Visualising Canterbury Castle

Sum awarded: £9,631

The very first castle at Canterbury was established by William the Conqueror in late 1066 during the Norman Conquest of England. For centuries it remained one of the most important royal castles in Kent. The tower keep was likely built in the first quarter of the 12th century during the reign of Henry I.

The Castle Studies Trust has funded a project led by Dr Catriona Cooper of Canterbury Christ Church University to develop a detailed digital model of the keep to help the public understand this complex ruin. The site has been closed to the public since 2018 due to instability. It has undergone a conservation project since, and there are plans to reopen the site in 2025. Combined with the upcoming 1000-year anniversary of the birth of William the Conqueror this is an opportunity to enhance the public understanding of the castle at the point when interest with be at its peak.