Alnwick Castle, Northumberland

Alnwick Castle is one of England’s most visited stately homes, and has a history dating back over nine hundred years. In recent years there has been a reurgence in visitor numbers visiting Alnwick Castle, with the castle being used in the filming of the Harry Potter films; Alnwick Castle becoming Hogwarts on film.

Alnwick Castle is situated in Alnwick in Northumberland and is home to the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland. It also has a long and illustrious history dating back to 1096 when the first stones were laid. This history makes it one of the oldest in the country, and its condition also makes it one of the best preserved.

Alnwick Castle - Andy Jamieson - CC-BY-SA-2.0

 Northumberland is the border county between England and Scotland and for long parts of its history it has acted as a defensive county against potential attacks from Scotland. It was for this reason that Yves de Vescy, the then baron of Alnwick started the construction of the castle. It was soon put to use and in the next hundred years it was twice besieged. In the fourteenth century the castle passed into the hands of the Percy family, the family that still owns it today. The Percy family strengthened and modernised the castle through into the fifteenth century, although the Percy family was often at odds with the monarch of the day, and had to hold of a number of other sieges, including those during the War of the Roses. The Percy family managed to hold onto their land and titles, and by the sixteenth century the country had settled down into one of relative peace, and further improvements to the castle were undertaken, especially as undertaken by the 6th Earl of Northumberland.

It is now difficult to distinguish between original features of the castle and subsequent improvements and alterations. A visitor today will see two rings of buildings, the inner ring being the inner sanctum of the castle, within a large bailey. This inner ring though couldn’t accommodate all of the necessary buildings and rooms needed to house all of the family and staff, and so further buildings were built in the outer ring. The remaining towers and walls are impressive, although some of the walls are much reduced in size in order to allow the Dukes of Northumberland to be able to view their extensive grounds.

Alnwick Castle State apartments - Richard Croft - CC-BY-SA-2.0

The grounds themselves are in many ways as impressive as the castle building, and are made up of two distinct parks. A small park to the north of the main castle was planned and landscaped by Lancelot “Capability” Brown, whilst a much larger park, Hulne Park, is also to be found adjacent to the castle.

Today Alnwick Castle is best known for being Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, although it the Harry Potter films do use computers to make it look different. It is though more than just a film setting and the castle and gardens are open to the public from the end of March until the end of October. The castle itself is open from 11am until 5pm, with the grounds open from 10am until 6pm, it should be remembered though that the grounds are not the same as the famous Alnwick Gardens which are a separate entity to the castle and involve an additional entrance charge. The cost of entry to the castle and grounds is about par for the course in this day and age, with up to date prices displayed on the castle’s webpage.

Alnwick Castle is a working castle and residence, although there is plenty for the casual visitor to look at and enjoy. The castle houses a number of exhibitions, including three shown off in three of the castle’s towers. There are exhibits dedicated to archaeology with special focus placed on Roman and Egyptian history. There are also displays dedicated to history of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, and Northumberland volunteer regiments.

The Library is also an interesting area of Alnwick Castle to look around, with books to be seen from floor to ceiling. Many of the state rooms are also interesting to those interested in architecture and history, with the Drawing Room in particular decorated in a style reminiscent of the Italian Renaissance. Away fro the state rooms there is also the Coach House that displays some of the grandest coaches to be found anywhere in England.

Alnwick Castle Keep - David Hawgood - CC-BY-SA-2.0

For those looking for a more interactive experience there are also other exhibits including the Knights Quest, where you learn about becoming a young knight, and Dragon’s Quest, described as one of the scariest interactive challenges to be found at any of England’s castles. On some weekends there are also historical re-enactments put on showing the life and workings of a medieval castle.

Many people though just enjoy a relaxing stroll around the grounds, or indeed decide to take the weight off of their feet by eating at the castle’s restaurant, The Sanctuary. For those people interested in the history of England, then Alnwick Castle is certainly worth a day out, and there is plenty to do for your money. Visitors are well catered for and from the youngest to the oldest of visitors there is something to keep everyone interested.

Copyright - First Published 13th October 2009

Spofforth Castle, North Yorkshire

Located in the village of Spofforth, North Yorkshire, the ruins of Spofforth Castle are symbolic of the fate of many other English Castles. Spofforth Castle was once in the hands of the Percy family; and its history mirrors the fortunes of that old Norman family.

The site upon which Spofforth Castle stands probably once played host to a Norman motte and bailey castle constructed in the late eleventh century by William de Percy, a favoured member of the Norman court. The need for such a defensive site reduced over the years, and by the thirteenth century the site was home to a stone halled manor house. It is rumoured that during the Baron’s uprising against King John a draft of the Magna Carta was drawn up at Spofforth Castle, although there is no real supporting evidence for such an event.

Spofforth Castle - Mtaylor848 - CC-BY-SA-3.0

In 1308/9 Henry Percy applied to Edward II for permission to crenellate Spofforth Manor, turning the building once again into Spofforth Castle. Again at the time the stock of the Percy family was high with king’s court. Even at this point, the importance of Spofforth Castle was on the wane, and the Percy family were putting their money into Alnwick, Wressle and later Warkworth Castles. That being said, during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries additions and improvements were made to the building, and it is also said to have been the birthplace of Harry Hotspur, one of the most famous of the Percys.

Spofforth Castle - John Sutton - CC-BY-SA-2.0

The fourteenth and fifteenth centuries were a period of fluctuation in the fortunes of the Percy family, and twice they would have their possessions seized by the throne, first by Henry IV and then the Earl of Warwick, after siding with the losing cause in two rebellions. By the sixteenth century, by which time the Percys were once again in favour, Spofforth Castle was little more than a large out building for the family, and by 1604 it was all but abandoned.

Today it is only the west range of Spofforth Castle that can be seen, comprising of two storeys connected by a stair turret. The hall, that is built against the bedrock, and chamber block can also be viewed. This dereliction is not solely due to the passage of time, as the defensive capabilities of Spofforth Castle were destroyed during and after the English Civil War.

Spofforth Castle - Mtaylor848 - CC-BY-SA-3.0

Currently Spofforth Castle is in the hands of English Heritage, with the Grade II listed building being given to the state in 1924 by the 3rd Baron of Leconfield. The castle is now free to visit and is open daily.

Copyright - First Published 29th December 2011

Hever Castle, Kent

England has a long history, and reminders of this history can be found all around the country. Each year hundreds of thousands of people visit the castles and stately homes spread around the country to take in this history, and the county of Kent is blessed with a number of these visitor attractions. One of the most popular of these castles is Hever Castle, near to Sevenoaks, with a history linked to Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII.

Visitors to Hever Castle are drawn by two main interests, the history of the English monarchy and also a love of the classic English garden.

Hever Castle - Charlesdrakew - Released into PD

History of Hever Castle

The history of Hever Castle goes back to 1270 when the gatehouse and walled bailey were constructed. The castle was then purchased by Geoffrey Boleyn in 1462 where it was to become the seat of the Boleyn family. Thus for a brief period it was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, although she was to spend much of her early life in the Netherlands and France. Anne Boleyn never actually owned Hever Castle as it was owned by her father Thomas Boleyn. As the second wife of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn predeceased her father by dying in 1536 when executed. Although disgraced by the disgrace of his daughter, Thomas was allowed to live out his life in the castle, where he died in 1539. The death of Thomas without a living male heir saw Hever Castle pass into the ownership of the crown, and Henry VIII saw fit to give it to Anne of Cleves once their marriage was annulled. There is little evidence though to suggest that Anne of Cleves took up residence in the castle and it eventually was sold to the Waldgrave family in 1557.

From 1749 the castle passed into the hands of the Meade Waldo family, who tended to lease the building out to tenants. This though did see the castle neglected in its upkeep, and it was only through the purchase of Hever Castle by William Waldorf Astor that money was once again invested into it. Astor invested a proportion of his millions into the castle and grounds and did much to shape what is now seen by the general public.

The most modern incarnation of Hever Castle has only occurred in the last thirty years when it was turned into a tourist attraction by Broadland Properties Limited. With the castle and grounds opened to the public attractions have been created, these include the traditional portrait and tapestry galleries. Long established exhibits include also a museum dedicated to the Yeomanry of Kent, as well as weapons and instruments of torture. There is also currently an exhibit entitled “Losing Your Head Over Henry” with the castle playing up its links to Henry VIII, this link is also seen with the wanderings of costumed actors and actresses around the castle.

Hever Castle Gardens - Charlesdrakew - Released into PD

Today at Hever Castle 
 
There are some 125 acres of gardens in the grounds of Hever Castle, with most laid out during the early years of the twentieth century. A thousand men were employed under the direction of Joseph Cheal and Son during the period from 1904 to 1908 to construct the 35 acre lake and the gardens. This construction saw the creation of the Italian Garden specifically designed to host the collection of Italian sculpture amassed by William Waldorf Astor.

The garden is also made up of a Rose Garden that is planted up with over three thousand plants. There are also a number of planned walks including those through the Tudor Garden, the Anne Boleyn Walk, Sunday Walk and Rhododendron Walk. The newest walk though is the Hever Lake Walk that was only opened in 2008.

There are a number of other water features to admire in the garden other than the large lake. There is the new Millennium Fountain, but also the more established loggia fountain based on the design of Rome’s Trevi fountain, as well as the Half Moon Pond and Cascade Rockery.

The gardens also host two of the most famous mazes in the country. There is a yew maze, planted during the time of Astor, as well as a newer water maze. Certainly be prepared to get wet if you decide to risk the water maze on Sixteen Acre Island, although the children certainly don’t seem to mind the risk.

The north side of Hever Castle - Charlesdrakew - Released into PD

Since ownership for Hever Castle has passed to Broadland Properties Limited, the castle has been slowly changed into a more widely appealing tourist attraction. To this end the grounds of Hever Castle play host to recreations of medieval battle fields and jousts, with the inclusion of jousting tournaments and archery competitions during the summer months.

Prices for entrance to the castle and the gardens are currently a reasonable price when compared to many other English stately homes. Prices vary on the time of the year that Hever Castle is being visited, and this is because the opening times and the number of exhibits open vary throughout the year. In general terms the gardens open at 10:45am with the castle opening at midday. It is a good idea to visit the Hever Castle website prior to a visit to ensure that the attractions are open.

All in Hever Castle makes for a good day out for all the family, and although many children will not be as interested as adults by the castle and the maze, the owners of Hever Castle have added many attractions to entertain in other ways.

Copyright - First Published 21st September 2008

Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire

The English county of Derbyshire is blessed with many historic houses and castles. Some of these great buildings may only date back to the Victorian period, whilst others were built back in the time of the Norman Conquest.

It was during this latter period that Bolsover Castle was built. Situated just six miles east of Chesterfield, and today found near to the M1 motorway, Bolsover Castle is one of Derbyshire’s oldest and most popular historic buildings.

Bolsover Castle Panorama - Stephen G Taylor - CC-BY-SA-2.0

The M1 motorway gives Bolsover Castle a certain level of accessibility, but in truth, the castle is only accessible by the general public because of the work of English Heritage. English Heritage is one of the most important organisations dealing with the preservation of the physical symbols of the nation, and Bolsover Castle has proved to be one of their success stories.

 

The history of Bolsover Castle

Bolsover Castle can trace its history right back to the Norman conquest of the eleventh century, and thus has nine hundred years of history to explore.

Bolsover Castle was originally built by the Peverel family; William Peverel being one of the favourite nobles of William the Conqueror’s court, and in the twelfth century it held a strategic position overlooking the Vale of Scarsdale.

By the time of Henry II though, the Peverel family had fallen out of favour, having been supporters of Stephen against Empress Matilda. All of the Peverel lands were forfeit to the crown, although a few improvements were made to the castle during this period, including the construction of the 1173 stone keep and curtain wall.

Looking up at Bolsover Castle - Galatas - CC-BY-SA-2.0

During the Baron’s War of the following century, the castle held out against King John in 1216 but it eventually fell to the king and was left to fall into ruin.

As Bolsover Castle quickly deteriorated, it was rented out to various tenants, all of whom had no interest in spending money on its upkeep. Bolsover Castle though was eventually purchased in 1553 by Sir George Talbot. Talbot became the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, prison keeper to Mary Queen of Scots.

Like the previous tenants, the Earls of Shrewsbury had little interest in restoring Bolsover Castle, but the 7th Earl of Shrewsbury evenutally sold the castle to Sir Charles Cavendish, and it was he and his son William who really brought back the castle to its true glory.

Robert Smythson was their architect and he designed buildings for elegant living, including the 1621 building of the “Little Castle” which is actually a tower. The Terrace Range was also created consisting of kitchens and living apartments, but the visit of monarchy also meant that a long gallery was built. The Riding School was also constructed consisting of a large arena, forge and gallery and the school soon became well known for its large and impressive timber roof.

William Cavendish was a Royalist and following his defeat at Marston Moor, he fled into exile, which left the castle in the hands of the Roundheads; who let it once again fall into ruin. Cavendish though was lucky and with the Restoration in 1660, he was once again given back his lands. Cavendish soon set about rebuilding the castle and added on the Terrace Range, including a new hall and various staterooms.

The descendants of William Cavendish were not as enamoured with Bolsover Castle and much preferred to live in Welbeck Abbey. From the latter half of the seventeenth century the castle was used as a building supply depot for repairs to the abbey and although the Little Castle and the Riding School Range were left untouched, the main castle was stripped of lead and other important materials.

Bolsover Castle was uninhabited by 1883, and for the next sixty years it was left to its own devices. By this time Bolsover Castle had become one of seats of the Dukes of Portland, and eventually in 1945, the 7th Duke of Portland decided that it should be handed to nation for posterity, and after this it was taken into the care of English Heritage.

 

Bolsover Castle today

Due its ownership by English Heritage the castle is open to the general public, and there plenty to see and do. Even after a thousand years of work, Bolsover Castle is still an impressive sight. As a historic building it is hard to think of any building that is better preserved, and time walking around the building is thought provoking.

The views form the top of the castle are breathtaking, and on a clear day it is easy to see across the Vale of Scarsdale as well as the rest of the Derbyshire countryside. There is perhaps not as much to see in the castle as with many of the other historic buildings of England, such places as Hever Castle and Warwick Castle do have more to see within the castle walls. Bolsover Castle does have the “Little Castle” to visit and restored erotic wall-paintings are now on display.

Bolsover Castle - JThomas - CC-BY-SA-2.0

The grounds of Bolsover Castle are equally as impressive as the castle, and many visitors will spend longer in the gardens and grounds than they do in the castle’s buildings. The grounds are the setting for the Venus Garden, a garden with over twenty statues looking down on you. Additionally there is also the famous fountain now back in working condition after many years of being broken.
The grounds do make an ideal setting for a family picnic and by picking your spot you can have a view over the Derbyshire countryside whilst you eat. For those who are willing to pay for lunch, there is a cafe in the grounds of Bolsover Castle and whilst you can not get a full meal there are sandwiches and light snacks to eat.

The grounds are also the setting for many of the historic and cultural events that are put on by English Heritage throughout the year. Some of the events include the annual Food and Drink Fair although it is an idea to check with English Heritage to see what is planned. The Riding House is also adjacent to the grounds and having been restored it easy to imagine the dancing horses being trained.

There is not a great deal to keep children entertained at Bolsover Castle, although the construction of the Discovery Centre has created an entertaining space comprising of a number of audio-visual displays.

Bolsover Castle is open all year round, although days and dates do vary depending on the time of year and so it is advisable to check before travelling. There is a small cost involved in entrance to Bolsover Castle, and again these costs should be checked as they are subject to change. It is well worth considering joining English Heritage to enjoy free entrance to all of their properties. There is of course an advantage of not being owned by a company seeking out profit, as with the case of places such as Warwick Castle, as prices are kept relatively low. At the same time there are advantages to commercialisation, especially in that there are often more attractions on site.

It is often the commercialisation that entertains younger members of the family, and so for children it is really only ideal to make sure that special events are being held otherwise they could easily become bored. An additional important aspect of a visit is the weather, and if visiting on a rainy day then the visit may be short lived, as it is difficult to spend more than a few hours in the castle building. All in all though, as a historic setting and as an impressive site, Bolsover Castle is well worth the trouble of visiting.

Copyright - First Published 20th October 2008

Corfe Castle, Dorset

Corfe Castle is one of the most imposing and popular of tourist attractions to be found in Dorset, situated in a village of the same name. The ruined castle is to be found situated in a gap in the Purbeck Hills, a tactical position it has occupied for over a thousand years.

Derived from the Saxon word for gap, Corfe Castle is to be found equal distance between Wareham and Swanage, each some five miles away. The gap is the only route, even today between the two towns, and also is a defensive site from sea borne attacks. There is current archaeological work being undertaken to see whether there is any evidence for a Roman fort on the site, although evidence as so far only taken the castle’s history back to the 10th century.

Corfe Castle - DrBob - CC-BY-SA-3.0

A wooden Saxon castle is likely to have stood on the site, and King Alfred the Great built a castle at Corffe’s Gate, which is supposed to be the site of the present Corfe Castle. History records that King Edward the Martyr was murdered at Corfe Castle in 979. Edward was said to have been lead to his death by his own stepmother, Elfryda, who wished her own son, Ethelred the Unready, to be king. Edward was stabbed in the back as he drank wine after a stag hunt.

It was after the Norman Conquest that a stone built castle was constructed from Purbeck marble. King William the Conqueror ordered the construction of Corfe Castle in 1090. As well as being a defensive position, the castle was also the central controlling point for the Royal Forest that surrounded the castle’s land. Despite the demise of King William I, Corfe Castle continued to be developed by his son, Henry I, who had the keep and inner bailey built and extended.

It was though later kings who made it into the defensive superstructure, whose remnants can be viewed today. Corfe Castle was one of the castles favoured by King John. John built up the defensives, using the castle as a prison and execution site. King John also made the castle into a somewhere he could stay in comfort, building a hall, chapel and royal treasure storehouse. Work continued with John’s son Henry III and grandson Edward I. It was Edward I who made the castle into an impregnable fortress, building up the ramparts and gatehouse. To highlight the importance of Corfe Castle it should be noted that during Edward’s reign the Constable at Corfe Castle was the fourth highest paid in the country.

With the passing of the medieval age the importance of Corfe Castle declined, and was rarely kept in good repair. By the time of Elizabeth I it was actually given from royal ownership into the hands of the Lord Chancellor, Sir Christopher Hatton, in 1572. Hatton is often described as a suitor to Elizabeth as well as being her dance teacher. Hatton made into a comfortable stately home.

Corfe Castle and Corfe Village - Jim Champion - CC-BY-SA-3.0

By 1636 the castle was sold to Sir John Bankes, who was Charles I’s Attorney General and Lord Chief Justice. It was though only to be used as a holiday home rather than a main residence, during the civil war though it was a focus for Royalist resistance in Dorset. The death of Sir John Bankes early in the Civil War though left the defence of the castle to Lady Mary Bankes. It was Brave Dame Mary who managed to see of a six week siege in 1643. Two years later though the Parliamentarians returned to lay siege.

The castle stayed firm though, despite the use of cannons against the defensive walls. A two month siege only ended in 1646 when a member of the defensive force betrayed the royalists and let the besieging forces into the castle. To ensure that the castle could never again hold out the walls were systematically destroyed by undermining the walls with explosives. The debris was used by the villagers of Corfe Castle to construct houses in the village; an impressive amount of the castle still remains though.

With the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, the castle could well have been rebuilt. The Bankes family though had no real desire to live in a castle and so built their new home at Kingston Lacy a number of miles away near Wimborne.

The ruins of the castle now belong to the National Trust as it was left as part of the Kingston Lacy estate as bequeathed by Ralph Bankes in 1981. As such the castle is open to the general public all year round; in fact the castle is only shut on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

The castle hosts an open air theatre and living history exhibit, as well as guided tours that can last for up to 90 minutes. In addition to tourists Corfe Castle is a favourite destination for school parties who can be seen climbing all over the mound and ruins.

The castle is a great destination for everyone. At very reasonable prices it is no wonder that almost 200,000 people visit each year. Remember though that whilst it is accessible to those in wheelchairs, it may be a struggle to get around the whole castle.

Corfe Castle in the model village - Andrew Hackney - CC-BY-SA-2.0

Corfe Castle village is now one of the county’s most popular tourist destinations. Corfe Castle is more than just the ruins of the stone built castle and the village itself bears the same name, although most people will come for the castle and visit the rest. Large parts of the village have been made from recovered stone work from the castle ruins.

The village has been linked with another of the county’s popular attraction, as the Swanage Railway now runs to the village. The rebuilt line allows visitors to make the journey from and to Corfe Castle and Swanage by steam locomotive.

Tourists will also visit the historic church, although the current building, built in 1859, holds only small parts of the original 10th and 13th century buildings. The tower dates back to medieval times, although the rest of the building is in 19th century Gothic construction style. If you are looking to see how Corfe Castle looked before the English Civil War then the Corfe Castle model village shows the village and castle in 1/20th scale. The model village though is only open from Easter to the end of October.

The castle and village still play on the association held with Enid Blyton, Corfe Castle being found in numerous Famous Five books in different guises. There is a shop in the village that caters exclusively for those interested in Blyton’s work.

All in all Corfe Castle is well worth a visit for those interested in the history of England for the last thousand years. Despite being a ruin the castle of Corfe Castle is still an imposing part of the landscape and on a clear day can be seen from many miles.

Copyright - First Published 27th May 2008

Warwick Castle, Warwickshire

Almost a thousand years has passed in the life of Warwick Castle. This life has seen a transition from medieval castle to theme park. Today it is one of the finest examples of an English stately home, competing against its new incarnation as a major tourist attraction.

Warwick Castle has its roots back in the year 914 AD. In this year the first recorded fortifications were erected by Ethelfleda. Situated above the River Avon, the site made a perfect defensive setting. In the time of Ethelfleda and her father, Alfred the Great, Warwick was often attacked by the marauding Danes. These first wooden fortifications made up part of the defensive network for the Kingdom of Wessex.

Warwick Castle from the Avon - Misterweiss - Released into PD

The first stone fortifications were made after the Norman Conquest, when in 1068 the first stones were laid on the site. William the Conqueror made a gift of the land, and associated title of Earl of Warwick, to Henry de Newburgh. Henry needed a strong castle to protect his lands and so built a standard wooden motte and bailey castle, with some stone ramparts. This started a fortification that would prove to be the home to some of the most powerful men in English history.

The owners of the castle often played an integral role to the politics of the country. In 1264, during the War of the Barons, Simon de Montfort and his men took the castle and continued to build up the castle and its defences. It was de Montfort who kidnapped William Maudit, the Earl of Warwick, and his wife until a ransom was paid.

Following the death of Maudit, the castle and earldom passed into the Beauchamp family.For one hundred and eighty years, the family continued to expand the castle, adding buildings as required to make the castle into a comfortable home. A great hall had been erected in the time of Maudit but residential blocks were now added. The Beauchamps were responsible for the outline of the building as it is seen today.

The great hall was redeveloped, a water gate was added, as was a gatehouse and polygonal tower. This tower is known as Guy’s Tower’ and was remarkable tall for the time, standing as it does at one hundred and twenty eight foot in height. This tower is dwarfed by Caesar’s Tower’, which is taller by almost twenty foot. This tower is connected to the gatehouse to its west; the gatehouse itself is one of the finest examples in England, with a succession of portcullises. The rest of the castle was completed with thick walling, as well smaller towers, creating a defendable enclosure around the core of the castle.

Warwick Castle and Grounds - Gernot Keller - CC-BY-SA-2.0

When the Beauchamp male line came to an end, Richard Neville married into the family, becoming the new Earl of Warwick. The influence of Neville was such that during the War of the Roses he became known as the Kingmaker’, Neville was able to get Edward IV onto the throne before removing him for the previous incumbent Henry VI. Within two generations though, the title of Earl of Warwick had been revoked. Edward Plantagenet, the then Earl of Warwick, was accused of treason, Plantagenet having a claim to the throne of England.

The title of Earl of Warwick was then created for worthy individuals and their families in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Gaps in the title though meant that, the Castle was not necessarily owned by an Earl. There was in fact at one point an Earl of Warwick and an Earl of Warwick Castle.
Despite the political nature of manner of the castle’s owners, Warwick Castle managed to survive through the War of the Roses and the Civil War, pretty much unscathed. Warwick Castle was even besieged during the Civil War, although after the war, the castle was not destroyed unlike many of its contemporaries, castles like Corfe Castle in Dorset.

In Georgian and Victorian times, the stately home and castle were made even grander, under the Greville family. The grounds were developed extensively and even Capability Brown was hired to landscape large parts of the castle ground. The development saw a succession of royalty, King George IV, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and Edward VII were all regular guests at the castle.
In the later part of the twentieth century Warwick Castle was one of the last stately homes to remain in private hands. To gain income though, Warwick Castle teamed up with nine other stately homes to form the Treasure House of England. The aim was to promote and market the homes as tourist attractions. This venture though was short lived and within a decade, by 1978, the castle was sold to the Tussauds group.

Warwick Castle by Night - Rick Marin - Released into PD

The Tussauds group invested large amounts of money to renovate and restore the castle buildings, as well bringing the gardens back to their Georgian splendour. Now part of Merlin Entertainments, Warwick Castle has continued to mould itself into a medieval theme park.

Visitors should be aware like many other theme parks, visiting does not come cheap. There is some slight discount for pre-booking. Buyer beware though as not all attractions are included within this price.

There are some interesting attractions that are in keeping with the medieval setting. A working model of a trebuchet can be fired by visitors if there is professional supervision. A 6 tonnes counterweight allows stone balls to be fired many hundred feet. Nearby is the archery display, with the added chance to shoot some arrows yourself, if you want to spend another few pounds for five shots. The bird show is a good way to pass some time, as eagles, vultures and hawks take place in the Winged Warriors’ show.

There are two main attractions though. The first of which is the live action ghost show. Again an added cost, depending on the time of year you visit, but for once well worth it. The show recreates the murder of Sir Fulke Greville back in 1628, and is by no means for the faint of heart. Secondly there is the Royal Weekend Party. A genuine weekend from 1898 is recreated using life size models and period furniture, with guests including the Prince of Wales and a young Winston Churchill.

The castle and grounds are open all year around, aside from Christmas Day, though again any visitor should check opening hours, and also what attractions are going to be open on their day of visiting. Expect the grounds to be crowded though as it is one of the most visited attractions in England.

Warwick Castle is one of the premier historical sites in England. It can be argued that turning it into a theme park has meant the loss of the ancient charm, but it has meant more visitors attend are therefore able to learn about part of the nation’s history.

Source www.warwick-castle.com

Copyright - First Published 9th March 2008

Sherborne New and Old Castles, Dorset

Sherborne Castle in Dorset is another of the magnificent historic homes that England is blessed with. Dating back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth the house is a popular tourist attraction and member of the Historic Houses Association.

Sherborne Old Castle - Pengannal - CC-BY-2.0

The term Sherborne Castle could actually apply to two different buildings set in the same ground, although the newer building is commonly called Sherborne Castle, there is actually the ruins of Sherborne Old Castle still visible. Sherborne Old Castle was built in the twelfth century as a fortified palace for the Bishop of Salisbury, Roger de Caen, who was also Chancellor of England. After the death of de Caen, Sherborne Castle remained in the possession of the church.

Sherborne New Castle, as viewable today, was built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594. Raleigh at the time was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth, and managed to persuade her to acquire the grounds from the Church, so that he in turn could take ownership of it through a ninety-nine year lease. Raleigh had fallen in love with the medieval site on his travels from London to Plymouth. Raleigh’s original idea was to make the original twelfth century castle habitable, but it was a dream that proved unachievable. Raleigh therefore turned his attention to the medieval hunting lodge found in the grounds.

Sherborne New Castle - mwanasimba - CC-BY-SA-2.0

Raleigh called his new Tudor mansion Sherborne lodge, a building consisting of four storeys in a rectangular shape with hexagonal corner turrets. Raleigh though only managed ten years as owner of Sherborne Castle as he fell out of favour with the crown, and whilst Raleigh was in prison, King James sold the castle and land to Sir John Digby in 1617. It was the Digby family who added the four additional wings in the 1620s.

Sherborne Castle though was substantially damaged during the English Civil War as it was a Royalist stronghold in Dorset. At this time the Parliamentary forces of General Fairfax effectively destroyed the old Castle. Repairs to Sherborne New Castle though followed the end of the Civil War, and ever since the castle has remained in the hands of the Digby family.

Sherborne New Castle is open to the general public from the end of March through until the end of October.

The castle has many interesting historic elements and artefacts, including porcelain, art and furniture, for visitors to observe, but it is the grounds that attract most visitors. The Sherborne Castle gardens are of high renown. The original gardens were laid out with the twelve hundred acres of parkland at about the time that William of Orange visited the Sherborne estate in 1688. It was though until Lancelot “Capability” Brown was brought in by Henry Digby in 1753 that the present gardens became established.

Capability Brown first created the fifty acre lake to separate the two Sherborne Castles. Brown then turned his attention to forty acres of landscaped gardens which made them the talk of the nation, even resulting in George III coming to Sherborne to take in the vistas.

Today the gardens make a very tranquil environment to pass the time of day. There is a set out lakeside walk that winds in and out of impressive trees, including giant cedars and Metasquoia. Planting has also been undertaken to make the most of the ruins of the Old Sherborne Castle, even though the ruins are owned by English Heritage.

If you are looking for a non-commercial day out, where you can take in the beauty and the history of an English castle, then there are few better venues than Sherborne Castle. It may not be the most entertaining of venues for children but for those people looking for something away from the hectic nature of many tourist attractions then Sherborne Castle must be high on your holiday itinerary.

Copyright - First Published 9th November 2008