Sunday 26 April 2026 | Reigate, Surrey
After our walk around Reigate Priory Park, we walked on to the Castle Grounds. It was a hot day, so the shady paths and big old trees were very welcome.
A castle you can’t see
Despite the name, there isn’t a castle to look at any more. The original castle is believed to have been built by William de Warenne, the second Earl of Surrey, soon after 1088. In 1777 Richard Barnes turned the site into a private garden and added a mock medieval gateway, built over the ruins of the original castle.
A public park since 1873
The grounds were opened to the public in 1873, after being laid out with all sorts of new trees, including a Giant Redwood and a Cedar of Lebanon. Today it’s a peaceful park with lawns, flower beds and plenty of shade.
Running underneath it all is the Reigate Castle Tunnel, built in 1823 and believed to be Europe’s first road tunnel. I wrote a little more about the tunnel in my post about arriving in Reigate.
