We all might say Castle Park - but how many of us really associate the beautiful open inner city park land featuring a dramatic bombed-out church with a medieval castle?
But if you take a look at the displays around the park, you can learn more about the stone foundations of a keep and an excavated escape route during times of a seige which are still on view today.
Yes, there may not be much left of the castle - to the naked eye, anyway - but its position is prominent in the history of our city. And now Historic England has taken a move to expand its protection of the site.
Following a reasesssment of the site, and a consultation with Bristol City Council, it’s been agreed to not only continue listing the castle as a scheduled monument, but also expand the area protected to include the eastern half of the park.
It means the area will be protected against development which could damage the remains.
Rebecca Barrett, regional director at Historic England South West, said: “This is a remarkable site in the heart of the city. We’re delighted to have worked with the City Council to review the current designations. We hope this will help to better tell the story of the castle and its role over many centuries, as well as shaping its future management and plans to revitalise the city around it.”
The castle was created in the 11th Century, before redevelopment in the 12th Century with a stone keep and defensive walls. It mostly fell into ruins by 1480, although it retained some functions such as its mint and prison. Then during the Civil War it was refortified before, in 1655, Parliament ordered its demolition.
Here’s some pictures from today and how it might have looked in medieval times:
1. Escape route
At the south west corner of the former castle, excavations during the 1960s uncovered this ‘sallyport’ The doorway is to a tunnel which allowed people to exit a castle secretly during times of a siege.
2. Old and new
The stone foundation remains of the keep can still be seen coming out of the earth in the park. The keep walls were 25ft thick. It is believed that the keep was built in 1480. Behind it, the flats and buildings of the city centre can be seen.
3. The Keep
Another picture of the keep which clearly shows the shape of the building. A keep is a fortified tower used to defend a castle. Closed to the site, it is believed that a defending tower was also located closeby.
4. Don’t be fooled
These may look like the walls of a castle, but they are actually a modern development built in a castle design.