Bramber is a small village in Sussex with a Norman moated castle, which was built shortly after the Conquest around 1070 by William De Braose, to guard a port on the river Adur.  It remained in the Braose family until 1324 when the family line died out.

   During Norman times the coastline would have been much further inland, and at high tide the water would have reached the castle walls.

   Unfortunately the castle was attacked and destroyed by Parliamentary forces during the Civil War, who used the nearby church as a gun emplacement.  So little remains today castle except one wall which stands almost full height, around 75 feet high (24 meters) and was once the Gatehouse.  A single window and some floor joist holes are still clearly visible within the structure.

   Beyond the Gatehouse are some of the foundations believed to have been living quarters and a guardhouse.  You can still make out what would have been the entrance with its dressed pillars, but the remaining walls are only large lumps of basic rough stone.  The best stone having been taken long a go to be used elsewhere.

   There is very little is known of its history and even records kept during the civil war only mention a 'skirmish' in the village c1642.  In the Doomsday book survey of the country in William 1 of England’s reign it was ascertained that Bramber belonged to William de Braose, who also owned forty other manors.

 

Investigation

It was a cold but dry evening on the day we visited

   We arrived early evening and had a good walked around the site taking lots of photographs in the hopes of capturing some paranormal activity that has been reported.  We tried calling spirit in the hopes we might capture an E.P.V. on the voice recorder but unfortunately we didn’t manage to capture any evidence on film, photo or tape to suggest this was in fact a location with paranormal activity, which is reported.

   It is a nice place to visit for a picnic on a good day with its well maintained lawns and mature trees.  Unfortunately since our visit we have learnt that English Heritage who look after this site have now banned all Paranormal investigators from carrying out any investigations in the evening or night time.