Bramber Castle

Address: Castle Ln, Bramber BN44 3WE

Location

Bramber Castle is a ruined Norman motte-and-bailey castle situated in the village of Bramber, West Sussex, that overlooks the River Adur. It is currently managed by English Heritage and is free to enter.

What's there?

At Bramber Castle, you will find one tall section of the castle's walls structure remaining, as well as smaller sections of the wall dispersed around the surrounding grounds. There are also some remaining foundations that can be seen pictured at the bottom of the page.

Throughout the castle's grounds, visitors will find information plaques sharing details about the castle's history with illustrations depicting the castle before it became ruins.

Visitors will also find views over the local farmland and town. There's plentiful open green space, making this location perfect for dog walks and picnics during the summer.

St Nicholas' Church is located next to the castle on the hillside and dates back to approximately 1073. The church is still mainly Norman, with some rebuilding and restoration work from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. The church is still practising today, with services held every Sunday at 8:30 a.m.

History

Bramber Castle was founded by William de Braose and was held almost continually by the de Braose family and their descendants from 1073 to 1450.

A descendant (also named William de Braose) was suspected of disloyalty, and when the king demanded his sons as hostages, Lady de Braose refused. The castle was confiscated, and she and her sons died in prison. King John briefly held Bramber Castle from 1199 until 1216 and even ordered its repair and restoration. It was later returned to the de Braose family before finally being held by the Mowbrays.

Subsidence on a large scale led to the ruin of the castle during the 16th century.

The castle ruins and its 12 acres of land were acquired by the National Trust in 1945 and are currently managed by British Heritage.

For more information about the castle's history: Click here

Parking

There is a medium-sized car park located approximately 50 metres from the castle.

It's open 24 hours a day, with a parking fee of £2 for non-British Heritage members.

There are no specified disabled parking bays.

There are large potholes, and many of the parking spaces are on a fairly steep slope.

Accessibility

The site features a steep slope leading up to the castle, which unfortunately will make it inaccessible for wheelchair and mobility scooter users.

The slope is approximately 50 metres long; once at the top, the surfaces are grassy but fairly level.

Surfaces will be slippery after rain.

There are no benches at this location, apart from a single felled tree (pictured below).

Dogs are welcome at the castle.

There are no public toilets at this location.

Conclusion

Bramber Castle is a perfect location for a family picnic, with plenty of space for ball games. Although little of the castle remains, there's still plenty to learn about what at one time would have been a substantial structure.

It's unfortunate that the steep hilltop location may stop some visitors from being able to access the grounds.