Chichester Castle
West Sussex, England
Photo: Simon_Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: Simon_Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- Chichester District Council
- Condition
- Ruin
- Access
- Free, open access
- Nearest station
- Chichester, 0.6 miles (straight-line)
- Note
- Only the earthwork motte survives, inside the free, council-run Priory Park.
Pinpoint
Chichester PO19 1NS
Opening Hours
Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
Park open daily during daylight hours
Checked against the official page on 14 September 2026.
Visitor essentials
- Facilities
- Public toilets, playground and cafe within Priory Park; the park is bordered by Chichester's Roman and medieval city walls.
Roger de Montgomery ordered this timber castle built shortly after the Norman Conquest to administer the Rape of Chichester, one of 11 fortified sites set up across Sussex before 1100. It was fought over during the First Barons' War and demolished on Henry III's orders after 1217; because it was built entirely of timber, only the earthwork motte survives today, inside Priory Park in the city centre.
At a glance
Who to know
Roger de Montgomery · ordered the castle built shortly after the Norman Conquest
Worth the trip
The motte still stands within sight of Chichester's Roman and medieval city walls, which run along the park's northern and eastern edges.
Before you go
The mound sits inside Priory Park, a free public park open daylight hours; there's no masonry left to see, just the earthwork and the view from the top.
What visitors say
Chichester Castle reviews · 4.6 / 5 across 1,697 Google reviews
Visitors describe Priory Park, home to the castle mound, as a peaceful, well-kept city park with a playground, cafe and cricket pitch, popular with locals and part of the Chichester City Walls walk.
The mound itself draws less comment than the wider park, which several reviewers say is easy to overlook the castle history inside.
“I visited here in April 2025. This is a peaceful park with an ancient building in it, and the city walls next to it.”- Karen B, visitor review
Getting in - what Chichester District Council says
Free public park, open daylight hours year-round, run by Chichester District Council. The motte itself is an earth mound with no formal path surface to the top.
Taken from Chichester District Council’s own website and read 14 September 2026 - check the current version. Access can change with building work, weather and staffing - if the visit depends on it, ring ahead.
History
Roger de Montgomery · shortly after 1066
Roger de Montgomery ordered the castle built in timber shortly after the Norman Conquest to administer the Rape of Chichester, a Saxon-era administrative district. By the early 13th century it also served as a court and jail. King John ordered its destruction in 1216 during the First Barons' War, though the order wasn't carried out; French forces captured it in 1217 before English forces retook it the same year, and Henry III ordered it demolished once he took the throne. Because it was never rebuilt in stone, only the earthwork motte remains, now inside Priory Park, protected as a Scheduled Monument.
Adapted from this castle's Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Practical notes from visitors
Quoted from individual Google reviews, not verified with the operator - treat as a steer, not gospel, and check before you travel.
- Facilities
- “Cafe and restrooms are available.” - Sangita Sharma
Common questions about Chichester Castle
Where is Chichester Castle?
Chichester Castle is in West Sussex, England, at Chichester PO19 1NS.
Is Chichester Castle free to visit?
Yes - Chichester Castle is a free, open-access site with no ticket booth, looked after by Chichester District Council. There may still be a charge for nearby parking, and open-access arrangements can change, so it's worth a quick check before you travel.
What is the highlight of visiting Chichester Castle?
The motte still stands within sight of Chichester's Roman and medieval city walls, which run along the park's northern and eastern edges.
Is Chichester Castle a ruin or still intact?
Chichester Castle is a ruin - Only the earthwork motte survives, inside the free, council-run Priory Park.
