The Evolution of the British Castle - A Short History

Author: Stuart Bazga

Since Greek and Roman times, man has strived to establish some type of a fortification for protection and shelter. Over the pursuing centuries these evolved into a form of military and residential places known as castles.

When William the Conqueror, conquered England in 1066, his armies quickly erected wooden palisades (a fence of stakes or iron railings forming an enclosure or defence) establishing a presence in the former Saxon kingdoms. Many of these fortresses were constructed on sites that had previously been fortified in pre-Roman times, then by the Romans themselves and lastly by the Saxons who established the first kingdoms there. As times became less turbulent and settled, the Normans became integrated into every day life and were eventually accepted by the local populace. These wooden palisades slowly began to disappear, to be replaced with stone. Any new fortifications built from that time onward were constructed entirely from stone.

In Europe, this manifested into a design consisting of a single tower and outer buildings. In the mountains there was no shortage of rocky hilltops on which to build these new bastions. In the lower lying areas, however, islands and peninsulas were much sought after for their ease of defence.

In the British Isles the Normans began to dig ditches to create a small hill or mound when one couldn't be found to build on. These mounds became the first "motte and bailey" castles, some of which were built on top of old Iron Age hill forts.

A "motte" was the conical hill of dirt that was built as the main defence for the "keep", which was were the Lord and his family resided and sought refuge whilst trying to govern their surrounding territory. The keep was basically a tower with one room per floor and usually contained 3 to 4 floors.

Later, a walled area known as a "bailey" began to appear around the keep with another at the base of the motte. Its function was to help protect the keep's support functions which grew up around the original tower: grain storage, wood and metal workshops, military barracks, wells, chapels and sometimes a garden or a great hall where formal functions and meetings were held.

Over the intervening years, the design and style of British castles would appear in various forms throughout the castle building era.

Eventually, the motte itself began to be replaced with stone and a new style of British castle began to appear. These castles were built without the motte altogether. The tower keep, however, remained.

The ditch that had separated the "motte" from the bailey became a moat (a deep, wide defensive ditch surrounding a castle or town), either dry or stone-lined, or filled with water from a nearby river or lake. These Moats became a significant part of the castles design.

In the 12th century, the Crusaders began their travels to the Middle East in the name of god, encountered a differing style of castle to that which they had become accustomed to. One of the most popular style of castles encountered had curtain walls with mural towers: palisades but with towers along its length from which to fire on attackers. This developed into concentric walls, giving the besieging army multiple obstacles to overcome just to get into the castle. The tower keep sometimes became part of the wall in this type of fortification.

The advent of gunpowder and the development in weaponry, i.e. muskets and cannon from the 13th to 15th century, saw the rapid decline in the importance of building castles for defence, and yet again, another change in design. Castles had to be built with thicker and thicker walls. Eventually, evolution caught up. Not being able to keep abreast of technological advancements in fire power of the era, the defensive capability of these great castles was severely diminished, causing them to become obsolete.

In the 18th and 19th century British castles were built for very different reasons. The Aristocracy, who were nostalgic for the past, had the most wonderful and splendid castles built for their pleasure. The most passionate of these builders was (Mad King) Ludwig of Bavaria in the 19th century and his fairytale castle - Neuschwanstein.

I hope you enjoyed The Evolution of the British Castle - A Short History

Do you want to find out about more of the histories that lie behind some of Europe's most picturesque, mysterious and notorious castles? Unravelling the legends and myths behind some of their most celebrated and not so renowned castles in a voyage of discovery and adventure...!

Then pay a visit to my website at Guide to Castles of Europe.

There you will discover the history and myths of some of Europe's most famous castles: Windsor Castle, TheTower of London, Dracula's Castle and Blarney Castle (the home of the Blarney stone) to name a few.

I look forward to sharing in your experiences and discoveries that you have made from your journeys around Europe, visiting her many picturesque and unique Castles. Send me a message with your tales and I will post them on my website, so that the world can discover these hidden treasures too.

Best wishes and have a great day!

Stuart Bazga

www.guide-to-cas tles-of-europe.com

© 2005 by guide-to-castles-of-europe.com. All rights reserved.

About the author: A Guide to Castles of Europe was born from childhood dreams and aspirations. It is my hope to educate and stimulate you into exploring these castles for yourselves.

Take A Cultural History Tour Of England

Author: Greg Schueler

On the other hand, England is hardly known for its cuisine. Well it is time now for that fact to change. Today England has fourteen of the top fifty restaurants in the world. Not a bad feat for a country that is not exactly praised for its food. You will find the traditional fare of England with Beef Wellington and Yorkshire pudding, but you will also notice a decidedly different flavor permeating England. England has become a very diverse country and with that diversity out comes the flavors of other cultures. Indian restaurants have particularly taken their place in the South of England.

You will want to travel away from London to experience the full feel of England. Cornwall offers spectacular views of sea cliffs and a trail that will show you some of the most amazing views of the ocean. Cotehele is a Tudor mansion that finds its home in Cornwall. It is an architectural masterpiece. Make sure you travel around the southern area to find old English towns in the gorgeous countryside. You will see everything English in this old community, old stone cottages with thatched roofs, alleys of cobblestone and everything you imagine the English countryside to be. These areas are most popular in the summer months. When the weather becomes warmer the locals travel the area to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

The town of Bath in the north is famous for its ancient Roman bathhouses. You can still visit these extraordinary places today. Don't miss out on the rich history England has to offer. Visit the home of Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon. You can visit the family gravesite at the Holy Trinity Church. You will find in this area of England a wonderful mix of the ancient world and the modern. The world's largest Gothic cathedral is located in York. Walk the streets that have been around since ancient times and feel the atmosphere of old England.

England is a country that is worth exploring over and over again. There is so much to see that you will find it hard to complete your exploration in one vacation. Many people find that it is necessary to visit more than once to fully enjoy all that England has to offer. If you are interested in the contributions England has made to the modern world you should not miss a trip to England. Talk it over with a travel agent today and they will surely be able to steer you towards a vacation that you will remember for a lifetime, and one that you will no doubt want to repeat again and again.

About the author: For the best travel deals and travel destinations, be sure to check out www.247TravelGuides.com

The Dublin Castle And Its Courtyards

Author: Steve Kevin

The Dublin Castle has faced many changes, not only physically, but also in terms of the governing powers that resided within it. The castle has stood for centuries and has been constantly repaired, refurbished, and kept in the state that it is at present. Unlike before, the use of the castle is now primarily for ceremonial purposes. Tourists are free to go around the courtyards, luxuriant state apartments, and museums within it.

The Castle is located in Dublin Center along Dame Street. It is comprised of several courtyards and buildings that originate from different times in the history of Ireland. The Dublin Castle is home to some of the oldest architectural styles in the country. Here are some of the main features of the castle that you should visit:

1. St. Patrick's Hall

A trip to the Dublin Castle would be pointless if you don't visit St. Patrick's Hall, which is one of the famous halls in Ireland. This hall, which is dedicated to the patron saint of the country, the paintings on its ceilings was done by Vincenzo Valdre that showcases different events in Irish and British history.

2. The Throne Room

The Throne Room also has its share of extraordinary artwork and architecture. It is the most majestic state apartment in the castle that used to serve as the chamber for Irish Monarchs. In it are four ornaments made by Gaetano Gandolfi that depict Mars, Juno, Jupiter, and Minerva.

3. The Chester Beatty Library and Gallery

In 1999, one of the finest collections of Oriental art in the world that is owned by Sir Alfred Chester Beatty was moved into its galleries.

4. State Drawing Room and State Dining Room

The State Drawing Room used to be the receiving room, but it is not used as an entertainment area for foreign dignitaries. The State Dining Room dates from the initial construction of the castle.

5. The Bedford Tower

This clock tower dates from the 18th century. Its base is the Norman gate of the castle. The Irish Crown Jewels - a diamond Badge and the St. Patrick Star - were stolen from this tower in 1907 and unfortunately were never recovered.

6. Garda Siochana Museum

This museum is located in the Record Tower, which is what only remains of the original castle. It showcases a detailed history of the Irish police force.

If you are considering a visit to Dublin, make sure to include the Dublin Castle in your itinerary. Note, however, that the apartments are closed when there is a national ceremonial or a visiting foreign dignitary, so you have to check in advance.

About the author: Steve is the owner of DublinHotels.me.uk. For more options please visit: HotelsDublin.org.uk | Hotel-Dublin-Hotel.co .uk