Burton in Lonsdale is a small village at the western edge of North Yorkshire, close to the borders with Lancashire and Cumbria. At the time of the Norman Conquest, Burton (Borctune) was part of the manor of Whittington and owned by Tostig – who was slain at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Its castle, locally known
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Caerlaverock Castle, Britain’s only triangular castle, occupies a strategic location on the Scottish side of the Solway. There was once a British fort on the site, later a medieval one, before the forerunner of the present ruin was built in a drier location a few yards away in the 1270s. It was, famously, besieged by
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The multivallate Iron Age hillfort of Garn Fawr on the Pencaer/Strumble Head peninsula dominates the surrounding landscape, which is peppered with prehistoric remains. At 699 feet (213m), Garn Fawr is the highest point on the peninsula and there are spectacular views from the top – arguably the fort’s best feature. The craggy terrain was formed
Beyond some village cottages on a rocky promontory, overlooking the Teifi Gorge is Cilgerran Castle. It is a strategic position, fortified by at least 1108 by the Norman, Gerald of Windsor. It was captured by the Welsh in 1164, retaken by William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, in 1204, recaptured by the Welsh during Llywelyn the
This is the excavated remains of the Roman fort of Segedunum at Wallsend – the end of the Wall – which lay underneath the famous Wallsend shipyards and the houses occupied by the workers. At firsdt glance, it may seem as though there’s not much there, but the layers of history are fascinating. There is
Brougham Castle is situated in a beautiful, but defensive, spot on the south bank of the river Eamont, next to the long-abandoned Roman fort of Brocavum. Situated in medieval border country, Brougham Castle saw action in the wars between England and Scotland, and was captured by the Scots. However, a walk round today includes hints
Deal Castle was built between 1539 and 1540, part of a massive construction programme of forts, blockhouses and other defences ordered by Henry VIII to protect England against possible French invasion. Unlike many castles of the past, these defences were not built for the benefit of an individual, but for the whole realm. Some 20
Eilean Donan simply means ‘Donan’s Island’. Donan was a 6th-7th century Celtic saint, a contemporary of St Columba, who is said to have built a church there. Much of the history of Eilean Donan is wreathed in the mists of elusive legend and violence. The castle was built in the 13th century and was the
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Richborough, which the Romans called Rutupiae, is a fascinating, multi-layered, site. Now 2 miles inland, 2,000 years ago it was on the coast where Emperor Claudius’s invading army landed in 43AD. They built a defensive barrier on the site, which then became a supply base, developing into a significant port, town and major point of
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Aldeburgh’s Martello Tower is the largest and most northerly of more than 100 Martello Towers built from Sussex to Suffolk to help defend England from the French. Martello Towers were basically gun platforms. Aldeburgh’s is unusual because it is quatrefoil in shape – four towers in one, designed to take 4 guns. It was built
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Fotheringhay Castle was birthplace of the future King Richard III on 2 October 1452 and the place of execution for Mary, Queen of Scots on 8 February 1587, but sadly little remains of it. The first castle was probably built by Simon de Senlis (St Liz), Earl of Northampton and Huntingdon, around the year 1100.
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Stokesay Castle is more like a perfect medieval fortified manor house, and it is unforgettably picturesque and interesting. Many of the interiors are original and little changed since being built in the 13th century by a wealthy wool merchant, including original timbers. The solar has original 17th century panelling. A wonderful timber-framed gatehouse was added
