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KILKENNY CASTLE, IRELAND.
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Kilkenny Castle, the signature symbol of the Medieval city. Kilkenny Castle (Irish: Caisleán Chill Chainnigh) is a castle in Kilkenny, Ireland built in 1195 by William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke to control a fording-point of the River Nore and the junction of several routeways. It was a symbol of Norman occupation and in its original thirteenth-century condition it would have formed an important element of the defences of the town with four large circular corner towers and a massive ditch, part of which can still be seen today on the Parade.
The property was given to the people of Kilkenny in 1967 and the castle and grounds are now managed by the Office of Public Works. The gardens and parkland adjoining the castle are open to the public. The Parade Tower is a conference venue. Awards and conferring ceremonies of the graduates of "Kilkenny Campus" of National University of Ireland, Maynooth have been held there since 2002.
Kilkenny Castle has been an important site since Strongbow constructed the first castle, probably a wooden structure, in the 12th century. The Anglo-Normans had established a castle in 1173, possibly on the site of an earlier residence of the Mac Gilla Pátraic kings of Ossory. Kilkenny formed part of the lordship of Leinster, which was granted to Richard fitz Gilbert de Clare, better known as Strongbow. Strongbow’s daughter and heiress, married William Marshall in 1189. The Earl Marshall owned large estates in Ireland, England, Wales and France and managed them effectively. He appointed Geoffrey fitz Robert as seneschal of Leinster and so began a major phase of development in Kilkenny, including the construction of Kilkenny Castle and the agreement of rents and privileges with burgesses or citizens of the borough. The first stone castle on the site, was completed in 1213. This was a square-shaped castle with towers at each corner; three of these original four towers survive to this day
James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormonde, bought the castle in 1391 and established himself as ruler of the area. The Butler dynasty then ruled the surrounding area for centuries. They were Earls, Marquesses and Dukes of Ormonde and lived in the castle for over five hundred years. The Castle became the seat to the very powerful family, the Butlers of Ormonde or Butler family, who lived there until 1935.
Butler family sold the castle to the local Castle Restoration Committee in the middle of the 20th century for £50. Shortly afterward it was handed over to the State, and has since been refurbished and is open to visitors. There are ornamental gardens on the city side of the castle, and extensive land and gardens to the front. It has become one of the most visited tourist sites in Ireland. Now a property in state care. Part of the National Art Gallery is on display in the castle.
Kilkenny castle was the venue for the meeting of the General Assembly, or parliament, of the Confederate Ireland government in the 1640s.
Interior courtyard
The castle seen from the nearby River Nore.Richard de Clare (also known as Strongbow) and other Norman knights came to Kilkenny in 1172, the high ground beside the River Nore was as an ideal site on which to build a wooden tower. He built a wooden castle of the type known as motte-and-bailey.
This strategic site was where the local kings, the O'Carrolls (840 AD), O’Dunphys and Fitzpatricks, had their castle(s) before the Norman invasion.
Twenty years later, de Clare's son-in-law, William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, built the first stone castle on the site, of which three towers still remain.
The castle was owned by the seneschal of Kilkenny Sir Gilbert De Bohun who inherited the county of Kilkenny and castle from his mother in 1270, in 1300 he was outlawed by Edward I but was reinstated in 1303, he held the castle until his death in 1381. It was not granted to his heir Joan, but seized by the crown and sold to the Butler family.
[edit] Butlers of Ormonde
The Castle became the seat to a very powerful family, the Butlers of Ormonde or Butler family. They were a remarkable family, resilient, politically astute and faithful to the crown and to Ireland. These loyalties determined their fortunes and career. The Butler family arrived in Ireland with the Norman invasion, and originally settled in Gowran. They changed their name from FitzWalter in 1185 to Butler. The family had become wealthy, and James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormonde, bought the castle in 1391 and established himself as ruler of the area. The Butler dynasty then ruled the surrounding area for centuries.
By the 18th century, the castle had become run down, reflecting the failing fortunes of the Butler family. However, some restoration was carried out by Anne Wandesford of Castlecomer, who brought wealth back into the family upon marrying John Butler, 17th Earl of Ormonde.
In the 19th century, the Butlers then attempted to restore it to its original medieval appearance, also rebuilding the north wing and extending the south curtain wall. More extensions were added in 1854.
View from the river, 1841The Butler family remained living in the castle until 1935, when they sold its contents for £6,000, moved to London, and abandoned it for thirty years. The impact of rising taxes, death duties, economic depression and living costs had taken their toll. While the Ormondes had received £22,000 in rental income in the 1880s, investment income in the 1930s was in the region of £9,000 and by 1950 these investments yielded only £850. They disposed of the bulk of their tenanted estates in Tipperary and Kilkenny, 21,000 acres (85 km²), by 1915 for £240,000. Death duties and expenses following the death of James Butler, 3rd Marquess of Ormonde in 1919 amounted to £166,000[1].
Auction Catalogue, 1935In 1967, Arthur Butler, 6th Marquess and 24th Earl of Ormonde, sold the abandoned and deteriorating castle to the Castle Restoration Committee for £50, with the statement: "The people of Kilkenny, as well as myself and my family, feel a great pride in the Castle, and we have not liked to see this deterioration. We determined that it should not be allowed to fall into ruins. There are already too many ruins in Ireland." He also bought the land in front of the castle from the trustees "in order that it should never be built on and the castle would be seen in all its dignity and splendour". Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull turned up at the castle hand over party, with Jagger telling the newspapers "We just came to loon about."[citation needed]
[edit] Confederate Ireland
In the 17th century, the castle came into the hands of Elizabeth Preston, wife of then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, another James Butler, also 12th Earl and 1st Duke of Ormonde. Butler, unlike most of his family, was a Protestant and throughout the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s was the representative of Charles I in Ireland. However, his castle became the capital of a Catholic rebel movement, Confederate Ireland, whose parliament or "Supreme Council" met in Kilkenny Castle from 1642-48. Ormonde himself was based in Dublin at this time. The east wall and the northeast tower of the Castle were damaged in 1650 during the siege of Kilkenny by Oliver Cromwell during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. They were later torn down. Then, in 1661, Butler remodelled the castle as a “modern” château after his return from exile. A new entrance gateway in the south wall was built around this time.
[edit] Irish Civil War
During the Irish Civil War in 1922, Republicans were besieged in the Castle by Irish Free State forces. The Ormondes, together with their pet Pekinese, chose to remain in situ in their bedroom over the great gate, which was the main focus of attack. There was a machine gun outside their door. One man was injured but a great deal of damage was inflicted on the castle, which took many years to repair[2].
[edit] Restoration
The rest of the 20th century saw a large amount of restoration and maintenance take place, as well as the castle being opened to visitors[3]. The Butler Gallery, in the castle basement, holds rotating exhibitions put on by the Kilkenny Art Gallery Society in a venue named for Peggy and Hubert Butler.
There are ornamental gardens on the city side of the castle, and extensive land and gardens to the front. It has become one of the most visited tourist sites in Ireland. Now a property in state care. Part of the National Art Gallery is on display in the castle.
Excavations and building surveys by Ben Murtagh in the 1990s revealed traces of an earlier earthwork castle, exposed a postern gate (side entrance) and section of the castle ditch facing on to the Parade (now visible), and also partly uncovered the lost south-east side of the castle.
The entrance was through the (now missing) east wall. Various other features of the original castle have also been excavated, including original stone buttressing and a garderobe. Parts of this castle survive to the present day but the castle has changed over centuries. The south curtain wall is long gone, the elaborate entrance gate is a 17th century addition, and in much of what can be seen from the castle park side is a 19th century reconstruction.
SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA.
The castle is orientated (by the shape of the rock it stands on) north-east to south-west. This is the north-east end, the tallest fang of masonry being the east corner of the hall-house. The various wall remains and fallen turf covered stones in the foreground formed the entrance and (according to Canmore) some sort of bailey, although it must have been very small. There are no longer enough recognisable features to determine how the entry to the castle was designed and defended.
Drachenburg Castle is a castle on the Drachenfels in Koenigswinter . It was built in record time from 1882 to 1884 in the style of historicism (especially neo-early gothic on the exterior and neo-renaissance in the interior) as a representative residence for Stephan von Sarter , who, however, never lived in the castle. After his death, the castle was subjected to several changes in use.
At the transition between the Middle and Lower Rhine, the castle is located on a small plateau on the northwest slope of the Drachenfels, facing the Rhine Valley, at a good 200 m above sea level. NHN and thus 150 meters above the river. East of the lead Eselsweg called ascent to the Drachenfels and the Drachenfelsbahn along their middle station here Drachenburg Castle has.
I find that sometimes I become mildly obsessed with some of the locations that I shoot at. Going back time and time again to find the right light, view, composition, season and time of day. My relationship with Castle Hill goes back much further than that, as I could see it from my bedroom window as a child.
This is a view, looking North East to Castle Hill from the nearby fields near Castle Houses.
Castle Hill is the most prominent landmark in Huddersfield. It has a long and chequered history, being the site of an Iron Age Hillfort of the Brigantes Tribe, destroyed by fire circa 400BC. A motte and bailey castle built by the De Laci family in the 12th Century. The site of a short lived medieval village and a beacon hill warning of approaching dangers such as the Spanish Armarda. It also hosted a number of Chartist Rallies, that were the forerunners to the Trade Union movement.
Much myth and folklore is attached to the hill.
Queen Cartimandua of the Brigantes Tribe is said to have used the hill as her stronghold during the Civil War against her ex-husband Venutius.
The Roman name for the hill was Camulodunum (not to be confused with Colchester), which has lead to theories that Castle Hill was Arthur's Camelot. Although there was a 5th century King of the Pennines called Arthius, no proof that he inhabited Castle Hill has been found.
Other folklore is that tunnels lead from the hill, one to the Deadmanstone at Berry Brow, and another to Almondbury.
The Devil is said to have leaped to Castle Hill from Netherton Scar (where he left his footprint), some eight miles away.
The hill is also said to be the lair of a dragon which guards a golden cradle.
Stokesay Castle in Shropshire is a classic example of doing a lot with a little. It's a small site but they made the most of it. It is also a rare survivor - a fortified manor house dating from the 13th century.
Living near the contested Welsh borders was dangerous in the Middle Ages and Stokesay reflects this concern. The land was granted to Roger of Lacy after the Norman Conquest, later it was tenanted by Theoderic De Say and 'South Stoke' became 'Stokesay'. In 1240 the site passed into the hands of John De Verdon and it is possible that he started building on the site before going on crusade in 1270.
The Verdon's tenant John De Grey sold the site to merchant Lawrence of Ludlow in 1281 for the price of a juvenile sparrow hawk. Lawrence was a wealthy wool merchant who even lent money to the king and many of the Marcher lords like the Earl of Arundel and the Mortimers. Lawrence is thus one of the earliest wealthy merchants to take his money and invest in land, setting himself up as a country gentleman.
It is assumed that Lawrence built most of what we see as the work is mostly of one date and he obtained the necessary 'licence to crenellate' from King Edward I at Hereford 10 years later in 1291. This licence allowed the addition of battlements to the walls and may indicate that building work had now reached battlement level. Lawrence headed a wool fleet to the Low Countries in 1294 and was drowned when his ship was wrecked off Aldeburgh. His body was buried in Ludlow.
On the death of his son in 1316 the manor was 200 acres, including two mills, a dovecote and a wood and generated income from rents. The Ludlow family retained Stokesay and the last heiress Anne Ludlow married Thomas Vernon who died at Stokesay in 1563. The new gatehouse (see photos) was probably built in the 1640s by tenant Charles Baldwin who'd taken the site as a retirement home.
It suffered a brief siege in the English Civil War but surrendered. Normally surrendered castles were 'slighted' but at Stokesay only the perimeter wall was demolished. It was later used as farm buildings before the site's architectural significance was realised.
As presented today Stokesay has a single bailey or courtyard surrounded by a substantial dry moat. The 17th century half-timbered gatehouse is colourful and opens into the courtyard where visitors see the three-storied South Tower of circa 1291 which functioned as a keep or final retreat in the event of attack. The South Tower had its own drawbridge (now removed) at first-floor level to cut it off from the rest of the building in the case of attack.
The North Tower has a handsome half-timbered apartment added to the top while between the two is the great hall and solar block. The hall is lofty amd the internal staircase inside leading to the North Tower is timber and original medieval woodwork. The cruck roof timbers are also orginal, dating to around 1300.
The solar block would originally have been the lord's private apartments and these were panelled in the 17th century to make them warmer and more comfortable. Some of the panelling is Flemish or Flemish-inspired and contains grotesque figures.
Stokesay is a stunning building and is now in the care of English Heritage. The grounds and lower floors have reasonably good disability access but wheelchair users have to bump over a wooden bar at the gatehouse to gain access to the courtyard.
Nestled around the Vltava River, Prague survived virtually intact, while other European cities were flattened during WWII. This is a view of part of Prague Castle and the spires of St. Vitus Cathedral, taken within the world’s largest ancient castle complex and still the seat of political power. The castle was built during the 9th Century and has evolved architecturally as a blend of Romanesque, Gothic, and even Spanish styles.
I'm missing the amazing over the top spectacle of the stunning landscapes of Southern Utah. California has it's own fantastic scenes, but right now, I'd love to see these mammoths covered in partial blankets of snow.
I've uploaded a panoramic image to give the viewer a feeling of the immensity and depth of the landscapes that unfold, mile after incredible mile in this awesome and inspiring place.
Click on Image to View Large Sized in Lightbox
5th February 2019
The original Kendal Castle - a Motte and Baily castle which was built after the Norman Conquest, either in 1087AD by Ivo Taillebois (a Norman noble), or post 1100AD by a noble named Ketel.
The fortification consisted or a circular motte 11m high with 48m base, and a curved bailey following the ridge edge above Kendal. These would have been topped by wooden stockades and buildings, and stood until it was abandoned in the 11th Century by the de Lancaster's. A replacement was eventually constructed on the other side of the town, but not until the 12th Century.
The castle sits on a basalt outcrop overlooking the Farne Islands and Lindisfarne in Northumberland, UK.
Castle Stalker on the Tidal island on Loch Laich, or as Monty Python fans would know it, Castle Arghh from the film, The Holy Grail, the current owners son actually had a part in the film as one of the Castles defenders.
It's Halloween, so I'm off to vanquish ghosts with sword and cyr wheel.
Taken at the Schattenburg castle in Feldkirch, Austria this summer, while dodging tourists.
Textures courtesy of Lenabem_Anna.
Best viewed on black. (Press L).
Thank you for any views, invites, faves and comments, They are greatly appreciated.
The Miramare Castle is a 19th century castle, built for Austrian Archduke Maximilian and his wife, Charlotte of Belgium, later Emperor Maximilian I and Empress Charlotte of Mexico. The castle is situated on the Gulf of Trieste near Trieste, northeastern Italy. Construction took place from 1856 to 1860 to a design by Carl Junker on the orders of Archduke Maximilian. The castle's grounds include an extensive (22 hectares) cliff and seashore park designed by the Archduke. The grounds were completely re-landscaped to feature numerous tropical species of trees and plants.
Croft Castle sits deep in the heart of Herefordshire (England) countryside surrounded by 1500 acres of historic woodland, farm and parkland. Home to the Croft family for nearly 1000 years,
A building has been on the site from the 11th century and it has from this time been the home of the Croft family and Croft baronets. The Croft family were closely linked to their neighbours the Mortimers of Wigmore and later Ludlow. The Battle of Mortimer's Cross took place on Croft lands nearby in 1461. The present building originated as a castle in the 14th century and has been much altered since. It was the home of a John Croft who married one of Owain Glyndŵr's daughters. In the 15th century the Croft family adopted the Welsh Wyvern crest, a wounded black dragon, seen as a subtle allusion to their Glyndwr heritage. Croft Castle was restored after slighting in the Civil War. It now consists of a stone quadrangular manor house with a small castellated round tower at each corner and a small square tower flanking the north side. The castle is under the care of the National Trust and members of the Croft family still live within it.
The Arraiolos Castle is a massive medieval fortress which sits on Monte de San Pedro, a hill north of the present town of Arraiolos. Castelo Arraiolos was built by order of King D. Dinis in the early 1300's, but the site itself is believed to have been a prehistoric settlement dating to 300BC. We took a hike up the tower steps and get a great view over the valley.
Built by Edward I during his conquest of Wales between 1283 and 1289. Nowadays the castle is a world heritage site.
Bodiam Castle (/ˈboʊdiəm/) is a 14th-century moated castle near Robertsbridge in East Sussex, England. It was built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, a former knight of Edward III, with the permission of Richard II, ostensibly to defend the area against French invasion during the Hundred Years' War. Of quadrangular plan, Bodiam Castle has no keep, having its various chambers built around the outer defensive walls and inner courts. Its corners and entrance are marked by towers, and topped by crenellations. Its structure, details and situation in an artificial watery landscape indicate that display was an important aspect of the castle's design as well as defence. It was the home of the Dalyngrigge family and the centre of the manor of Bodiam.
Possession of Bodiam Castle passed through several generations of Dalyngrigges, until their line became extinct, when the castle passed by marriage to the Lewknor family. During the Wars of the Roses, Sir Thomas Lewknor supported the House of Lancaster, and when Richard III of the House of York became king in 1483, a force was despatched to besiege Bodiam Castle. It is unrecorded whether the siege went ahead, but it is thought that Bodiam was surrendered without much resistance. The castle was confiscated, but returned to the Lewknors when Henry VII of the House of Lancaster became king in 1485. Descendants of the Lewknors owned the castle until at least the 16th century.
By the start of the English Civil War in 1641, Bodiam Castle was in the possession of Lord Thanet. He supported the Royalist cause, and sold the castle to help pay fines levied against him by Parliament. The castle was subsequently dismantled, and was left as a picturesque ruin until its purchase by John Fuller in 1829. Under his auspices, the castle was partially restored before being sold to George Cubitt, 1st Baron Ashcombe, and later to Lord Curzon, both of whom undertook further restoration work. The castle is protected as a Grade I listed building and Scheduled Monument. It has been owned by The National Trust since 1925, donated by Lord Curzon on his death, and is open to the public.
Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland, both historically and architecturally. The castle sits atop Castle Hill, an intrusive crag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill geological formation. It is surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs, giving it a strong defensive position. Its strategic location, guarding what was, until the 1890s, the farthest downstream crossing of the River Forth, has made it an important fortification in the region from the earliest times.
Before the union with England, Stirling Castle was also one of the most used of the many Scottish royal residences, very much a palace as well as a fortress. Several Scottish Kings and Queens have been crowned at Stirling, including Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1542, and others were born or died there.
On strategically so important place towers Trentino’s largest fortress, referred to as Castel Beseno. First written documents date back to the 12th century, when the castle still belonged to the counts of Appiano and served as a residence to the aristocratic family Da Beseno. In the following years and centuries, the castle witnessed a rather turbulent history. In 1470 it was handed over to the counts Trapp, a noble family from Styria affiliated with the Austrian emperor. Soon the castle had to be rennovated due to a fire and the medieval castle turned into a residence. Threatened by decay, the castle was given to the Province of Trento, rennovated and made a remote seat of the Castello del Buonconsiglio Museum. Two mighty elliptical walls featuring a length of 250 and a width of 55 metres surround the castle. Worth seeing are also the dark castle gate, the drawbridge, the crenels and the arena.
Великие бастионы, которые характеризуют Кастель-Бесено, относятся к 16 веку, когда замок был приспособлен для сражений с применением огнестрельного оружия. Сегодня, помимо внутренних дворов и зданий крепости, которые когда-то использовались в качестве кухонь, хлебных печей, подвалов и складских помещений, можно также посетить и прогуляться по парапетной прогулке с панорамным видом на Валь д'Адидже и долина, ведущая к плато Альтопиано ди Фольгария.
The Castle Inn is one of just 60 pubs owned by the National Trust and is independently run by new landlord Nick Naismith. The first mention of the inn dates as far back as 1420, making this building a true example of a traditional English pub. Period features are abundant creating a warm welcoming environment for locals and visitors alike.
Belvoir Castle is a historic castle and stately home in Leicestershire, situated 6 miles west from the town of Grantham and 10 miles northeast of Melton Mowbray. The castle sits on high ground overlooking the Vale of Belvoir, the Norman French translation of belle voir in English means 'beautiful view'.
The castle is the home of the Manners Family (Dukes of Rutland), whose direct male ancestor inherited it in 1508.
A castle was built on this site shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066, several rebuilts took place over the centuries until the current Grade I listed mock castle, dating from the early 19th century.
The current building was built to a design by architect James Wyatt in a romantic Gothic Revival style and was mostly complete by 1832. It contains works of art by famous painters such as Holbein, Stubbs and Gainsborough and a suite of opulant state rooms
Scotney Castle is an English country house with formal gardens south-east of Lamberhurst in the valley of the River Bewl in Kent, England. It belongs to the National Trust.
The gardens, which are a celebrated example of the Picturesque style, are open to the public. The central feature is the ruins of a medieval, moated manor house, Scotney Old Castle, which is on an island on a small lake. The lake is surrounded by sloping, wooded gardens with fine collections of rhododendrons, azaleas and kalmia for spring colour, summer wisteria and roses, and spectacular autumn colour.
At the top of the garden stands a house which was built to replace the Old Castle between 1835 and 1843. This is known as Scotney New Castle, or simply Scotney Castle, and was designed by Anthony Salvin. It is an early, and unusually restrained, example of Tudor Revival architectural style in 19th century Britain. Following the death of the resident, Elizabeth Hussey, in 2006, this house was opened to the public for the first time on June 6, 2007
More than 100 years ago it was entirely restored and partially rebuilt.
The first references to the castle date back to 1391.
This weekend I went to Scotland and got rained out almost every where I took my camera. The main reason for going was to climb Ben Nevis as part of my training for Mt. Everest in November
Castle Ward and Mahee Castle were both built by the first wave of adventurers who arrived in Ulster in the 1570's as part of a new colonisation enterprise.Built close to the shore, these fortified houses helped control the burgeoning trade routes into Ulster.
The Castle or Tower House was swallowed up by the Castle Ward estate now run by the National Trust.
Take me down to the river bend
Take me down to the fighting end
Wash the poison from off my skin
Show me how to be whole again
Overlooking the Firth of Forth.
Tantallon Castle is a large red sandstone ruin from the 1300s which overlooks the beautiful coastline near North Berwick in East Lothian. The castle is one of the oldest curtain-wall castles in Scotland and it is one of the top-rated tourist attractions in East Lothian.
Visitors to the coastal town of North Berwick can explore one of the finest medieval fortifications in Scotland by heading south along the coastline for 3 miles, where they’ll find Tantallon Castle.
While the castle is pretty much in ruin it is managed by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) who have installed walkways that allow visitors to explore the castle walls along with information panels that explain the castle’s fascinating history.
There are lots of reasons to visit Tantallon Castle, with the view from the top of the castle walls probably being the highlight but there are a couple of other points of interest that make it worth a visit.
First, it’s home to the very last fortified curtain wall that was constructed in Scotland, so if you’re a history buff that’s something you can cross off your list.
Tantallon Castle
And second, a nearby sandstone outcrop has a section cut into it that forms the smallest harbour in Scotland, so if you like exploring unusual places then Tantallon Castle is definitely worth a visit.
The castle dominates the landscape for miles around this beautiful part of the East Lothian countryside and the sandstone walls of the 14th-century fortress have been fascinating visitors for most of the last century thanks to its cliff-top location which offers views across the Firth of Forth and Bass Rock.
The top of the curtain wall is a superb spot to watch the seabird colonies that call this part of East Lothian their home, and if you want to explore the coastline to see more wildlife it’s just a short walk to Seacliff beach which is known for its giant rock pools.
Tantallon Castle
Things to do at Tantallon Castle
The castle itself is an amazing structure and both adults and children will enjoy roaming around its ruined walls and rooms.
The views from the top of the walls are amazing with the enormous Bass Rock in the near distance and the East Lothian countryside stretching away to the east and west, and there’s enough wildlife in the area that any nature-lover will be kept entertained for hours.
Looking in the opposite direction you can take in the sight of Berwick Law with its whalebone perched on the top, while to the east you can see Seacliff beach where you’ll discover the small harbour hidden amongst the rocks.
Heading down into the castle courtyard you can explore the ruins from ground level and photographers will no doubt enjoy snapping a few shots of the sandstone curtain wall that glows with the sun gleaming behind it.
If you head into the east tower you’ll find a replica of the gun that was used to defend the castle against James IV and James V (more photo opportunities), while children can happily go on a fact-finding quiz created by HES that’s guaranteed to keep them occupied for a good hour or two.
Tantallon Castle
Heading back to the castle entrance you’ll find the information displays that will tell you all about the castle’s history under the stewardship of the Red Douglas’s while nearby you’ll find paths that will take you on a lovely walk down to Seacliff beach.
This is one of the best beaches in East Lothian due to the number of rock pools you’ll find in the sea-carved sandstone but it’s also worth visiting because the beach is beautifully clean and the sea is great for swimming in thanks to the protection it gets from the cliffs that enclose it on either side.
At one end of Seacliff beach you can look back to see Tantallon Castle looking absolutely magnificent against the skyline (wait for sunset – it’s an amazing view), while the other end hides the small harbour that was cut away using compressed air all the way back in 1890.
Because it’s partially hidden you’ll likely stumble across the harbour without even realising what it is, but while you’re there take a look back out towards the sea where you’ll glimpse an unusual stone beacon that marks the location of a huge partially submerged rock.
All-in-all, I can safely say a day spent at Tantallon Castle will surprise and please you in equal measure.
Tantallon Castle
The history of Tantallon Castle
The castle was built in the mid-14th-century by the 1st Earl of Douglas after he became the leader of the Douglas clan and was principally designed to be a status symbol, although at this point in Scottish history the concept of curtain walls had already been superseded in favour of tower houses.
As such, Tantallon Castle was to be the last curtain-wall castle to be built in Scotland, and while only the landward section remains today, at one time the enormous stone wall enclosed the entire site.
The castle passed into the hands of the illegitimate son of the Earl of Douglas in the late 14th century and it was at this time that the Douglas clan divided into two factions, the Red Douglas’s and the Black Douglas’s, with the Red Douglas’s taking control of Tantallon.
While the two clans feuded for the next hundred years the castle became the main stronghold of the Red Douglas’s until a traitorous act by the 5th Earl handed it to James IV of Scotland.
Although previous earls had allied with the Royal House of Stuart, the 5th Earl struck a deal with Henry VII of England against James IV and in retaliation the Scottish king successfully besieged Tantallon Castle.
Tantallon Castle
While the Red Douglas’s eventually found favour with the Scottish government it seems they had other intentions with England, and in 1525 with support from Henry VIII, the 6th Earl successfully took custody of the 16-year-old Scottish King James V.
However, the king managed to escape and several years later took revenge on the Earl with a massive bombardment of Tantallon Castle that lasted for a full 20 days. Although the king lifted the siege after being unable to bring down the curtain wall the Earl fled to England, leaving James V free to capture the castle.
The castle passed in and out of the hands of various Scottish nobles for another hundred years until its fate was sealed during the English civil war of 1650 when Oliver Cromwell’s forces laid siege and finally breached the castle’s defences.
After this defeat Tantallon was left in ruins, never to be inhabited again. Finally, in 1924 it was handed to the British government and today it’s held in the care of Historic Environment Scotland and is designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Discover more Scottish fortifications in my Guide to the Best Castles in Scotland.
The highlights
The castle is very interesting to explore and has lots of history to discover.
The views from the top of the castle walls are amazing so take your camera. If you’d like to see Bass Rock close-up take a visit to North Berwick to catch a cruise from the Scottish Seabird Centre.
The nearby beach is well worth exploring. Doubly so if you’ve got kids (or a dog).
Visiting tips
It’s not particularly well sign-posted. Best to use a sat-nav to find it.
The east of Scotland is chock-a-block full of impressive castles. One of my favourites is Craigmillar Castle which is located just a few miles outside of Edinburgh and is easy to visit from Tantallon.
If you’re in the area you might like to take a walk up nearby North Berwick Law which offers lovely views across the Firth of Forth.
Things to do near Tantallon Castle
Seacliff Beach. North Berwick EH39 5PP. 6-minute drive. A wide, golden sand beach that offers superb views of the North Sea and Tantallon Castle. A large area of raised rock bed create large rock pools when the tide retreats. The beach is part of the Seacliff Estate who provide a paid parking area.
The Scottish Seabird Centre. The Harbour, North Berwick EH39 4SS. 10-minute drive. An environmental visitor centre that aims to educate and entertain visitors with displays and exhibitions about Scotland’s coastal marine wildlife. The centre features a viewing platform that overlooks the Bass Rock and it is the departure point for pleasure cruises around the rock.
North Berwick Law. North Berwick EH39 5NX. 10-minute drive. A large volcanic plug that rises 187 metres above the coastal town of North Berwick. Berwick Law has well-trodden paths that allow relatively easy access to the whalebone sculpture at the top. The summit is famed for the stunning views across East Lothian and the Firth of Forth.
North Berwick. East Rd, North Berwick EH39 4LG. 9-minute drive. A very popular historic former fishing village that is now a tourist destination thanks to its golden beaches and proximity to the Scottish Seabird Centre and Bass Rock. The village high street includes a collection of gifts shops, restaurants and cafés.
Tyninghame Beach. Dunbar EH42 1XW. 14-minute drive. A very clean and less-visited sand beach that is separated from Seacliff beach by a lengthy section of shingle. There is a rough path that follows the coast south past Whitberry Point and St. Baldred’s Cradle local nature reserve. Tyninghame beach has a paid parking area.
Address and map
Tantallon Castle,
Near North Berwick,
East Lothian,
EH39 5PN
These types of shots are so much fun to take because the subjects do all the hard work for you! The front of Sleeping Beauty Castle is just so beautiful, there are a million great compositions throughout the area. The addition of foreground elements, like the statue here, also adds to the composition. Have a great day!
Wilson Castle
Proctor, VT
October 9, 2021
"The castle’s construction began in 1885, as instructed by Doctor & Lady Johnson. Doctor Johnson was a Vermonter who went to England to study medicine. While there he met & married a wealthy lady of the aristocracy. After 7 and a half years of planning and construction the castle was completed at the sum of $1,300,000. The Johnson’s remained in the castle for only a brief time.
From the 1880’s until 1939, the castle was bought & sold numerous times. In 1939, a radio engineer named Herbert Lee Wilson, came to Vermont. He was a pioneer in the AM radio field and built radio stations all over the world. He was looking for a new location to build another station and a summer home for his family. He purchased the estate and the history of Wilson’s Castle officially starts. In the early 1940’s, Col. Wilson was noted for his engineering and radio work in Vermont. He designed radio station WHWB, owned by the Wilson’s and Charles Bates through the Central Vermont Broadcasting Corporation. Other radio work included WSYB in Rutland, Vermont which had the first directional antenna in the state of Vermont. Col. Wilson also provided engineering on WCAX channel 3 television station in Burlington, Vermont.
When America joined WWII in 1941, Herbert Wilson joined the Army Signal Corps, from which he retired in the 1950’s as rank of Colonel. He retired to the castle, and in 1962, opened it for tours. He passed away in 1981 at the age of 82 and left the estate to his daughter, Blossom Wilson Davine Ladabouche. Blossom passed away in 2010 and currently her daughter Denise Davine is the owner/operator."
Skenfrith Castle is a ruined castle in the village of Skenfrith in Monmouthshire, Wales. The fortification was established by the Normans in the wake of the invasion of England in 1066, to protect the route from Wales to Hereford. Wikipedia
Castle Howard is a stately home in North Yorkshire, 15miles north of York. It is a private residence, the home of the Carlisle branch of the Howard family for more than 300 years.
"EBS" film swap with my favorite photographer Catfordst32.
"Exposing Both Sides of the Film (EBS)" is one of the unique technique in Lomography. See other photos and description on the set of EBS.
She shot on normal(correct) side, at a chapel of "Anniversaire Shirakabe" in Nagoya. I shot on redscale side, at Gujo-hachiman Castle in Gujo, Gifu.
LOMO LC-A+/Fuji Venus800/EBS