitchen and a guardhouse. The original castle was centred on a high knoll, on which was built a motte (a mound) that probably held a wooden structure. The motte was later abandoned in favour of a three-storey stone keep, of which only one wall still stands. The castle was surrounded by an outer ditch and an outer bank, and a stone wall around the top of the knoll.

The Yawning Kea

October 12, 2020

A Norman castle with defensive earthworks on a grassy hill just outside the village of Bramber. This makes a really good picnic spot accessible from both the South Downs Way and the Downs Link.

Kirk Bannister

October 20, 2021

Nice ruined castle, with some remaining standing sections including the keep tower. Has a long history dating back to the time of the Conquest.

Bramber Castle was founded by William de Braose as a defensive and administrative centre for Bramber, one of the six administrative regions – each of which was controlled by a castle – into which Sussex was divided following the Norman Conquest. It was held almost continually by de Braose and his descendants from its foundation by 1073 until 1450.

One of these descendants, another William de Braose, was among those barons suspected of disloyalty to King John in the early 13th century. The king demanded William’s two sons as hostages. Lady de Braose refused, saying she would not trust her sons to a man who had already murdered his own nephew. The castle was confiscated by the king and the family captured. Lady de Braose and her two sons died of starvation while imprisoned at Windsor Castle.

King John held Bramber Castle only briefly but is known to have carried out repairs to the buildings. Later the castle passed back to the de Braose family, who held it until the 14th century, and then to the Mowbray family.

Subsidence on a large scale led to the ruin of the castle during the 16th century. Its masonry was later used for building roads in the area, and it may have been occupied briefly by Parliamentarian forces during the Civil War.

english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/bramber-castle/history

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Elevation 20 m

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Location: Bramber, Horsham, West Sussex, South East England, England, United Kingdom

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