British Palaces and CastlesNational College "Alexandru Ioan Cuza

Bratu Larissa Ioana

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Foreword Chapter I British Castles1.1 Warwick Castle1.2 Windsor Castle1.3 York Castle1.4 Bodiam Castle1.5 Kenilworth Castle1.6 Bamburgh Castle1.7 Belfast Castle1.8 Blarney Castle1.9Edinburgh Castle1.10Stirling Castle1.11Cardiff Castle1.12Caernarfon CastleChapter British Palaces2.1 Tower of London2.2 Buckingham Palace

ForewordWhat is a castle?A castle is a properly fortified military residence.Why were castles built?Initially,the castles were designed and built to hold down conquered territory. Castles also served to intimidate and strike fear into local peoples, were places of refuge, and places for lords to live. They were also impressive symbols of power and wealth of its owners.When were castles built?Norman castles were built from 11th to 13th centuries.Castles were brought to Britain by William Conqueror, when he invaded England from his homeland in France. Known as Duke of Normandy, William invaded England in 1066 and, due to his victory in Battle of Hastings, William was crowned King of England, and became King William I.

One of most powerful ways for William to take control of his new kingdom, which included England, Scotland and Wales, was to have castles built throughout land. At first, he ordered construction of very simple castles, called motte and bailey castles.Castles consisted of an earn mound, called a motte, topped by a tower (first built of wood, and soon rebuilt in stone to make towers more sturdy). Bailey was a large area of land enclosed by a shorter mound, placed next to motte. Inside bailey were main activities of castle (workshops, stables and livestock, household activities, etc.), while tower on motte was used as lord's residence and as an observation post.

Many of people who lived in Britain before it was conquered did not like being controlled by king's barons, and wanted to keep control of its own lands mselves. But that was not possible, because William and later kings (and queens) demanded they pay homage. Castles were built to establish power of king and his followers, and to keep people from regaining control of its own lands.

Stone castles were built for stability and to symbolize power of lords of kingdom. Even if king did not order a particular castle to be built for his use, he still retained ability to seize any of his lords' castles if displeased him or if king had a special reason to want to use it.

Chapter I

British Castles

Warwick CastleWarwick Castle is a fine example of a medieval castle. Located in the town of Warwick, it stands on a cliff overlooking the River Avon. The castle is a Grade I listed building and protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.Built on the site of an Anglo-Saxon burgh, the castle was one of the first motte and wooden bailey structures to be built by King William after the Norman Conquest. The castle and the title Earl of Warwick were granted to Henry de Newburgh in 1088 and Warwick castle became home to future Earl's for several generations. It was used as a fortification until early in the 17th century when it was converted by the Greville family into a country house.

Warwick CastleWarwick Castle was renovated in the 17th century and the magnificent collection of furniture and artworks by European masters date from this period. Warwick Castle is now leased by Merlin Entertainments and is a very popular UK tourist attraction.

Windsor CastleOriginally made of wood, and of motte and bailey design, Windsor Castle was built upon a fifty foot mound of chalk excavated from the surrounding ditch.Ordered by William the Conqueror to guard against western approaches to London the site was strategically chosen high above the river Thames and just a day's march from the capital and another famous Norman landmark the Tower of London. They were just two of many fortifications constructed, following his army's invasion of the British Isles, to establish and maintain control of the newly acquired realm. Today Windsor Castle is one of the Queen's principal official residences. The state apartments, first opened to the public in 1845 during the reign of Queen Victoria, contain some of the finest works of art in the world.

Windsor CastleThere are masterpieces by Rembrandt, Rubens, Holbein and Van Dyck as well as magnificent French and English furniture and priceless pieces of porcelain. The most prominent and widely visible architectural feature, the Round Tower, is not truly cylindrical its shape dictated by the irregular, though seemingly round, man made hill on which it sits. The Lower Ward is home to Saint George's Chapel. Within the Upper Ward are the private Royal Apartments. Also evident in the Upper Ward, discovered during recent archeaological investigations, are foundations of the building housing the Knight's of the Garter's round table. In recent times, Windsor Castle has become one of the most populuar tourist attractions in the British Isles. Today, much of the castle is open throughout the week.

York Castle York Castle was one of the first of the Norman motte and bailey castles to be erected following the invasion of 1066. All that remains of this early castle is the motte, or mound of earth, upon which stood the original bailey.Clifford's Tower, originally King's Tower built during the 13th century, is the name given to the keep that formed part of York Castle. It was the only keep in England to be given a quatrefoil plan having been based on the design of a French castle at Etampes. It is widely believed that the keep was named after Roger de Clifford, who was hanged there in 1322.

York CastleThe site on which the tower is built has a long history. It was originally used as a Roman cemetery and evidence has been unearthed to suggest that both the Saxons and Vikings had settlements there. Although little remains of the other buildings that made up of York Castle the tower still stands virtually undamaged. The keep stands on a hill and was surrounded by a curtain wall and moat. It had only one entrance and with walls 3 metres thick it was easy to defend.

York CastleThe ground floor consisted of 3 rooms; a large guardroom and two smaller rooms that were used as living accommodation. A small chapel was on the first floor of the keep whilst the upper floor was the King's private accommodation. Royal clerks and treasury officials were also housed there. This floor of Clifford's Tower has slightly thinner walls and wider windows. Over the centuries, Clifford's Tower has had many different functions. Apart from being a defensive structure it operated as a mint, a prison, a court and the county's administrative centre. Clifford's Tower is now in the hands of English Heritage. It is open to the public throughout the year, except for the Christmas and New Year holiday

Bodiam CastleBodiam Castle seems to rise up out of a still, peaceful lake, and is a beautiful example of a late medieval moated castle.Built near the River Rother, the castle's foursquare structure marked a change in the way castles were being used. Originally built as strongholds for defence, by the time of Bodiam's construction the emphasis was on comfortable, elegant country houses. Looking at the castle plans you can see that the result of this sea change is a beautiful curtain-walled house, well defended and fortified, set in an area of outstandingly beautiful landscape.

Bodiam CastleThe moat was man made, the architects having diverted the river to flood a wide area of marshland. The site was originally a Saxon fortification. No doubt its location right on the river made it a very useful strategic position and would have been a prime site as a trading post. The castle was originally built by Sir Edward Dalyngrygge. Following the wars in France under King Edward III, Sir Edward petitioned the king for permission to strengthen his family home to protect him and his family from reprisals from the French, and having received permission decided to reconstruct his home as a moated castle. Laws at the time required that crenellation of buildings had to have a special licence, and this was granted to him in 1385 .

Bodiam CastleCrenellation wasn't so much a practical defensive measure as a deliberate outward show of class and nobility; only a handful of licences to crenellate were ever issued, and only then to the most loyal and trustworthy subjects. He attained very high noble status and was appointed Keeper of the Tower of London and Governor of the City of London.

Kenilworth Castle Kenilworth Castle, located in the Warwickshire town of the same name, played an important role in British history for over 500 years. The site was fortified by the Saxons, and Kenilworth is mentioned in William the Conqueror's Domesday Book of 1086.The castle went through several transformations over the centuries. The Norman earth and wood castle became a local sandstone castle with improved defences. This in turn was redesigned to focus on comfort and luxury rather than strength of defence, eventually becoming an Elizabethan style palace. In its final incarnation, the castle's gatehouse was transformed into a dwelling, while the rest of the castle lay in ruins.

Kenilworth CastleKenilworth Castle was purchased in 1937 by Sir John Davenport Siddley and presented to England for preservation of the history contained within its walls. In 1984, maintenance of the castle was taken over by English Heritage. Today it is open to the public, so that visitors from England and around the world can appreciate the fascination of the various historical periods and their impact on this site. The castle is open almost every day of the year; it is free for members of English Heritage, with an admission fee charged for non-members. Visitors can enjoy medieval-themed activities and events such as falconry, jousting, and theatre.

Bamburgh CastleBamburgh Castle is located by the seaside village of Bamburgh, Northumberland. Perched on a basalt crag this grand castle towers over the village and surrounding countryside and may be seen for many miles out to sea.Archaeologists have found evidence to suggest that the rocky crag has been occupied since prehistoric times. Bamburgh Castle was almost entirely rebuilt 100 years ago though the large Norman keep, built in the 12th century, still remains as a reminder of its medieval past.

Bamburgh Castle

Today Bamburgh Castle is one of the finest, and most photographed, castles in England, commanding stunning views of the Farne and Holy islands and landward to the Cheviot hills. As well as being a popular tourist attraction it is licensed to conduct civil weddings. Bought by the 1st Lord Armstrong in 1894, Bamburgh Castle is still owned and maintained by the Armstrong family.

Belfast CastleThe original Belfast Castle no longer exists. Built by the Normans, possibly a John De Courcy, in the latter part of the 12th century, the original castle was located in what is now Belfast City Centre. A new castle was built upon the same site in 1611 by Sir Arthur Chichester, gifted the Castle of Belfast and surrounding lands a few years earlier by James the First. In 1708 this castle was destroyed by fire and never rebuilt.

Belfast CastleThe most recent Belfast Castle is now situated in the north of the city on Cave Hill affording great panoramic views of the city and Belfast Lough. Completed in 1870 the new castle, said also to be a fine and stately mansion, was built by the third Marquee of Donegall, a descendant of Sir Arthur Chichester. Today, the castle is available for functions, including conferences, and weddings.

Blarney CastleBlarney Castle is a partially ruined, medieval castle situated near to Cork in Southern Ireland.There was a timber hunting lodge on the site in the mid 900s. This was replaced by a stone castle in the early 13th century and the present fortress was constructed by Cormac MacCarthy, a great Irish chieftain, in 1446. The main feature of the castle is the massive square keep, 85 feet tall and with walls up to 18 feet thick. This would have formed the living accommodation for the MacCarthy family and their knights and retainers. There are heavy battlements around the top of this tower which are thought to have been added in the late 1500s.

Blarney CastleThe ground floor of the castle consisted of a large open room with the Earl's bedroom off to the side. The Great Hall and the guard house were situated on the second floor. Also located on this floor was a 'murder situated on the second floor. Also located on this floor was a 'murder room'. This was a tiny room where guards could hide and spy on visitors coming into the large ground floor entrance room. Unwanted guests were then treated to a shower of hot liquids or a barrage of arrows fired from above. The third floor contained a large family room and the chapel and banqueting hall were on the floor above. The kitchen occupied the top floor. Underneath the castle you can find the dungeon and caves .

Blarney CastleStill standing are the ruins of a bell tower shaped structure originally part of an 18th century gothic extension that was later destroyed by fire. Blarney is probably best known for the world famous Blarney Stone than for the actual castle itself. The Stone of Eloquence is at the top of the castle and legend has it that by kissing the stone you will receive the gift of eloquence. In order to reach this stone you need to climb up the original steep stone spiral staircase. The castle is surrounded by beautiful gardens that were laid out by James St. John Jefferyes in the mid 18th century. Blarney Castle is open to the public year round except 24th and 25th December.

Edinburgh CastleEdinburgh Castle sits on top of a great shoulder of volcanic rock formed about 350 million years ago. Shored up on three sides by cliffs which make access to the castle almost impossible unless approached from the east, historically these natural features have made the castle and Castle Rock on which it stands an ideal place for resistance and defence.

Edinburgh CastleThe site has been inhabited since at least 900 BC but it is not until about 700 years later that historical evidence shows the existence of a settlement, known as Din Eidyn, thought to mean Eidyn's fort. Accounts vary as to whether the settlement was situated on the lowland plains or on the the rock itself, but artefacts do seem to suggest occupation of the lower reaches of the basalt rock. It was clearly a strategic point worth fighting for and the first recorded evidence of a battle taking place for possession of the fort was in 638 when the Angles took possession and the name was subsequently changed to Edinburgh (Edin, or Edwin, and burgh, the Brythonic word meaning a stronghold or town).

Edinburgh CastleIf a fort did exist it was most probably built with degradable materials such as wood, and it wasn't until the eleventh century that the first stone building, the Castle of Maidens, was built by Malcolm III as a monument to his wife Saint Margaret, known as the Maid of Norway. Thirty years later, David I built the first stone castle as a royal residence and incorporated a chapel as a tribute to his mother Margaret. It was during this period, in 1140, that the first ever meeting was held of a Scottish Parliament.

Stirling CastlePerched on top of a volcanic rock overlooking the River Forth, Stirling Castle is one of the most impressive castles in Scotland.There is archaeological evidence that there was a settlement here as far back as the 7th century and it is thought that the Romans may also have recognised the importance of the site and had a fortress here. Probably best known for its place in the Braveheart story, the castle has a rich history having been attacked on several occasions. It has also seen the baptisms and coronations of a number of Scottish Monarchs including Mary, Queen of Scots.

Stirling CastleMost of the buildings that remain today were constructed between the 16th and early 18th centuries. King James IV built the gatehouse that leads from the outer bailey to the castle. The gateway was flanked by four circular towers. Today only the southern Prince's Tower, the gateway and part of the curtain wall remain. To the east of the gatehouse, is the 125 feet long, 36 feet wide, great hall, the largest medieval banqueting hall in Scotland. The impressive Palace block, built by James V, is to the left of the gatehouse and combined renaissance and gothic detail.

Stirling CastleThe regimental museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders is located within the castle. There is a project underway at present to recreate the furnishings of the castle in 16th century style. Today, the castle is under the care of Historic Scotland and is open to the public daily throughout the year .

Cardiff CastleCardiff Castle is a living monument to the history of the British Isles, dating back to the Romans in the first century A.D. Roman masonry that remained from the original fort can be seen at the base of the Norman walls surrounding the keep. A gatehouse or barbican leads to the motte and bailey fortification. The shell keep atop the motte remains well-preserved and is surrounded by an authentic water-filled moat.

Cardiff CastleOver the centuries, as the castle was occupied by historically prominent English families, repairs and renovations were made to the basic structures, and new buildings were added. The Black Tower was constructed during the Welsh rebellions of the 12th century. The Octagon Tower and the first hall block appeared during a time of Welsh peace in the 15th century .

Cardiff CastleHowever, it was the 18th century acquisition of Cardiff Castle by the Bute family that was to dramatically change the appearance of the castle. Several towers were added, including the spectacular Clock Tower, and the entire castle was renovated in a rather fanciful medieval style. Fortunately, the renovations did not totally obscure the historical features of past construction. The Barbican Tower and a new entrance hall were built in the 20th century. The well-preserved castle is now in the hands of the city of Cardiff. The City Council maintains

Caernarfon CastleCaernarfon Castle (alternatively spelt Caernarvon) is situated between North Wales and Anglesey. Its location, at the southern end of the Menai Straits, allowed for sea access between the north and western Welsh coasts.Classed as King Edward I's grandest castle it took almost 50 years to build at a cost of nearly 25,000. It is one of the best externally preserved fortresses in Britain.

Caernarfon CastleThe castle comprised 4 main towers; The Black Tower, Chamberlain Tower, Eagle Tower and Queen's Tower. These were originally used as accommodation blocks. There were also two halls and two gateways with strong gatehouses. The walls of the castle were up to 20 feet thick in places. The intention was for Caernarfon to be the Royal Palace in Wales and the home of the Prince of Wales, his family and attendants. The two gateways; the Kings Gate and the Queens Gate were never fully built. They did however provide good defences for the castle both being twin towered .

Caernarfon CastleThe town walls provided the main defence. They stretched for 800 yards and had 8 towers and 2 twin towered entrance points. The East Gate formed the main entrance whilst the West Gate overlooked the Menai Strait. The Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh fusiliers is housed within the castle.

Chapter II

British Palaces

Tower of LondonThe Tower of London stands 90 feet high, its walls 15 feet thick in places. It was founded in 1078 by William the Conqueror.Since the construction of the first tower there has been numerous additions including the curtain wall by Richard the Lion heart in the 12th century and from Henry III palatial buildings constructed within the inner bailey. Edward I completed a second outer wall between 1275 and 1285. A royal residence until the 1600's the Tower of London also has a darker history.

Tower of LondonThroughout its time the structure has served many purposes. It has been the location of a court observatory, it has served as a prison and been the place of death to a number of people. Some formal executions have been held there also. The government has used it. It has been the location of royal entertaining including menageries that also the flightless ravens that are house and cared for there to this day. The Tower of London also serves as the keep for the Crown Jewels. Today, the Tower of London has become one of the most visited historic sites in the UK. Today, Historic Royal Palaces, a charity organisation looks after the tower.

Buckingham PalaceBuckingham Palace stands in the centre of London and has been the official residence of the British monarch since 1837. It is also the monarch's administrative centre.Originally a town house owned by the Duke of Buckingham it consists of 775 rooms, many of which are lavishly furnished. In addition to the state rooms, there are 52 royal and guest bedrooms and accommodation for 188 staff. The palace also includes 92 office rooms.

Buckingham PalaceBuilt in several stages, it is a quadrangular shaped building standing around a courtyard. Its dimensions (including the central courtyard) are 108 metres long, 120 metres deep and 24 metres high. The normal entrance to Buckingham Palace is through the North-centre gate whilst the central gate is used for State occasions. The house is entered through the Grand Hall which has two marble staircases leading to the state apartments. The State dining room is housed in the west wing.

Buckingham PalaceIn 1868, Queen Victoria introduced the annual royal garden parties that are still held to this day. Although still in use for the many official events and receptions held by The Queen, areas of Buckingham Palace are opened to visitors on a regular basis. The 19 state rooms at Buckingham Palace were made accessible to the public in 1993. They are currently open during August and September when Queen Elizabeth has her annual trip to Scotland.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

www.britishcastle.co.uk