Last weekend also saw open days for Astley Castle. Now, Astley has featured on these pages fairly regularly, so yours truly decided to visit. What’s significant when there is how ...
Nuneaton Memories facebook group admin Paul Birkin helped with renovation of Astley Castle – here are some photos in slideshow format of work in progress
In the late 1990s I took a seasonal job as a guide at Warwick Castle. The experience was fascinating and it was a privilege to see behind the scenes and ...
In July 2012, the Landmark Trust opened the newly-restored Astley Castle near Nuneaton, Warwickshire to the public. The castle, which dates back to the 1200s, was damaged by fire in ...
1 Motte standing on a wedge-shaped hill. It is about 13m across at the top and has very steep sides 5 to 6.7m above the ditch which is formed round ...
Ratley Castle, a Medieval motte and bailey castle. The motte has been damaged by later quarrying for building material. The castle is located 250m west of the church at Ratley.
1 An appraisal was carried out of the undercroft of Warwick Castle. In the medieval period the undercroft was of fairly high status, but later it was used as a ...
An archaeological survey of the domestic range undercroft at Warwick Castle noted its architectural history. The domestic range undercroft was built in the Medieval period and has largely escaped alteration and retains many original features.
1 This is the possible site of “Swearing Castle”, which appears on Beightons map of 1725, and it is shown in Dugdale’s History of Warwickshire 1730 as a large house. ...
The possible site of Swearing Castle dating from between the Post Medieval and Imperial periods. The castle is known from documentary evidence. Various finds have been recovered from the site, including a buckle. It is located 800m north east of Willington.
1 Excavation carried out attempting to recover the brewhouse indicated on the Smythson plan c.1600 failed to find displayable masonry, but demonstrated the depth of archaeology in the courtyard. ...
Building, excavation and documentary evidence show that there was once a Medieval period brewhouse west of Caesar's Tower at Warwick Castle.
1 A large square moated area of Medieval origin, evidently constructed for defensive purposes. The moat is stone lined on the inner faces, and at each angle except the ...
The site of a moat, a wide ditch surrounding a building, dating to the Medieval period. It is visible as an earthwork and is situated Whitacre Hall.
The inventory for the housekeeper’s bedroom1 points to her elevated rank in the hierarchy of domestic service. She was the most senior female servant at the castle, matched in importance ...
The Siege of Kenilworth was part of the second Barons` War and lasted from June to December 1266. The 750th anniversary will be celebrated in Kenilworth in September 2016.
Historical background
In ...
Decline and demolition
With the close of the Great War came the closing chapter of Weddington Castle. Following the end of the war, the Red Cross withdrew from Weddington Castle and it ...
Some photos of Astley Castle from before and during its rebuilding by the Landmark Trust. A brief history of the castle can be found here.
Astley Castle has a rich and varied history. In 1266 Warin de Bassingburn was granted a licence to enclose the manor house at Astley with a dyke and walls, and ...
It’s been done many times before; legitimate a royal dynasty, or a hereditary right to power by piggybacking on one of Britain’s most lasting myths. Geoffrey of Monmouth featured Arthur ...
Brinklow Castle is a motte and bailey castle dating from Norman times, although Chatwin suggests that the Normans could have used a mound already in situ.
Situated on the Fosse Way, ...
1 A well-preserved entrenchment, nearly oval in form and situated on low-lying ground. Its defences consist of a strong rampart running round a raised internal plateau with a deep ditch ...
Castle Hills, a Medieval motte and bailey castle. It is situated 200m north east of Berryfields Farm.
1 Very extensive earthworks marking the site of an important Medieval castle which formerly stood here. Defences appear to have consisted mainly of broad moats and sheets of water dammed ...
Brandon Castle, the site of a Medieval castle, with associated castle keep and moat complex. Documentary evidence exists for some of its history, and some of the earthworks have been patially excavated. The castle is situated 300m south of Brandon.
1 Excavation in 1933-48 of a 14th century building on the site of an earlier castle (PRN 2676). To the W the building overlooks the river, but on all ...
The remains of a medieval building, possibly a tower, were found on the site of Baginton Castle during an excavation. The tower had been built at a later date than the rest of the castle.
3rd December, 1871. A fire tears through Warwick Castle. The Great Hall is destroyed, along with a number of private apartments and offices.
A popular attraction
Even in 1871 the castle was ...
To identify exactly what inspires great works of art is an impossible task. However, when presented with the ideal subject artists often flock to paint, draw or sculpt it.
Warwick Castle, ...
(Continued from part one)
The second Earl was not only a collector of art, but seemed to enjoy participating in the creation of it too. It has been noted that both ...
By the year 1816 the walls of Warwick Castle held one of England’s most ambitious collections of Old Master Portraiture ever assembled. Despite the sale of the Castle in 1978 ...