Gloucester Castle, Norman castle in Gloucester, England
Gloucester Castle was a Norman fortress covering eight acres in the southwestern part of the city that overlooked the Severn valley. The site featured a square stone keep and multiple defensive walls that formed an integrated defensive system.
After the Norman Conquest, Roger de Pitres built the original fortress between 1066 and 1087 as the first Norman Sheriff of Gloucestershire. Over time the stronghold gradually changed from a military base into a county jail, serving this purpose until demolition in 1787.
The site held kings and important prisoners within its walls, marking it as a center of power and authority in the region. This role shaped how local people saw their town for many centuries.
The site sits in the southwestern part of Gloucester and is now integrated into the modern city center, with foundations buried beneath current street levels. Little physical remains stand above ground today, so exploring the nearby museum collections and archaeological reports provides the clearest picture of what once stood here.
Excavations in 2015 uncovered hidden foundations beneath modern streets that revealed uncommon details about Norman building techniques. These underground remains stay invisible to visitors but tell important stories about how medieval builders worked and shaped the city.
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