Castle Hunting UK

27 th June 2015 Old Sarum sits on the site of an Iron Age hill fort 1067-1070 - William the Conqueror builds a wooden castle in the centre of the hill fort Henry I reign - castle is reconstructed in stone 1075 - Herman Bishop of Ramsbury created a cathedral at the site 1130 - castle acquired by Bishop Roger of Sarum 1139 - during Bishop Roger's downfall the castle was passed back to the King Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine was kept under house arrest here During the reigns of King Richard I and John, the castle was well looked after 1220s - Bishop Richard Poore decided to build a new catherdral Castle was later abandoned by the clergy and eventually the Crown lost interest in the castle too This was another fascinating site and much remains considering the age of site/buildings. We did the audio tour which was interesting. There was plenty to see, though not much is undercover so good/dry weather would be required! Owned by English Heritage Designated car par...

26 th June 2015 Since the Roman invasion of Britain in 43AD until the end of their rule (410AD), the site of Richborough was used as fort. Over time it became a town – with a mansio, temples and amphitheatre – and then a port. In the late 3 rd century the site was refortified due to the threat of the Saxons. After Roman rule ended, the site was occupied by the Saxons. This site was so interesting and the ruins are impressive when you consider how old they are. We would definitely recommend the audio tour, but there are also information panels dotted around the site. The exhibition next to the shop, about Roman life, is also interesting. Unfortunately we could not find the amphitheatre so we suggest asking in the shop for exact directions! Owned by English Heritage Designated car park Dogs allowed Small shop, toilets Guidebooks, audio tours N&K 

25 th June 2015 1066 - William of Normandy (William the Conqueror) lands in England and orders a timber motte and bailey castle to be built at Hastings 1070 - following the Battle of Hastings the castle is rebuilt in stone Castle was later destroyed by King John 1220 - Henry III restores the castle 1287 - during a storm part of the castle is lost in a cliff fall Henry VIII, during his destruction of Catholic churches, ruins Hastings. The castle continues to fall into decline We would definitely recommend seeing this castle. Whilst the castle is fairly ruined, considering how old it is and its history, it’s amazing what is left. The lack of information provided is unfortunate and the castle was hard to find! But the location on a cliff was lovely and the archway was beautiful. Entrance fee Car park for the castle is a slight walk away, up a steep hill No facilities on site Introductory video but no  guidebook N & K

24th June 2015 1066 - original castle, constructed of timber, was thought to have been built by William the Conqueror 1088 - siege in which castle was damaged. Under command of William II, Gundulf Bishop of Rochester rebuilt 1127 - Henry I entrusts castle custody to Archbishops of Canterbury, William de Corbeil builds a stone keep 1211 onwards - tension between Stephen Langton (Archbishop of Canterbury) and King John 1215- following the agreement of the Magna Carta by King John and the barons, the arrangement collapsed and the king's enemy controlled the castle. they eventually surrendered as a result of starvation 1216 - castle back in rebel hands until 1217 - where the country had a new king, Henry III 1226 - castle keep repaired Henry III is a regular visitor to Rochester castle 1264 - Henry III's authority was challenged by the barons and the castle was at the heart of this particular siege. Simon de Montfort, leader of the rebel barons captured the castle ...

24th June 2015 1559 - built to protect Queen Elizabeth I's war ships which would be anchored in the river Medway 1642 - Civil War - castle was a prison for Royalists 1653 - fire at the castle resulted in the gatehouse being rebuilt 1827 - castle no longer used as a magazine but instead as an explosives laboratory 1856 - new shell store and magazine installed following the Crimean war 1891 - war office to the Admiralty as well as testing place for firearms and explosives 1941 - castle damaged by a bomb which fell on Upnor house 1945 - castle became a museum  The castle today consists of a gatehouse (1599-1601), courtyard. If you go through the Sally port on the left this leads you to the North Tower. After this enter the main building, built between 1559 and 1567, which leads out onto the Water bastion for a view across the river. End your tour in the South Tower. The castle was very different to what we were expecting and it didn't...

23rd June 2015 Considered the greatest landmark symbol of England, the castle stands proud guarding the straight of Dover (the narrowest point of the English Channel between England and France). Iron Age - hill fort existed at site of current castle today 43AD - Romans built a lighthouse (Pharos) Saxons - added a church and fortification 1066 - William the Conqueror strengthened the defences here 1180s - Henry II remodelled the castle 1200s - building work continued under the orders of King John and Henry III 1216 - 1217 - defences were put to the test when the castle came under sieges from the French Castle garrison for many years World War II - site was the headquarters for Admiralty Regional Command  1940 - Operation Dynamo was orchestrated here  We began with the guided tours, as these can get quite busy. The Operation Dynamo tour takes about 50 minutes and takes you 26 metres underground around the middle level of the war tunnels, kno...

22nd June 2015 The largest of the “castles of the Downs” (Sandown, Walmer and Deal) 1539 - 1540 - castle built under the orders of Henry VIII 1539 - Anne of Cleeves briefly stayed at the castle on her way to marry Henry VIII 1642 - Civil War - all three castle of the Downs were under Parliamentary control 1648 - Kentish uprising, all three castles were taken by a small fleet of Royalist naval vessels Colonel Rich appointed captain of the castle and set about repairing the castle 1652-1654/1665-1667/1672-1674 - Dutch Wars - a garrison was maintained at the castle throughout this times and whilst several fleets sailed passed the castle saw no action 1720s - castle renovated into more comfortable  accommodation This castle was interesting and had a nice, easy layout to get around. The shape of the castle form the air forms the shape of the Tudor rose. The castle keep is circular and the rooms on the ground floor contain original features. The first floor was no...

22nd June 2015 1539 - castle built as part of a chain of artillery forts commissioned by Henry VIII due to threat of Spanish invasion 1708 onwards - castle became official residence for the Lords of Warden of the Cinque Ports -  a title held by many including the Duke of Wellington, Winston Churchill and the Queen’s Mother As you come out of the shop, there are stairs leading to the basement which contains the Soldier’s Kitchen (indicated by an original sign from the Napoleonic Wars), a gun magazine and a well. Much of the ground floor and basement has retained its Tudor appearance. The first room of the castle is the hall which was built in 1730s as a gunner’s lodging. The Duke of Wellington room was the warmest room in the castle hence why it was used as a bedroom. The representation of the room is as it was when the Duke of Wellington died there in 1852. Wellington Museum contains the Duke of Wellington’s wellington boots (!) and death mask. The Pitt Museum ...

21st June 2015 1066 - William of Normandy comissions a timber motte and bailey 1086 - stone castle replaces the timber 1090s - castle keep built by William Rufus and completed by Henry I Late 1100s - Early 1600s - castle used as a prison Mid 1600s onwards - castle fell into ruin and parts of castle demolished (1770)  We really liked this castle. Although small, the use of flint as the building material, gave it lots of character. There were also lovely flowers growing out the walls which added to the castle’s charm. We would definitely recommend a visit. Free entry Nearby car parks include: Castle Street multi-storey and Castle Row No facilities No guidebooks, however there are information boards dotted around the site Dogs - not sure!  N & K

1st April 2015                             1106 - William de Londres builds the castle following the capture of Gower by the Normans 1116 - Welsh retake Gower, William forced to flee the castle, which was burnt Castle rebuilt shortly afterwards 1130s - castle destroyed again as a result of Welsh Princes of Dehubarth retook Gower 1203 - King John gave the castle to William de Braose I 1215 - Llywelyn the Great took the castle under Welsh rule 1220 - Welsh expelled from Gower, Henry III grants the castle to John de Braose 1284 - Edward I visits the castle 1287 - Rhys ap Maredudd, attacks Swansea and captures castle  1298 - Alina de Braose marries John de Mowbray and so the castle is passed to the de Mowbray family 1403 - 1405 - Gower and Oystermouth castle occupied by Owain Glyndwr 1461 - Gower passed to Herbert family then Somerset family (ancestors to Dukes of Beaufort) 1600-1700s - ca...

31st March 2015     Iron Age - there was a promontory fort, where the current castle is Early 1100s - castle built by Normans during their invasion of Wales 1146 - Maredudd ap Gruffydd captured the castle 1158 - Normans retook the castle 1215 - Llywelyn the Great took the castle for the Welsh 1223 - castle back in possession of the de Camville family 1257 - Llywelyn ap Gruffydd takes the castle again for the Welsh 1260 - castle returned (again!) to de Camvilles 1403 - Owain Glyndwr captures the castle 1405 - Owain Glyndwr captures the castle for a second time The most stunning location, albeit a hard climb up to the castle – but definitely worth it, the views were amazing and unexpected. The castle fairly intact and you can climb to the top of the gatehouse towers (for once again great views). We just loved this castle J Owned by CADW, but entry is free and the site is not manned Car park is located in the village of Llansteffan Amenities i...

31st March 2015 1106 - castle built by Bishop Roger of Salisbury Early 1200s - castle's timber defences were replaced with stone 1336 - Princess Gwenllian died in battle, fighting the Lord of the castle, Maurice de Londres (there is a stone at the castles entrance in memory of her)  1403 - during Glyn Dwr rebellion, Kidwelly town was taken and burnt, though the castle remained in English ownership The castle was a lot bigger than we expected. There was a lot to see – each of the 4 towers could be accessed and 3 of these towers could be climbed. A walk around the castle walls provided good views of the town below. The gatehouse had many rooms inside to explore and the stairs to the lower level rooms were well lit. Information signs were dotted around in English and Welsh. Owned by CADW Car park right next to the castle is limited – we ended up parking in a nearby street but another option would be a car park in town Shop and toilets Guidebooks are availab...

31st March 2015                          1106 - castle built by Anglo-Norman, Henry de Beaumont 1151 - the castle is attacked and burnt in the Welsh uprising 1215 - Llywelyn the Great captures the castle 1220 - castle is repaired and a stone curtain wall built by John de Braose  1251 - castle attacked again Castle eventually abandoned and fell into ruin  This castle is very small, but worth a visit, especially if you’re in the area. It is well preserved, has some nice views and would make a good picnic spot too! Owned by CADW - free entry/viewed at any time Car parking is free, by the river, just off the A484 roundabout (access to the castle is gained by walking up Ferry Road and crossing main road).  No amenities No guidebooks/information Dogs allowed N & K

30th March 2015                                                             1130s - castle built by Odo de Barri and his family 1146 - Gerald of Wales, son of William de Barri and Angharad, is born at the castle 1359 - Manorbeir estate granted to Countess of Huntington 1640 - 1651 - Civil War - castle surrended by Parliamentarians 1800s - castle was a popular site for smuggling 1900s - today - castle owned by the Philipps family The castle is quite small with regards to rooms/areas you can visit however the location is beautiful. Lovely views of the coast can best be admired from the Round Tower though we would advise caution with the steps especially in wet weather as they are very slippery! There are several original features – including a 15-16 th century hearths. The inner ward is a grassy area and wou...

30th March 2015 1093 - a timber castle was originally present on the site of the current castle from this time 1204 - stone castle built by William Marshal Castle remained in the Marshal family for several years 1247 - 1454 - castle owned by several families - de Valence, Hastings and Tudor 1457 - Margaret Beaufort gives birth to the future Henry VII at the castle 1648 - Civil War - castle involved in Oliver Cromwell's seige of Pembroke We recommend exploring the castle in an anti-clockwise direction. Starting at the Barbican Tower, passing through Northgate Tower, St Anne’s Bastion, Great Tower (in which there are 98 steps to the top!), the Inner Ward, Wogan, Chapel, Monkton Tower, Westgate Tower, Henry VII Tower and ending in the Gatehouse where there is very in-depth exhibitions. This is a very beautiful castle and definitely one of our favourites. There is so much to see and can be viewed in all weathers. Although lots of stairs in the towers the views of th...

30th March 2015 1100 - Gerald de Windsor acquires the land of Carew and builds a castle 1116 - 1171 - Gerald's son, William, is Lord of Carew during this time 1270 - 1324 - castle greatly updated by Sir Nicholas de Carew and Sir John de Carew Castle remained in the de Carew family for 150 years! Wars of the Roses - castle brought by Rhys ap Thomas 1558 - Rhys's grandson, Rhys ap Gruffudd, is executed for treason against Henry VIII, the castle as a result is granted to Sir John Perrot 1591 - Sir John Perrot is arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London, the castle passes to Crown ownership 1644 - Civil War - castle was seiged by Parliamentarians and sustained damage Late 1600s - castle fell into ruin  This castle is interesting and the mullioned windows are a definite favourite. Many of the rooms are intact and accessible, with the Lesser Hall having been recently restored. Steps in the towers are fairly steep but the views are totally worth it. Pr...

29th March 2015 1100s - first castle here was timber constructed by Henry de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Warwick Late 1200s - stone castle replaced the timber by the de Braose family 1400 - castle was abandoned due to the castle's vulnerability                       We found this castle particularly hard to find. It is in the middle of a golf course – so beware of golfers and balls! We recommend approaching from the direction of the golf club as you will soon see the water tower and to the left of this are the castle ruins. Whilst the castle is small - all that remains are parts of the gatehouse, curtain walls, towers and great hall - however considering its location it is well preserved and the views are breathtaking. Owned by CADW, but can be visited at any time and is free There is a car park in the village of Pennard however this is a bit if a distance away, the nearest access is at the golf club – but ...

29 th March 2015 No good picture :(  1200s - castle built by de Penrice family - the land was given to them following their support of the Norman Conquest on the Gower peninsula 1410 - castle passed to Mansel family Civil War - castle badly damaged and a new castle/mansion was built instead Worth a see from the road if you happen to be driving past. This castle is on private property and it is not open to the public. Approaching the castle gates from Nicholaston on the A4118, turn right and follow the road which follows the outskirts of the Penrice estate. You will see the old castle remains on your right.  N & K

29th March 2015                            Early 1300s - this fortified manor house wwas built by David de la Bere, a steward to Lord of Gower 1406 - due to lack of fortifications the castle was taken by Owain Glyndwr Late 1400s - castle given to Rhys ap Thomas, a reward from Henry VII for his support in the Battle of Bosworth (1485) 1500s - castle passed to the Herbert family (the Lords of Gower) then to the Somerset fmaily who later became the Dukes of Beaufort The castle fell into decay due to lack of use as its location was so isolated For a time the castle was used as a farmhouse  Nice castle with views over the marshes. When going around the castle not much information as to where you are. An unusual looking castle from some aspects, from angle you can see where the fortified manor house is and a lot the features are original – the oldest part of the castle is the hall block. You ...

16th September 2014                         1067- stone castle built by William FitzOsbern, friend of William the Conqueror Following William FitzOsbern's death the castle passed through several owners including de Clare family, William Marshal and Roger Bigod VII. Civil War - castle seiged twice and was quite damaged Castle repaired by Oliver Cromwell and Charles II Awesome castle. Spread across quite a large site, nice layout. Lots to see. The castle had lots of quirky characteristics such as decorative arches and original features. Look out for the oldest timber castle doors in Europe c.1190s! Lovely views of the River Wye. Definitely recommend a visit! Owned by CADW Car park is pay and display and is located next to the castle overlooking the River Wye  Shop, cafe, toilets Guidebooks and information panels around the castle Dogs allowed N & K

16th September 2014                                Set near the Anglo-Welsh border this castle is considered one of the best preserved of all English medieval castles.  1176 - Richard Strongbow de Clare builds a castle keep 1219 - castle defences were upgraded by William Marshal Late 1200s - castle mos tly rebuilt by William de Valence, after being given to him by his half brother Henry III 1646 - Civil War - after a 2 month siege the Royalist garrison was forced to surrender to Parliamentarians. The castle sustained a lot of damage during the Civil War as a result of mortar fire This castle is set in a lovely setting and is very intact. There are good views of the castle on your approach. There is lots to see here including the canon “Roaring Meg” which is the only surviving mortar from the Civil War. “Roaring Meg” was designed to fire gun powder filled shells weighing 85k...

5th September 2013 Neolithic times - evidence of people living on the mount  8th-11th century - mount was thought to be the site of a monastery during this time 1066 - St Michael's Mount in possession of monks of Mont St Michel (Normandy) 1100s - monks built church and priory  1193 - mount captured by Henry La Pomeray 1473 - Wars of the Roses - mount held by Earl of Oxford 1497 - Perkin Warbeck occupied the mount  Civil War - mount held by royalists against Oliver Cromwell Elizabeth I gave the castle to Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, who then sold it to Sir Francis Bassett 1588 - it was at St Michael's Mount that the first beacon was lit warning London of the approaching Spanish Armada Civil War - mount held by Royalists against Parliamentarians  1659 - Mount sold to Colonel John St Aubyn, where today it remains in the St Aubyn family Stunning location. Steep walk up to the castle – look out for the giant’s heart. Gardens were love...