Isle of Portland, Dorset, England

A bridge (arch) built by the Normans leads into Rufus Castle also known as the 'Red King's Castle'. It was built by King William Rufus who was the son of Guillaume Peuerel Le Conquerant. It is situated on top of a hill and is the oldest castle in Portland.

Robert Earl of Gloucester took the castle from King Stephen in 1142 for Empress Maud.

This Norman castle was built in the form of a pentagon. It also is called the 'Bow and Arrow' Castle because it has many small loop holes. The structure could have been the keep of the fortification. The walls were about seven feet thick. They were built of Portland Stone Ashlars. Corbals are located at the top that are two to three stories high. These support the galleries. Stones were hurled from these galleries at their attackers. They also fired arrows through the loop holes. You cannot find loopholes on the cliff side of the castle as they were not needed there. Before the Tudor time the southern wall crumbled. It was rebuilt with the present Tudor doorways along with an archway across the pathway that leads to Church Ope Cove.

The castle now lies in ruins and the stones are scattered across the shore below. What does remain of the castle stands some 300 feet above the water.

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