The Castle Climbing Centre

Thank you to all who came out on Saturday, we had a blast! Hope you enjoyed the homemade ice-cream and the honey-melon Send-zings. Next one is June 27th (weather dependant). See you then🧴☀️

Have you caught our YouTube video yet? Check the link in our bio to watch, and read all about the history below:

The wave was built by Colin Rockley in 1995 and was v2 of one he had built in Cliff’s Barn in Lancashire. He was just trying to establish Rockley Climbing Walls as a new business and he was keen to produce a showpiece for The Castle when it first opened as the first modern roped climbing centre in London.
Steep cellar walls were common in the northern climbing heartlands but this was the first thing like it in the SE of England and Colin wanted to make a statement with the impressive curves. Normal plywood can’t be bent to these shapes, so it was built on a steel frame with stub arms and four sheets of thin ply bent over it and glued together to form the distinctive wave.
It’s first incarnation was in the Engine House where the top rope slabs are now. It was bare wood and all the holds were also wood. Most were made by Garry Wickam, a local climber and sculptor, out of a variety of hard woods. Most were smooth organic shapes and some were even French polished!

The effect was something that looked like it belonged in the Tate Modern not a climbing centre!
Initially people made up their own problems, but the holds were named for reference. A bunch of keen board climbers had an afterhours naming party where the names got wilder as more beer was consumed. Problems were recorded in a book and denoted by a list of the hand a footholds used.
Only a few months after this we decided to build the top rope slabs so the Wave was dismantled and moved to the Boiler House. It was the only climbing in that part of the building at first. Initially it was located where the Fang arch is now but when the Stacks were built in 2000 the Wave moved round the corner to the location it’s in now.
The general feeling amongst users was that the Wave was too steep so, when it was installed in the Cave we reduced the angle by about 5 degrees. (Continued in comments)

Thank you to our featured setters

Next Saturday☀️🧴

The second SunBloc of the summer is right around the corner. We’ll have Tenzings and tunes from 12-4, maybe even some ice cream?! Expect the Castle’s freshest DJs to keep you sending all through the afternoon. Free for members, entry included with a day pass.

Donate in support of and be in the running for a £50 BETA voucher! Message us once you’ve donated and we’ll put your name in the hat, running until the end of May.

Pete is a para climber who has been training at The Castle in preparation for his World Cup journey this year. He’s a bit of a legend, read about his background below:

“Born at 25 weeks with Cerebral Palsy, doctors once believed I would never ever walk. I have spent my life challenging expectations and proving that disability should never define what someone can achieve.
In 2025, I competed internationally at IFSC Innsbruck finishing 11th in the world in the RP1 category and 2nd nationally at the British Championships. I’m proud to announce that I have been selected for the 2026 GB Para Climbing team.”

Find out more by visiting the JustGiving link in his bio. Good luck in Salt Lake Pete!

We’ve got a new Boulder Ladder set up👊
Nick was one of our most improved climbers last month and bagged himself a prize. We sat him down and asked about his experience of the ladder (and what he’ll spend is prize money on💸). It’s free to try and resets each month, a great way to track your progress and explore different areas in the Castle. Pick up a scorecard from reception and try May’s set!

Ever wondered what it’s like to volunteer in our garden? Max, our garden trainee, kindly shares his experience working with the garden team and gives an insight into what it means to contribute to the bountiful haven that wraps around The Castle. For more information and to apply visit our website, linked in bio.

Volunteer days are Monday and Thursday each week, plus the last Saturday of each month. A full day is 11am - 4pm, though you are welcome to come along for an hour or so (without benefits!).

Give Max a high-five next time you see him, he’s one of a kind.

Marathon. Good Route. Lost Prop Sale. All in the name of a wonderful cause!

This month we’re supporting
Offering free social climbing sessions for asylum seekers and refugees, Refugees Rock aims to build a UK-wide community that welcomes anyone seeking sanctuary.

Sharing the joy of climbing to promote wellbeing, fun, and a sense of belonging. We’re delighted to be assisting their efforts.

Climb The Good Route, check out the Lost Property Sale, or get in touch with Tristan to see how he got on during his impressive marathon attempt. You’ll find the link to donate over at along with more information on the work they do.