Castles - Great and Small

There are too many to mention, but the one thing
that they mostly had in common, was cold and
draughts, this was in the 1960s and 70s, they may
have been modernised, but I still hear complaints,
along these lines.

The ones that are open to the public are well looked
after and are safe to enter, without the roof falling in,
but if you come across an old derelict one, don't be
tempted to enter, they are dangerous.

All are pleasant to look at from the outside, plus the
ones that you can enter are very nice inside.

I always enjoyed visiting a castle.

Mike.
 
Back in 1066, England was invaded and occupied by The Normans, they were from Normandy which nowadays is a large province of France. Building an extensive network of castles allowed the Normans to secure their power in England. The small force of invaders used these large fortresses to impose their authority over a whole country.

Castles were powerful defensive structures but it was also the place which ordinary people associated with authority. They were important centres of administration and local government. Tax collectors, officers of the court and market traders could also be found within the walls of a castle. Because they were home to large garrisons, castles eventually became the centre of local activity.

Centuries later, King Henry VIII built castles on the coast to prevent invasion. These were the last of the strategic castles. Britain became more peaceful after this time, so newer castles were not built for war, but instead as safe, impressive houses. And sometimes they were just built to look romantic and interesting, like the fake castle ruin at Hagley Hall, Worcestershire.

Durham Castle was built in the late 11th and early 12th centuries to house the relics of St Cuthbert the evangelizer of Northumbria and the Venerable Bede. It attests to the importance of the early Benedictine monastic community and is the largest and finest example of Norman architecture in England. Click on the link to see many photos of the castle as well as the magnificent cathedral within it's confines.
 
Although not often called to as a castle, The Tower of London qualifies as one under the definition: “A major fortified residence or military position of the medieval period.” I’ve visited it three or four times, spending several hours there on each occasion, and it’s well worth the visit. I think for anyone interested in castles, this one should be near the top of the list.

Building started in 1078 on the order of William the Conqueror (Norman Conquest), who had successfully invaded England in 1066. In the time since, it became a political prison and place of execution; a garrison & armoury; a mint; a zoo; and a Royal residence. Its moat was permanently drained in 1843.

Apparently, partly due to its sinister history and fear factor, some WW2 POW’s were held there for interrogation before being sent to POW camps around the country.

The last execution there took place in 1941, when a German spy was executed by firing squad. In the same year, Nazi officer Rudolf Hess (Deputy Fuhrer to Adolf Hitler) was held and interrogated there for four days.

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A tour from a funny military serviceman, Yeoman Warder, Bill Callaghan.



If you visit, remember to make way for the guards. The military won't stop for you.

 
Neuschwanstein castle in Germany is truly a fairy tale castle, but totally not the real thing. Burg Eltz, also in Germany, IS the real thing and very interesting to tour. Theres also a hotel on the Rhine that is an old castle. We stayed in a newer room, but ate breakfast on the ramparts overlooking the river. Here in Texas, a man built a castle, replete with moat and drawbridge and bell tower. He even has a trebuchet.. It’s in Belleville Texas.
 
Connecticut has a small structure called "Gillette Castle" built by the stage actor -
William Gillette....
(1853-1937)
William Hooker Gillette was an American actor-manager, playwright, and stage manager in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Wikipedia

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The Connecticut River below
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This was our local castle.

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Yates Castle (Renwick Castle) Built 1852-1855; purchased by Syracuse University 1905; demolished April 12, 1954. Architect: James B. Renwick. This 24-room replica of a Norman castle was built for Cornelius T. Longstreet, then occupied by the Yates family.
 
I lived in Bearsted, Kent, quite near Leads Castle, I went
there at the weekends, it had a pub inside, run by one of
the Scottish Brewers, it was very nice, but I see that they
have changed it to a restaurant now, it will still look the
same I imagine, as it was all wooden panels and fancy
lights.

Mike.
 
Mike said:
I lived in Bearsted, Kent, quite near Leads Castle, I went
there at the weekends, it had a pub inside, run by one of
the Scottish Brewers, it was very nice, but I see that they
have changed it to a restaurant now, it will still look the
same I imagine, as it was all wooden panels and fancy
lights.

Mike.
Click to expand...
Ufortunately the restaurant at Leeds castle has very poor reviews...


Castle View Restaurant at Leeds Castle, Hollingbourne - Restaurant menu, prices and reviews

Beutiful view tho'.... when I was there lastwe never visited the restaurant.. but I;d certainly like to sit and look at that view if I go again

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Nathan said:
I just recently viewed a Netflix series- Secrets of Great British Castles, the presenter/co-writer Dan Jones gives an interesting historical narrative on each of six castles, as well as the history of the British Isles and development of the monarchies that arose in Briton and Europe since the Middle Ages.

The six Castles :
Edinburgh Castle

Cardiff Castle

York Castle

Lancaster Castle

Leeds Castle

Arundel Castle

Each castle is breathtaking in appearance, utterly fascinating for it's history.

I'm a late-bloomer as far as my interest, if I were 20 years younger I'd be making travel arrangements for a comprehensive travel tour of the British Isles.
Click to expand...
I noticed the other day while re-watching this netflix series that it was labeled "Season Two"...really? that implies that there is/was a Season One.
Found it, not on Netflix but as individual Youtube videos. Great series, co-written and narrated by the British historian Dan Jones.





 
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