Castle Rising

History

Castle Rising's is named after the Norman castle of the same name. In the Domesday Book it is listed as a settlement of 41 households in the hundred of Freebridge and was part of the estates of Bishop Odo of Bayeux.

Castle Rising Castle was built in the 1140s on the orders of William d'Aubigny and was most famously the residence of Queen Isabella after her role in the murder of Edward II. The castle was subsequently passed to Edward the Black Prince and, today, the site is managed by English Heritage.

Before the Reform Act of 1832, Castle Rising was a parliamentary borough. Due to its small population, it is often given as an example of a rotten borough. Samuel Pepys was the member of parliament for the constituency of Castle Rising between 1673 and 1679, as was Robert Walpole between 1701 and 1702.

St Lawrence's Church

Castle Rising's parish church is dedicated to Saint Lawrence and was built in the 12th century on the orders of William d'Aubigny. It is Grade I listed. The church was restored first by Anthony Salvin in the 1840s and subsequently by George Edmund Street in the 1860s, both at the expense of Fulk Greville Howard. It has a carved 12th century font and has stained-glass designed by William Wailes.

In popular culture

Castle Rising appeared as a Danish village in the 1985 film Out of Africa. It was also the setting for Grass, a 2003 spin-off of The Fast Show.

Notable people

• William d'Aubigny, 1st Earl of Arundel (1109–1176) nobleman, lived at Castle Rising.
• Isabella of France (1295–1358) Queen of England, lived at Castle Rising.
• Colonel Robert Walpole (1650–1700) politician and militia officer, Member of Parliament for Castle Rising.
• Robert Walpole (1676–1745) Prime Minister, Member of Parliament for Castle Rising.
• Fulk Greville Howard (1773–1846) politician and soldier, lived in Castle Rising.
• Horace Farquhar, 1st Earl Farquhar (1844–1923) financier and politician, lived in Castle Rising.
• Ean Campbell (1856–1921) Anglican Bishop, Rector of Castle Rising 1885–1891.
• Greville Howard, Baron Howard of Rising (b.1941) politician, lived at Castle Rising.
• James Donaldson (b.1943) Norfolk cricketer, born in Castle Rising.

References

References

1. "Castle Rising (Parish, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location".
2. "Key to English Place-names".
3. "[Castle] Rising {{!}} Domesday Book".
4. "Castle Rising Castle".
5. Plumb, J. H. (John Harold). Sir Robert Walpole. Publication date 1973 pg. 95
6. "CHURCH OF ST LAWRENCE, Castle Rising - 1077602 {{!}} Historic England".
7. "Norfolk Churches".
8. (2025). "West Norfolk Film History". Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk.