Caister Castle is a 15th-century moated castle situated in the parish of West Caister, some 5 kilometres (3 mi) north of the town of Great Yarmouth in the English county of Norfolk (grid reference TG504123).
The castle had a 100 ft (33 m) high tower and was built between 1432 and 1446 by Sir John Fastolf, who was the inspiration for William Shakespeare's Falstaff. Fastolf was the recipient of one of the five licences to crenellate, authorising the building of a fortified dwelling, issued by Henry VI, during his 50 years' reign. The castle suffered severe damage in 1469 when it was besieged and captured by the Duke of Norfolk. The castle, other than the tower, fell into ruin after 1600 when a new house was built nearby.
The castle's tower is still intact and can be climbed by visitors.
Read more about Caister Castle: Paston Letters, Caister Castle Motor Museum
Famous quotes containing the word castle:
“The splendor falls on castle walls
And snowy summits old in story;
The long light shakes across the lakes,
And the wild cataract leaps in glory.
Blow, bugle, blow, set the wild echoes flying,
Blow, bugle; answer, echoes, dying, dying, dying.”
—Alfred Tennyson (1809–1892)