The Best Castles in Great Britain

Bodiam Castle - East Sussex, England

This is the one in the picture for the Gatehouse message board

http://www.exploring-castles.com/uk/england/bodiam_castle/

Beaumaris Castle - Wales

Wikipedia: Located on the Isle of Anglesey, it was built as part of Edward I's campaign to conquer the north of Wales after 1282 . . . Beaumaris Castle was taken by Welsh forces in 1403 during the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr, but was recaptured by royal forces in 1405. Following the outbreak of the English Civil War in 1642, the castle was held by forces loyal to Charles I, holding out until 1646 when it surrendered to the Parliamentary armies.

UNESCO considers Beaumaris to be one of "the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe", and it is classed as a World Heritage site.

I like the layout of this castle, with its large courtyard in the center. The moat also adds to it’s beauty and functionality.
I imagine that it must have been a luxury during times of war, to enjoy the outdoors while safe inside the castles walls.

Another large castle in Wales:

Caernarfon Castle



Wikipedia: There was a motte-and-bailey castle in the town of Caernarfon from the late 11th century until 1283 when King Edward I of England began replacing it with the current stone structure. The Edwardian town and castle acted as the administrative centre of north Wales and as a result the defences were built on a grand scale.

The town and castle were sacked in 1294 when Madog ap Llywelyn led a rebellion against the English. Caernarfon was recaptured the following year. Despite its dilapidated condition, during the English Civil War Caernarfon Castle was held by Royalists, and was besieged three times by Parliamentarian forces.

Dover Castle - Kent

Wikipedia: Founded in the 11th century, it has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history. It is the largest castle in England. It was during the reign of Henry II that the castle began to take recognisable shape. The inner and outer baileys and the great keep belong to this time.

In 1216, a group of rebel barons invited the future Louis VIII of France to come and take the English crown. He had some success breaching the walls, but was unable ultimately to take the castle. During the English Civil War it was held for the King but then taken by a Parliamentarian trick without a shot being fired in 1642 (hence it avoided being ravaged and survives far better than most castles).



At the height of the Napoleonic Wars, a complex of barracks tunnels about 15 metres below the cliff top housed more than 2,000 men and to date are the only underground barracks ever built in Britain. The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 saw the tunnels converted first into an air-raid shelter and then later into a military command centre and underground hospital. In May 1940, Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsey directed the evacuation of French and British soldiers from Dunkirk, code-named Operation Dynamo, from his headquarters in the cliff tunnels.

Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, is a beauty.


The swath of crimson ivy covering the gate tower is very dramatic, not to mention an appropriate reminder, considering Anne’s horrible demise.

Hever Castle Highlights

Visitors to the castle and grounds today can enjoy:-

The Tudor Portraits – A collection which David Starkey has described as “one of the best collections after the National Gallery”.
The castle dining room, or Great Hall, complete with a 1540 tapestry and Henry VIII’s lock, which he took to every place he visited for security
The inner hall which was once the Great Kitchen – Admire the beautiful carved walnut columns and panelling, as well as the portraits of Anne Boleyn and Mary Boleyn
The Priest’s hole – Legend has it that a priest perished in this hole and that he now haunts the castle
hAnne Boleyn’s bedroom – The bedroom traditionally thought to have been shared by Anne and Mary Boleyn.
The Book of Hours Room – Here you will find two beautifully illuminated prayer books which belonged to Anne, one with her famous “le temps viendra, je Anne Boleyn” inscription and astrolabe motif, and also an exquisite tapestry depicting the marriage of Princess Mary Tudor and Louis XII of France in 1514. It is likely that Anne and Mary Boleyn are among the ladies in this scene as they both attended Mary at this time.
The hidden chapel built behind panelling in the late 16th century
The stunning Italian Garden which leads down to the lake
Water features, grottoes and the formal Loggia fountain
The Tudor Garden, rose gardens, Rhododendron Walk and Anne Boleyn’s Walk
Yew Maze and water maze.

I love the history associated with the Tudors, it would be a real treat to visit Hever Castle.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theanneboleynfiles.com/hever-castle-a-magical-place/amp/

Now I see ...
that you were going in alphabetical order
And I skipped over
E F G

Sary wrote:Now I see ...
that you were going in alphabetical order
And I skipped over
E F G

Oh, it doesn't matter. I've been picking these from a thread I originally did at The Apricity where I used alphabetical order to help me remember where I was up to.

Another magnificent medieval castle, Edinburgh Castle in Scotland. She appears so large and ancient sitting upon Castle Rock. It is difficult to imagine how old 2nd century AD is!




Edinburgh Castle (Scottish Gaelic: Caisteal Dhùn Èideann) is a historic fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland from its position on the Castle Rock. Archaeologists have established human occupation of the rock since at least the Iron Age (2nd century AD), although the nature of the early settlement is unclear. There has been a royal castle on the rock since at least the reign of David I in the 12th century, and the site continued at times to be a royal residence until 1633. From the 15th century the castle's residential role declined, and by the 17th century it was principally used as military barracks with a large garrison. Its importance as a part of Scotland's national heritage was recognised increasingly from the early 19th century onwards, and various restoration programmes have been carried out over the past century and a half. As one of the most important strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle was involved in many historical conflicts from the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century to the Jacobite rising of 1745. Research undertaken in 2014 identified 26 sieges in its 1100-year-old history, giving it a claim to having been "the most besieged place in Great Britain and one of the most attacked in the world".[2]
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_Castle

^ I remember going to Edinburgh Castle on a school trip aged about 13.


Dunster Castle - Somerset

Wikipedia: A former motte and bailey castle, now a country house, in the village of Dunster, Somerset, England. The castle lies on the top of a steep hill called the Tor, and has been fortified since the late Anglo-Saxon period. The medieval castle walls were mostly destroyed following a siege at the end of the English Civil War, when Parliament ordered the defences to be slighted to prevent their further use. In the 1860s and 1870s, the architect Anthony Salvin was employed to remodel the castle to fit Victorian tastes; this work extensively changed the appearance of Dunster to make it appear more Gothic and Picturesque.





Framlingham Castle - Suffolk

Wikipedia: An early motte and bailey or ringwork Norman castle was built on the Framlingham site by 1148, but this was destroyed by Henry II of England in the aftermath of the revolt of 1173-4. Its replacement, constructed by Roger Bigod, the Earl of Norfolk, was unusual for the time in having no central keep, but instead using a curtain wall with thirteen mural towers to defend the centre of the castle. Despite this, the castle was successfully taken by King John in 1216 after a short siege. By the end of the 13th century, Framlingham had become a luxurious home, surrounded by extensive parkland used for hunting.

Lincoln Castle - Lincolnshire

Wkipedia: Constructed in Lincoln, England, during the late 11th century by William the Conqueror on the site of a pre-existing Roman fortress. The castle is unusual in that it has two mottes. It is only one of two such castles in the country, the other being at Lewes in Sussex. Lincoln Castle remained in use as a prison and law court into modern times, and the Crown Courts continue to this day. It is still possible to walk around the immense Norman walls which provide a magnificent view of the castle complex, together with panoramic views of the cathedral, the city, and the surrounding countryside.

The castle was the focus of attention during the First Battle of Lincoln on 2 February 1141, during the struggle between King Stephen and Empress Matilda over who should be monarch in England. It was held but damaged, and a new tower, called the Lucy Tower, was built.




Cardiff Castle - Wales

Wikipedia: A medieval castle and Victorian Gothic revival mansion located in the city centre of Cardiff, Wales. The original motte and bailey castle was built in the late 11th century by Norman invaders on top of a 3rd-century Roman fort. In the 12th century the castle began to be rebuilt in stone, probably by Robert of Gloucester, with a shell keep and substantial defensive walls being erected.

Cardiff Castle was repeatedly involved in the conflicts between the Anglo-Normans and the Welsh, being attacked several times in the 12th century, and stormed in 1404 during the revolt of Owain Glyndŵr. During the English Civil War Cardiff Castle was initially taken by Parliamentary force, but was regained by Royalist supporters in 1645. During the war, extensive air raid shelters were built in the castle walls, able to hold up to 1,800 people.

I really like Cardiff Castle, I was going to post it  


This is an interesting castle to me because of its eclectic architecture. The front of the castle has a very simple medieval design, while the back is totally different, built in gothic revival style. They have blended the two designs and the result is stunning.
I love the gothic turrets with the cone roof, and the arched windows.

Balmoral Castle in Scotland is another pretty castle that has turrets, giving it a magical fairytale appearance.

"Balmoral Castle (/bælˈmɒrəl/) is a large estate house in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and a residence of the British royal family. It is near the village of Crathie, 9 miles (14 km) west of Ballater and 50 miles (80 km) west of Aberdeen.
The estate and its original castle were bought from the Farquharson family by Prince Albert in 1852, the husband of Queen Victoria. Soon afterwards the house was found to be too small and the current Balmoral Castle was commissioned. The architect was William Smith of Aberdeen, and his designs were amended by Prince Albert. Balmoral remains the private property of the monarch and is not part of the Crown Estate. The summer residence of Queen Elizabeth II, she died ‘peacefully’ at Balmoral on 8 September 2022. She was 96.
The castle is an example of Scottish baronial architecture, and is classified by Historic Environment Scotland as a category A listed building. The new castle was completed in 1856 and the old castle demolished shortly thereafter.
The Balmoral Estate has been added to by successive members of the royal family, and now covers an area of approximately 50,000 acres (20,000 hectares). It is a working estate, including grouse moors, forestry and farmland, as well as managed herds of deer, Highland cattle, sheep and ponies."