We take a look through the history of Britain's Castle heritage from the pre-Conquest Castles of Edward the Confessor right the way through to how Castles have been remembered by visitors today. Each episode will look at a story associated with the castle and follow it up with a look through the changing nature of them as structures, to the impact they've had on our island story.
This episode addresses the closing phases of castle use from the First and Second World Wars and then moves on to look at the growth in tourism and the idea of reconstruction in the 21st Century
25 Mar 2024
Castles Episode 9 Victorian Folly?
As we draw close to the end of this season we look at how in the 18th and 19th centuries the castle changed yet again. From romantic vistas to tourist destinations. We start with a new military use (Jacobite rebellion and later threats from civil unrest), before looking at replica castles built for the gentry and restoration work on older castles.
18 Mar 2024
Castles Episode 8 The English Civil war
This episode takes the castle through the English Civil War. Beginning with the story of Lady Mary Bankes' defence against parliamentarian sieges through to the affect of the war on castles. We shall look at prominent castles of the time and how they were modernised for this new style of warfare, as well as how the castle was slighted at the end of the conflict.
11 Mar 2024
Castles Episode 7 15th and 16th Century Castles
This episode we look at Tudor castle building, adaptation, coastal fortifications, Chivalric Castles, Tower Houses, Irish, Scottish and Welsh changes. Lots to cover, but with a focus on how people's lives had changed and therefore the needs from castles did as well.
4 Mar 2024
Castles Episode 6 Zenith
This week we look at the castles at their peak. Usually attributed with the wars of independence in Wales and Scotland. We shall look at Edward I and his castle building programme and the impact this had on castle design and the people who lived in the regions.
26 Feb 2024
Castles Episode 5 Anarchy
This episode takes us through those castles constructed during England's first civil war. The period known as the Anarchy, between 1138 and 1153.
19 Feb 2024
Episode 4 Age of Stone
We begin with a description of the longest siege in English history, before charting the development of the castle from wood to stone, the changes that occurred and the castles most associated with those changes.
12 Feb 2024
Castles Episode 3 Conquest Castles
This episode takes us through William's castle building programme and looks at marcher earldoms, motte and baileys and those castles built during and after the Harrying of the North
5 Feb 2024
Castles Episode 2 Pre Conquest
In this episode we take a look at the castles that were in England before the Norman Conquest, their features and where they are located. This story looks at the origins of the castle in England
29 Jan 2024
Introduction to Castles A Great British Story
As a history teacher and passionate historian, I wanted to record the research and interest I have for the British Castle. This series is designed to look at their connection to our lives and how the buildings have changed over time, with personal insights into some of the occupants of these buildings. I hope you enjoy the series
4 Dec 2023
Castles Episode 1
Welcome to the start of a new series looking at the development of the castle in England, Wales. Scotland and Ireland. Episode 1 looks at the Anglo Saxons and pre-Conquest castles constructed by Normans in the court of Edward the Confessor
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