Carisbrooke Castle Well House |
| Hob Uid: 1532525 | |
Location :
Isle of Wight
Newport and Carisbrooke
|
| Grid Ref : SZ4861008776 |
| Summary : The Well House at Carisbrooke Castle. This well in the inner bailey courtyard was required after the one in the keep ran dry in 1136 leading to the surrender of the castle. The new well was 49 metres deep, with the upper part lined with stone and the lower part cut through the chalk. Today the water is about 12 metres deep. By 1292 when repairs were carried out, a house had been built over it and a treadwheel put in place to raise buckets of water. The well house and treadwheel visible today were built by Sir George Carey in approximately 1587, at the same time as a large underground cistern west of the Constable's Lodging. The wheel is still driven by donkeys as a demonstration, although was originally probably manned by prisoners. |
More information : The Well House at Carisbrooke Castle. This well in the inner bailey courtyard was required after the one in the keep ran dry in 1136 leading to the surrender of the castle. The new well was 49 metres deep, with the upper part lined with stone and the lower part cut through the chalk. Today the water is about 12 metres deep. By 1292 when repairs were carried out, a house had been built over it and a treadwheel put in place to raise buckets of water. The well house and treadwheel visible today were built by Sir George Carey in approximately 1587, at the same time as a large underground cistern west of the Constable's Lodging. The wheel is still driven by donkeys as a demonstration, although was originally probably manned by prisoners. (1)
Scheduled monument. (2)
Listed building. (3) |