Bramber Castle was build in 1073 by William de Braose. It remained in his family until early the 14th century. In 1324, William VI de Braose 'leased' the Castle and town of Bramber to the King (Edward II). On William's death, in 1326, he left no male heirs and his co-heirs were his daughter, Aline (who had, in 1298, married John de Mowbray) and John de Bohun, son of Joan, William's other daughter (who had married James de Bohun). On the accession of Edward III (1327) Aline recovered her manors and the Castle was restored to her son, John de Mowbray.
Bramber Castle remained in the de Mowbray family until Thomas de Mowbray's daughter, Margaret, married Sir Robert Howard. Their son, John Howard, was created Duke of Norfolk in 1483 and the Castle remained in the Howard/Norfolk family until it was sold privately to Dr. F. Penfold in 1926. On his death, in 1946, it was purchased by the National Trust (now maintained by English Heritage).
During the Victorian period, Bramber Castle became something of a 'leisure park' when it was leased to the brewery of the local pub, the White Lion (now the Castle Hotel).
It would appear that the Castle was not used to any great extent once it had passed to the de Mowbray family. John de Mowbray had been ordered to 'stay at his manor at Bramber' in 1338 and there is a record of two pirates being held there in 1355. Archaeological evidence suggests that the Castle was no longer in use (as a castle) after the mid 15th century, where, after lack of maintenance and robbing of stone for building material use elsewhere has, caused its ruin.
When William VI de Braose handed the Castle over to the king, it underwent repairs, the work of which terminated in November 1326 - on the death of William. There are no further reports of repair work. During the reign of Richard II (1377-99), there was concern amongst the Sussex locals that the county would be in threat of destruction should the French invade. The king was petitioned to garrison the Castle but there is no record that this occurred. Camden, in 1586, reported that the Castle was a ruin. There has been a suggestion that it was fortified during the Civil War and blown up by the Parliamentarians. There is no evidence of this, although there was a skirmish in 1643, over Bramber Bridge, which the Parliamentarians were defending. There is reference, in personal letters of the time, of a 'fort' and defensive 'works' at Bramber but, althouh they could be reference to the Castle, they could just as well be rerefences to the bridge. Certainly, the bridge would have been an important position to hold (rather than a ruined castle on top of a hill), to prevent the Royalists proceeding east.
Despite the Castle's neglect, it is still a fascinating site to see, with its solitary gatehouse wall, its tree covered motte and its spectacular views over the Sussex countryside - a haunting reminder of what was, nice centuries ago, a formidable bastion of its time.
