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There have been a few changes to the gatehouse between the castle's construction in 1346 and its abandonment in 1651. The pair of round towers that originally defended the drawbridge and entrance were eventually seen as inadequate, so in the early 15th century a barbican, was built out in front. It was destroyed in a siege in 1528, but the remains of its walls can be seen extending into the ditch on either side of the stack of scaffold planks and extending up either side of the entrance.
A lot was learned from the siege gun bombardment of 1528 - particularly about the effects of applying irresistible force to immovable objects! It was found that the immovable sandstone was too hard and failed to absorb much of the irresistable force of the great stone cannon balls fired against it, with the result that it cracked. The solution arrived at was to dress the front of the gatehouse with green mudstone, which had a much greater ability to absorb energy without cracking!
Unfortunately the soft mudstone resists the processes or weathering even less well than the sandstone, which is why it is having to be replaced.
Greek Castle used by Romans and later re-purposed by the Byzantines to defend themselves against the Arabs
Spiš Castle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The ruins of Spiš Castle (Slovak: Spišský hrad, About this sound pronunciation (help·info); Hungarian: Szepesi vár; German: Zipser Burg) in eastern Slovakia form one of the largest castle sites in Central Europe. The castle is situated above the town of Spišské Podhradie and the village of Žehra, in the region known as Spiš (Hungarian: Szepes, German: Zips, Polish: Spisz, Latin: Scepusium). It was included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1993 (together with the adjacent locations of Spišská Kapitula, Spišské Podhradie and Žehra). This is one of the biggest European castles by area (41 426 m²).
Spiš Castle was built in the 12th century on the site of an earlier castle. It was the political, administrative, economic and cultural centre of Szepes County[1] of the Kingdom of Hungary. Before 1464, it was owned by the kings of Hungary, afterwards (until 1528) by the Zápolya family, the Thurzó family (1531–1635), the Csáky family (1638–1945), аnd (since 1945) by the state of Czechoslovakia then Slovakia.
Originally a Romanesque stone castle with fortifications, a two-story Romanesque palace and a three-nave Romanesque-Gothic basilica were constructed by the second half of the 13th century. A second extramural settlement was built in the 14th century, by which the castle area was doubled. The castle was completely rebuilt in the 15th century; the castle walls were heightened and a third extramural settlement was constructed. A late Gothic chapel was added around 1470. The Zápolya clan performed late Gothic transformations, which made the upper castle into a comfortable family residence, typical of late Renaissance residences of the 16th and 17th centuries. The last owners of the Spiš Castle, the Csáky family, abandoned the castle in the early 18th century because they considered it too uncomfortable to live in. They moved to the newly built nearby village castles/palaces in Hodkovce near Žehra and Spišský Hrhov.
n 1780, the castle burned down. It is not known how it burned down, but there are a few theories. One is that the Csáky family purposely burned it down to reduce taxes (no roofs back then meant no taxes). Another is that it was struck by lightning, which started the fire. A third is that some soldiers there were making moonshine and managed to burn the castle. Whatever the case, after the fire, the castle was no longer occupied and began to fall into disrepair.[2] The castle was partly reconstructed in the second half of the 20th century, and extensive archaeological research was carried out on the site. The reconstructed sections house displays of the Spiš Museum and things inside it, such as torture devices used in the castle.
At Pevensey Castle
Pevensey Castle: a Saxon Shore fort, Norman defences, a medieval enclosure castle, and later associated remains
The monument includes Anderita Saxon Shore fort, traces of later, Norman defences, an enclosure castle, a 16th century gun emplacement and World War II defences situated on a low spur of sand and clay which now lies around 2km north west of the present East Sussex coastline at Pevensey. During the Roman and medieval periods the spur formed a peninsula projecting into a tidal lagoon and marshland, but coastal deposition and land reclamation have gradually built up the ground around it so that it is now completely land-locked. The roughly oval, north east-south west aligned Roman fort is the earliest of the structures which make up the monument and has been dated to the first half of the fourth century AD. Covering almost 4ha, the fort survives in the form of substantial ruins and buried remains. It is enclosed by a massive defensive wall with a flint and sandstone rubble core faced by coursed greensand and ironstone blocks, interspersed with red tile bonding courses. The whole is up to 3.7m thick and survives to a height of up to 8.1m. The wall was originally topped by a wall walk and parapet. Part excavation in 1906-8 showed that the wall was constructed on footings of rammed chalk and flints underpinned by oak piles and held together by a framework of wooden beams. Investigation of the internal face indicated that this was stepped upwards from a wide base so as to provide extra strength and support. Despite these precautions, a landslip on the south eastern side of the fort has resulted in the destruction of a c.180m length of the perimeter walls and, although fragments of the fallen masonry do survive, most have been removed over the years. Smaller sections of wall have also collapsed along the north western and eastern stretches. The defensive strength provided by the perimeter wall was enhanced by irregularly-spaced, externally projecting semicircular bastions with diameters of around 5m. There were originally at least 15 of these, of which 10 survive today. The fort was entered from its south western, landward approach by way of the main gateway. In front of this a protective ditch 5.5m wide was dug, and, although this became infilled over the years, a 40m stretch located towards its south eastern end has been recut and exposed. The ditch would have been spanned originally by a wooden bridge, although this no longer survives. The main gateway takes the form of a rectangular gatehouse set back between two solid semicircular bastions 8m apart. The 2.7m wide, originally arched entrance is flanked by two oblong guardrooms and the whole gateway structure projects beyond the inner face of the perimeter wall into the fort and is thought to have been originally two or even three storeys high. On the eastern side of the fort is a more simply designed subsidiary gateway, originally a 3m wide archway entrance, giving access to part of the adjacent Roman harbour, now overlain by Pevensey village. The extant archway is a modern reconstruction of the Norman rebuilding of the original entrance. Traces of a wooden causeway which led from it into the fort have been found during partial excavation. Midway along the north western stretch of perimeter wall is a now ruined postern c.2m wide, approached by a curved passage set within the wall. Part excavation between 1906-1908 indicated that the internal buildings which housed the garrison of up to 1,000 men, along with their livestock and supplies, were constructed of timber infilled with wattle and daub. A c.1m sq timber-lined Roman well was found in the south western sector of the fort, at the bottom of which were the remains of the wooden bucket with rope still attached. The well was found to have been filled with rubbish in Roman times and the presence of the bones of cattle, sheep, red deer, wild boar, wild birds, domestic dogs and cats, along with sea shells, gives some indication of the diet and lifestyle of the fort's original inhabitants. Anderita is thought to have been abandoned by its garrison by the latter half of the 4th century AD, and although little is known of its subsequent history until the 11th century, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records a massacre of Britons by the invading Saxons at the fort in AD 491. The Bayeux Tapestry states that William the Conquerer landed at Pevensey in 1066, and the Norman army are believed to have made use of the Roman fort as one of their first armed camps. The defences at Pevensey and the surrounding land were granted to King William's half-brother Robert, Count of Mortain. The medieval defences then went through at least 300 years of development, culminating in the construction of a stone built enclosure castle within the largely intact walls of the earlier Roman fort. It is thought that the first Norman defences took the form of a wooden palisade surrounded by a bank and ditch, and a c.40m length of partially infilled ditch up to 9m wide which survives across the north eastern sector of the earlier fort may indicate their original extent. Limited excavations in 1993-94 showed that the ground surface in the south eastern sector of the fort, in the vicinity of the later stone-built keep, was artificially raised some time before 1200, suggesting that a motte may also have been constructed. The original Roman gateways were rebuilt and a new ditch dug in front of the south western gate. Most of the Norman defences and interior wooden buildings will now survive in buried form beneath the later medieval castle, although herringbone-pattern repairs to the Roman masonry, by then serving as the outer bailey of the medieval defences, also date from this time. Around 1100 the defences were strengthened and the accommodation improved by the addition of a masonry keep in the south eastern sector of the earlier fort. The subject of a complex history of alteration, collapse and repair, the keep utilises part of the earlier, Roman perimeter wall and bastions. It takes the form of a rectangular block measuring c.16.8m by c.9m internally, reinforced by apsidal projections on all sides. Now surviving in ruined form up to first floor level, the keep originally took the form of a tall tower with an entrance on the first floor. A rectangular building measuring 7.6m by 6m was later constructed in the south eastern angle between the keep and the Roman wall. At around 1200 work began on the construction of a smaller, stone-built inner bailey in the south eastern sector of the earlier fort. An L-shaped ditch around 20m wide was dug to define the new enclosure, and this retains water in its northern arm. The material excavated from the ditch and from the destruction of the earlier bank was spread over much of the outer bailey to a depth of up to 1.5m. The ditch was recut during extensive renovations carried out during the early 20th century. The first structure to be built in this phase was the gatehouse to the south west which has an arched entrance between twin, semicircular external towers, now ruined. The basement chambers beneath each tower have ashlar-faced walls and barrel-vaulted ceilings, the southern chamber being entered by way of a newel staircase, the northern by a trapdoor. Both were used to house prisoners. Many subsequent alterations included the replacement, during the 15th century, of the wooden bridge over the outer ditch by a stone causeway. The originally embattled curtain wall enclosing the inner bailey was built within the ditch and inner berm around 1250. This survives almost to its full original height and is faced with coursed Greensand ashlar. Three semicircular external towers provided flanking cover from the narrow embrasures which pierce their walls. Each has a narrow staircase to a basement, a branch staircase off it into the ditch and a room and garderobe, or latrine, at ground floor level. Upper rooms were entered by way of the wall walk and were heated by fireplaces. The basement of the northernmost tower has two rib-vaulted bays, the keeled ribs resting on stiff-leaf corbels. The interior castle buildings continued to be built mainly of wood and these will survive in buried form, although the stone foundations of a chapel were exposed during partial excavation of the northern sector of the inner bailey. Around 20m south east of the chapel is a large stone-lined well at least 15.5m deep, and near this is a pile of medieval stone missile-balls, a selection of those recovered from the ditch. These were thrown from trebuchets during the four sieges of the castle. William, Count of Mortain forfeited Pevensey after an unsuccessful rebellion against Henry I in 1101 and the castle, which remained in the royal gift until the later Middle Ages, passed into the hands of the de Aquila family. The most famous siege took place in 1264-65 when the supporters of Henry III, fleeing from their defeat by the Barons at Lewes, took refuge in the castle. In 1372 the castle was given to John of Gaunt, and during his period of office was used to imprison James I, King of Scotland, who had been seized in 1406, and Joan, Queen of Navarre, accused of witchcraft by her stepson, Henry V. By 1300, the sea had gradually begun to recede from around the castle and its military importance declined as a result. Contemporary records show that the castle walls were constantly in need of expensive repair and by the end of the 14th century were not being properly maintained, although the roof leads were kept intact until the middle of the 15th century. By 1500 the castle had ceased to be inhabited and fell rapidly into decay. The threat of the Spanish Armada led to some renewed interest in the defensive value of the site, and a survey of 1587 records that the castle housed two demi-culverins, or heavy guns. These were sited on the contemporary, south east orientated, M-shaped earthen gun emplacement situated in the outer bailey around 90m north east of the main Roman gateway. This takes the form of a raised level platform c.20m long bounded on the seaward side by a slight bank c.0.4m high and around 3m wide. One of the cast iron guns, manufactured in the East Sussex Weald, is now housed within the inner bailey on a modern replica carriage. From the 17th century the castle passed through the hands of various private owners. Valued as a picturesque ruin during the 18th and 19th centuries, it features in many contemporary engravings and illustrations. In 1925 the Duke of Devonshire presented the monument to the state, and extensive repairs began with a view to opening the monument to the public. These were interrupted by the outbreak of World War II, when the castle resumed its original military purpose of protecting the south coast. The castle was refortified in May 1940 as an observation and command post. It was continuously occupied by regular troops, including Canadian forces and the United States Army Air Corps, who used it as a radio direction centre, and by the Home Guard until 1944. The World War II defences include two pillboxes and three machine gun posts of concrete faced with rubble and flints, carefully concealed and camouflaged within the earlier Roman and medieval fabric. An internal tower was built just to the south of the Roman east gateway and a blockhouse housing anti-tank weapons was built in front of the main Roman gateway. The blockhouse no longer survives. Modifications carried out to the medieval mural towers included lining the interiors with brick and inserting wooden floors. In 1945 the monument was returned to peaceful use and is now in the guardianship of the Secretary of State and open to the public.
[Historic England]
Sohail Castle, built by the Muslims about the 12th century and captured by the Christian Army in 1485, guards the mouth of the Fuengirola River, in southern Spain. This is the south-west wall which faces towards the sea.
7th February, 2008.
Sohail Castle, construyó por los musulmanes aproximadamente el 12 siglo y capturó por el Ejército cristiano en 1485, guardias la boca del Río de Fuengirola, en España del sur. Ésta es la pared sur-oriental que enfrenta hacia el mar.
7 febrero, 2008.
Historic 1890 Castle Hill Lighthouse at Castle Hill Point on the East Passage of Narragansett Bay in Newport County, Rhode Island. The lighthouse is a 34 ft round granite tower with lantern room and gallery. The light has a 40 ft focal plane and a range of 12 miles.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 (NRHP No. 88000277)
ARLHS No. USA-144; USCG Light List No. 1-17795 (as the Castle Hill Light)
Český Krumlov Castle at night.
One of the most picturesque towns we visited was Cesky Krumlov. The city is built around two horseshoe bends in the Vltava River. Another UNESCO World Heritage site which has been re-built. Dates from around 1302, with many Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings. We spent two days exploring the town on foot – the only way to go!
5037 Monmouth Castle was transferred to Bristol St Philip's Marsh in November 1963 after a period of storage at Llanelly. It was in very poor external condition, evidenced by this shot of it, having arrived at Bristol Temple Meads Platform 2 with the 17.30 from Weymouth in early 1964. The nameplate appears to have been cleaned. It was withdrawn from 82B in March 1964.
One miserable, uninspiring shot of Castle Stalker in Loch Laich. You may be interested in its history, which seems to mostly involve the Campbells, Stewarts and McDougalls.
The girls in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. Will have to remember to get this shot next time earlier in the day so there's not so much backlighting.
Nuremberg Castle is one of the most important imperial palaces dating from the Middle Ages: from 1050 to 1571 all the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire stayed in it at various times during their reign.
Friedrich Barbarossa and his successors developed the existing Salian Royal Castle originating from the mid-11th century into an impressive imperial seat, as reflected in particular by the double chapel, which has been preserved in its entirety.
The imperial residential and state rooms in the Palas, mostly with their original panelling, are furnished with paintings, tapestries and furniture from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Although the Imperial Castle's Deep Well was first documented in the 14th century, it is probably as old as the Imperial Castle itself. The well shaft, driven into the rock, has a depth of 47 metres. In times of siege, the well was the most important source of water for the castle.
The Sinwell Tower (from Middle High German sinwell = round, around) was originally the keep. During Imperial Diets the hours were sounded loudly and clearly from the tin horn fitted to its roof.
Taken from:
www.schloesser.bayern.de/englisch/palace/objects/nbg_burg...
Im not sure if 1A25 stopped at Castle Cary but there doesn't seem to be to many passengers so I'm guessing Dad got his shutter speed for this passing express about right. Check out the wonderful old station lamps on the down main platform. The footbridge at Castle Cary remains unlike the vile eyesore that has been erected at Bruton.
Skipness Castle's main entrance has experienced many vicissitudes, but the main features can still be distinguished. As shown in the MacGibbon & Ross drawing, the soft sandstone blocks of the original front arch have been replaced, having presumably collapsed. Various parts of two inner arches can be seen here, which have also collapsed. The nearer one formed the near-side of the portcullis slot. The furthest collapsed arch was the doorway, that once held double hinged doors, secured by a massive draw-bar, the hole for which can be seen to the right.
All these arches supported a Portcullis Room above, now in very poor condition. Within this room would have been the winding mechanism for raising and lower the portcullis. There would also have been an access doorway, out onto the timber hoarding. This opening was probably built up at the same time that the front arch was restored, because as can be seen at the top of this photograph, the stonework changes here from medium sized roughly dressed stones, to a lot of small pinning stones.
Tennessee Renaissance Festival 2010
Every weekend in May
Enjoy the colorful pageantry of costumed villagers, artisan and musicians, laugh with merry entertainers, and cheer for your favorite knight in a full armoured joust. Castle Gwynn, a full size replica of a twelfth century border castle, welcomes festival-goers to tour the 1st floor and castle grounds. Also known for the being the setting for Taylor Swift's video, Love Story.
The Castle is the private residence of Mr. Mike Freeman, who began work on his dream dwelling in 1980, Castle Gwynn in Arrington-Triune, Tennessee magically transforms for a few days each spring into the regal realm of Covington Glen for the Tennessee Renaissance Festival.
Ardnemurchan peninsula. The ruined Castle Tioram (pronounced Cheerum) is sited on the rocky tidal island Eilean Tioram (the Dry Island) where the waters of Loch Moidart and the river Shiel meet
Portchester Castle is a medieval castle built within a former Roman fort at Portchester to the east of Fareham in the English county of Hampshire. It is located at the northern end of Portsmouth Harbour. Probably founded in the late 11th century, Portchester was a baronial castle taken under royal control in 1154. The monarchy controlled the castle for several centuries and it was a favoured hunting lodge of King John. It was besieged and captured by the French in 1216 before permanently returning to English control shortly thereafter.Occupying a commanding position at the head of Portsmouth Harbour, in the medieval period Portchester was an important port. The castle saw the disembarkation for several campaigns to France led by England's kings. In anticipation of a French invasion during the first quarter of the 14th century, Edward II spent £1,100 repairing and reinforcing Portchester Castle. A plot to overthrow Henry V was discovered and the culprits apprehended at Portchester; this event features in Shakespeare's play, Henry V. Later in its history, the castle was used as a prison.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Matsumoto Castle (松本城 Matsumoto-jō?), also known as the "Crow Castle" (烏城 Karasu-jo?) because of its black exterior, is one of Japan's premier historic castles.[1] It is located in the city of Matsumoto, in Nagano Prefecture and is within easy reach of Tokyo by road or rail.
The keep (tenshukaku), which was completed in the late 16th century, maintains its original wooden interiors and external stonework. It is listed as a National Treasure of Japan.[1]
Matsumoto Castle is a flatland castle (hirajiro) because it is not built on a hilltop or amid rivers, but on a plain.[1] Its complete defences would have included an extensive system of inter-connecting walls, moats and gatehouses.[
While visiting my brother over Christmas, he told me about a car garage that has shut down over 10 years ago. Since then it has simply been left. Exactly at it was. Old cars, lots of dust. A light has been left on for this time in the office. What happened here? The locals seemed to know nothing. An interesting shoot. You do not see many of these car models around these days!!
The collection is split using a "modern" view from the outside. Shots take inside the showing - time has stopped.. :-)
This is my newest and largest Lego castle.
There's not much more to say except...
BrickShelf (Yes there are more pics)
Oh, and Respect the Crown
The medieval Turku castle is a national monument and one the most remarkable medieval castles in Finland. It's also one of the largest existing castles in Scandinavia.