Carisbrooke Castle occupies an elevated site near, the centre of the island adjoining the Medina gap in the lateral chalk ridge, and overlooks the village of Carisbrooke. It is a medieval castle site which originated as a castle between 1066 and 1086, with several phases of development culminating in the provision of the surrounding artillery fortifications in the late 16thc. The later medieval castle consisted of the curtain wall, the motte surmounted by a shell keep, an elaborate gate house and various internal buildings including the chapel of St Nicholas. The chapel was rebuilt between 1905 to 1906 on its medieval foundations. The core of the gatehouse originated in the 13thc and its existing form dates from 1335 to 1356. The outer artillery fortifications were the work of Gianibelli and were commissioned in 1597 (Lloyd and Pevsner 2006, 107-12).
The only surviving Romanesque sculpture is a capital now displayed in the museum.