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England
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English Castles left to see
With so much already seen, it would appear we're running out of things we
want to see. However, we've frequently made the mistake of picking up
brochures as we stop for a roadside break or hearing about someone else's great
adventure and the list grows. The brochures, scraps of paper with names of
places and other "must-see" ideas litter my desk and I thought it
easiest to consolidate them here since we're already sharing so much of our time
here with all of you. These are in no particular order.
| Donington Le Heath Manor House
Coalville, Leicestershire LE67 2FW
www.leics.gov.uk/museums |
See how people lived in Medieval, Tudor and Stuart times in
this 13th century house. |
| Framlingham Castle Visitor's Centre |
See the Beautiful clothing from English Heritage May 2008
magazine :-) |
| Stokesay Castle in Shropshire - English Heritage Site |
Castle & manorhouse that remains virtually unchanged for
800 years. Features medieval staircase with moulded handrail and
steps made from whole treetrunks |
| Walmer Castle & Gardens |
Once home to the Duke of Wellington and later a destination
for the Queen Mother. Garden was presented to the Queen Mother on
her 95th Birthday. |
| Dover Castle |
2nd World War Tunnels` |
| Hardwick Hall, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S44 5QJ (National
Trust) & Stainsby Mill |
Spectacular hall built by Bess of Hardwick, Elizabethan
England's second richest woman. See Europe's finest collection of
16th and 17th century embroideries and tapestries. Visit the Stone
Centre to learn about the traditional craft of stonemasonry which is still
practiced at Hardwick. Enjoy the redesigned and planted herb garden.
At the milll, see the fully functioning water-powered mill with 17'
iron waterwheel. Listen to how flour has been milled at the Hardwick
estate since the 13th century. Buy freshly milled flour to make your
own bread. |
| Shugborough Historic Estate, Shugborough, Nr. Stafford ST17
0XB |
Home of the Earls of Lichfield. Complete working
historic estate. |
Wales
I ask your patience with this page. There are quite a few pictures, and
the estimate for loading is 922 seconds over 28.8 (dial up speed). Thank
you.
Welsh Castles left to see
With so much already seen, it would appear we're running out of things we
want to see. However, we've frequently made the mistake of picking up
brochures as we stop for a roadside break or hearing about someone else's great
adventure and the list grows. The brochures, scraps of paper with names of
places and other "must-see" ideas litter my desk and I thought it
easiest to consolidate them here since we're already sharing so much of our time
here with all of you.
These are in no particular order.
| Tretower Court & Castle (Brecon Beacons, South-East
Wales). Part of CADW
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Hollywood filmed 'The Libertine' here. The site is a
late medieval house and gardens and a motte and bailey castle constructed
around 1100 with a stone keep constructed around mid 12th century |
| Kidwelly Castle, South-West Wales |
Although we saw this castle from the outside I also want to
view inside.
The earliest castle on this site was Norman and made of earth and
timber. The town was established in approx. 1115 AD and the castle
was rebuilt in stone by the 13th century. The Chaworth family built
the inner ward and the castle was later modified by earls and dukes of
Lancaster. Kidwelly had a concentric design with one circuit of
walls set within another to allow the castle to be held even if the outer
wall should fall.
Kidwelly features in the first scene of the film Monty Python and the
Holy Grail |
| Carreg Cennen Castle, NR Llandeilo, Brecan Beacons |
Exploiting the natural environment for it's defences, glued
to the sheer cliff-face on all sides. The first masonry on this site
was probably the work of Lord Rhys in the late 12th century but John
Giffard, handed the fortress by Edward I in 1283 most likely is
responsible for the buildings that we see today. The end of this
castle came in 1462 during the War of the Roses when the castle was
vandalized by 500 Yorkist men brandishing picks and crowbars. |
| Laugharne Castle, South-West Wales |
Both Dylan Thomas and Richard Hughes found inspiration for
their writings at Laugharne. Built in the 13th century by the de
Brian family, it is the lasting legacy of Sir John Perrot. Once
captured by the Parliamentary forces after a seige during the English
Civil War it was partially dismantled. The castle boasts Victorian
gardens and a boat house as well as breathtaking views. |
| Castell Coch, Cardiff, South Wales |
This was a rural retreat for the Marquess of Bute and his
family. While resting on ancient foundations, Castell Coch is
relatively modern, the by-product of a vivid Victorian imagination,
assisted by wealth. The Middle Ages fascinated the Victorians as
much as the Victorians fascinate us today. |
| Rhuddlan Castle, Nr Rhyl, North Wales |
Second of Edward I's north Wales fortresses with twin
towered gatehouses. 1800 ditchers worked to link this castle with
the sea some 3 miles away. |
| Denbigh Castle, Denbigh, North Wales |
The ruins crown a steep hill above the town. Built as
part of Edward I's 13th Century campaigns against the Welsh, it was
constructed by Henry de Lacy. The finest feature is the
triple-towered gatehouse and town walls.` |
| Plas Mawr, Conwy, North Wales |
Finest surviving Elizabethan town house in Britain.
Recreated early 17th century garden. Conwy is enclosed within a ring
of 13th century walls and protected by it's castle. Plas Mawr was
built between 1576 and 1585 for Welsh merchant, Robert Wynn. |
| Criccieth Castle, Northwest Wales |
Stands headlong between 2 beaches as a prominent north Wales
landmark. Originally the stronghold of the native Welsh princes,
Criccieth was later annexed and added to by the English monarch, Edward
I. Original construction thought to be started by Llywelyn the Great
between 1230 and 1240. Castle was taken by Edward's forces in 1283
and refortified. In 1404, the castle was burned by Owain Glyndwr
(Welshman). |
| Weobley Castle, Gower Peninsula, South Wales |
One of the few surviving fortified manor houses in
Wales. Home of the de la Bere family until the 15th
Century. |
| Cardiff Castle, www.cardiffcastle.com |
Roman Garrison, Norman Stronghold, Gothic Fantasy . .
history that spans over 2000 years. |
| Beaumaris Castle |
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| Dinefwr Park & Castle - Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, SA19
6RT |
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| Markets of Gwynedd LL52 5AA |
Pwllheli old historical market town established in 14th
Century. Market held weekly on Wednesdays
Porthmadog held every Friday near the Ffestioniog Railway.
Caernarfon is held every Saturday throughout the year and every monday
during summer months near the castle built by Edward I. The Roman
Fort of Segontium lies outside the town. |
| Oxwich Castle, Gower Peninsula, South Wales |
Grand Tudor house built in courtyard style by the Mansel
family on a wooded headland above Oxwich Bay. |
Germany
Since we only had 2 days to Sight-see in Germany before
proceeding to the meetings, we attempted to make the most of it. The most
famous castle we could think of to see was Neuschwanstein which it turns out was
a 4 hour drive one way and so we didn't have too much time to see much beyond
that unfortunately. However, the tour of Neuschwanstein was most
impressive and we're glad we did it.
Ireland
We've only had a brief amount of time to spend in Ireland and so I'm afraid
we've not seen as much as we might want to. But here is some of what we
did get to experience.
Irish Castles left to see
With so much already seen, it would appear we're running out of things we
want to see. However, we've frequently made the mistake of picking up
brochures as we stop for a roadside break or hearing about someone else's great
adventure and the list grows. The brochures, scraps of paper with names of
places and other "must-see" ideas litter my desk and I thought it
easiest to consolidate them here since we're already sharing so much of our time
here with all of you. These are in no particular order.
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