lso known as Trefenty Castle. Remains of a motte and bailey castle.Locations
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Locations of lesser places
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Aber Cafwy Castle
lso known as Trefenty Castle. Remains of a motte and bailey castle.| County | Conwy, Wales (6 castles) | Categories | Motte & Bailey |
| Remains | Just the motte remains | Access | Unknown - Please check before visiting |
| Location | 51.79505,-4.470926 (Google Maps) | Directions | Directions via Google Maps |
| County |
| Categories |
| Remains |
Just the motte remains |
| Access |
Unknown - Please check before visiting |
| Location |
| 51.79505,-4.470926 |
| Directions |
| Directions via Google Maps |
Aber Castle
Just the artificial mound remains of was once possibly a motte and bailey castle. Aber Castle was also known as Mwd Castle and is thought to have been built or improved upon by Llywelyn the Great, the powerful Welsh leader who died in 1240.
| County | Gwynedd, Wales (7 castles) | Categories | Motte & Bailey |
| Remains | Just the motte remains | Access | At any reasonable time |
| Location | 53.233967,-4.014414 (Google Maps) | Directions | Directions via Google Maps |
| County |
| Categories |
| Remains |
Just the motte remains |
| Access |
At any reasonable time |
| Location |
| 53.233967,-4.014414 |
| Directions |
| Directions via Google Maps |
Location Map (click to explore)
Aberdour Castle
berdour Castle, one of the earliest castles to be built in Scotland, can be found in the village of the same name and is located on the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. The remains show evidence of several periods of construction starting with a large off-square keep which has two chambers on the ground floor with a thick centre wall. This was most likely constructed in the fourteenth century. The next period of construction was orchestrated by the Regent Morton towards the end of the sixteeen century, who built new accomodation to the south east of the original keep and connected to it. Several more periods of construction followed adding more accommodation each connected to its predecessor. The castle is open to the public and sections of interest include the dovecote and terraced gardens.| County | Fife, Scotland (1 castle) | Categories | Stone / Baronial castle |
| Remains | Not complete but much survives | Access | Only open at certain times |
| Location | 56.055,-3.2984 (Google Maps) | Directions | Directions via Google Maps |
| County |
| Categories |
Stone / Baronial castle |
| Remains |
Not complete but much survives |
| Access |
Only open at certain times |
| Location |
| 56.055,-3.2984 |
| Directions |
| Directions via Google Maps |
Abinger Castle
inor remains of a motte and bailey castle.| County | Surrey, England (4 castles) | Categories | Motte & Bailey |
| Remains | Just the motte remains | Access | Unknown - Please check before visiting |
| Location | 51.20236,-0.406856 (Google Maps) | Directions | Directions via Google Maps |
| County |
| Categories |
| Remains |
Just the motte remains |
| Access |
Unknown - Please check before visiting |
| Location |
| 51.20236,-0.406856 |
| Directions |
| Directions via Google Maps |
Acre Castle
emains of a motte and bailey castle. The bailey gate survives and the castle eathworks. Free to access and under the care of English Heritage.| County | Norfolk, England (6 castles) | Categories | Pre Medieval / Motte & Bailey / Stone |
| Remains | Earthworks only | Access | At any reasonable time |
| Comments | While here visit Castle Acre Priory just down the road. | ||
| Location | 52.70387,0.692299 (Google Maps) ///licks.suitably.inhaler | Directions | Directions via Google Maps |
| County |
| Categories |
Pre Medieval / Motte & Bailey / Stone |
| Remains |
Earthworks only |
| Access |
At any reasonable time |
| Comments |
While here visit Castle Acre Priory just down the road. |
| Location |
| 52.70387,0.692299 ///licks.suitably.inhaler |
| Directions |
| Directions via Google Maps |
Acton Burnell Castle
Acton Burnell Castle is located in the village of Acton Burnell a few miles from Shrewsbury. Built by Edward Burnell in around 1284 who was the Lord Chancellor of King Edward I. The ruins can be seen next to the village church. The ownership of the castle went to King Henry VII in 1486 after the battle of Stoke and later the castle was given to the Earl of Surrey by King Henry VIII.
| County | Shropshire, England (13 castles) | Categories | Fortified Manor House |
| Remains | Small amount survives | Access | At any reasonable time |
| Comments | Maintained by English Heritage and is free to access. | ||
| Location | 52.61286,-2.689676 (Google Maps) ///swarm.happening.rejected | Directions | Directions via Google Maps |
| County |
| Categories |
Fortified Manor House |
| Remains |
Small amount survives |
| Access |
At any reasonable time |
| Comments |
Maintained by English Heritage and is free to access. |
| Location |
| 52.61286,-2.689676 ///swarm.happening.rejected |
| Directions |
| Directions via Google Maps |
Location Map (click to explore)
Timeline
1283
In the autumn of 1283, Edward I had held a Parliament at Acton Burnell, presumably in the adjacent great barn, the only building large enough. It is significant in that it was the first time in English history that the law-making process included the Commons. The law passed became known as the Statute of Acton Burnell, a law giving protection to creditors, indicating the increasing significance of traders during those times. [2]
Aldford Castle
emains of a motte and bailey castle alongside the river in Aldford just south of Chester.| County | Cheshire, England (4 castles) | Categories | Motte & Bailey |
| Remains | Just the motte remains | Access | Unknown - Please check before visiting |
| Location | 53.13038,-2.869794 (Google Maps) | Directions | Directions via Google Maps |
| County |
| Categories |
| Remains |
Just the motte remains |
| Access |
Unknown - Please check before visiting |
| Location |
| 53.13038,-2.869794 |
| Directions |
| Directions via Google Maps |
Allesley castle
ocation of a motte and bailey castle just to the north of Coventry city centre. Nothing now remains.| County | West Midlands, England (2 castles) | Categories | Motte & Bailey |
| Remains | Very little if any at all | Access | Unknown - Please check before visiting |
| Location | 52.419128,-1.561339 (Google Maps) | Directions | Directions via Google Maps |
| County |
| Categories |
| Remains |
Very little if any at all |
| Access |
Unknown - Please check before visiting |
| Location |
| 52.419128,-1.561339 |
| Directions |
| Directions via Google Maps |
Almondbury Castle
he hill on which the remains of the castle stand is a natural outcrop of rock. The site was used prior to the medieval period as well as by the Normans.| County | West Yorkshire, England (2 castles) | Categories | Pre Medieval |
| Remains | Earthworks only | Access | At any reasonable time |
| Location | 53.62232,-1.77167 (Google Maps) | Directions | Directions via Google Maps |
| County |
| Categories |
Pre Medieval |
| Remains |
Earthworks only |
| Access |
At any reasonable time |
| Location |
| 53.62232,-1.77167 |
| Directions |
| Directions via Google Maps |
Alvecote Priory
he remains of a small priory populated by Benedictine monks. Located a few miles to the east of Tamworth Castle. The priory was founded by Sir Thomas Burdett, who after returning from the Crusades, killed his wife when he heard false rumours about her spread by an evil steward. After the death of his wife and learning the truth about the false accusations Sir Thomas vowed to found the religious community.| County | Warwickshire, England (8 castles) | Categories | TBC |
| Remains | TBC | Access | TBC - Please check before visiting |
| Location | 52.6355,-1.63056 (Google Maps) | Directions | Directions via Google Maps |
| County |
| Categories |
TBC |
| Remains |
TBC |
| Access |
TBC - Please check before visiting |
| Location |
| 52.6355,-1.63056 |
| Directions |
| Directions via Google Maps |
Amberley Castle
privately owned castle now a restaurant and hotel. Like Arundel Castle a few miles to the south, Amberley Castle was built near the River Arun. The curtain wall at Amberley was built by its owner at the time Bishop Rede in around 1378. This was at a time when the threat of invasion from France was very real and the river was a potential invasion route that the French could use. The curtain wall is roughly rectangular and has a strong gatehouse with two towers each side of the entrance. Marshland and a moat protected the castle from attack.| County | West Sussex, England (5 castles) | Categories | Fortified Manor House |
| Remains | Not complete but much survives | Access | Only open at certain times |
| Comments | This is now a hotel so you would probably have to be a guest to explore the remains. It looks expensive. | ||
| Location | 50.90915,-0.540636 (Google Maps) | Directions | Directions via Google Maps |
| County |
| Categories |
Fortified Manor House |
| Remains |
Not complete but much survives |
| Access |
Only open at certain times |
| Comments |
This is now a hotel so you would probably have to be a guest to explore the remains. It looks expensive. |
| Location |
| 50.90915,-0.540636 |
| Directions |
| Directions via Google Maps |
Location Map (click to explore)
Angle Castle
emains of a peel tower. The castle is on private land.| County | Pembrokeshire, Wales (12 castles) | Categories | Stone |
| Remains | Small amount survives | Access | No Access - Private |
| Location | 51.685166,-5.088396 (Google Maps) | Directions | N/A |
| County |
| Categories |
Stone |
| Remains |
Small amount survives |
| Access |
No Access - Private |
| Location |
| 51.685166,-5.088396 |
| Directions |
| N/A |
Appleby Castle
ounded by Ranulf de Meschines The main keep, known as Caesar's Tower, was built at the end of the twelfth century when the castle was a royal possession. The castle was granted by King John to Robert de Vieuxpont in 1203. The Cliffords were later granted ownership of the castle and many improvements were made including the gatehouse, hall and chapel. The castle was later restored in the seventeenth century by Lady Anne Clifford. The castle is not open to the public.| County | Cumbria, England (6 castles) | Categories | Stone |
| Remains | Not complete but much survives | Access | No Access - Private |
| Comments | This is a privately owned castle and sadly there is no access for the general public. | ||
| Location | 54.5742,-2.4888 (Google Maps) ///identify.flaunting.bookmark | Directions | N/A |
| County |
| Categories |
Stone |
| Remains |
Not complete but much survives |
| Access |
No Access - Private |
| Comments |
This is a privately owned castle and sadly there is no access for the general public. |
| Location |
| 54.5742,-2.4888 ///identify.flaunting.bookmark |
| Directions |
| N/A |
Chateau d'Angers
his castle located on the east bank of the River Maine was the base for the counts of Anjou from the 9th century. The present castle was built during the thirteenth century and has an outer wall consisting of 17 semicircular walls forming a enclosed area in the shape of an irregular pentagon. It now holds a large collection of Medieval tapestries including the Apocalypse Tapestry that was created at the end of the 14th century.| County | TBC | Categories | TBC |
| Remains | TBC | Access | TBC - Please check before visiting |
| Location | 47.47,-0.56 (Google Maps) | Directions | Directions via Google Maps |
| County |
TBC |
| Categories |
TBC |
| Remains |
TBC |
| Access |
TBC - Please check before visiting |
| Location |
| 47.47,-0.56 |
| Directions |
| Directions via Google Maps |
Chateau d'Arques-la-Bataille
ocated about seven miles to the south of Dieppe on a rocky outcrop this ruined castle dates from the 12th century. The large keep is the work of King Henry I of England.| County | TBC | Categories | TBC |
| Remains | TBC | Access | TBC - Please check before visiting |
| Location | 49.8768,1.1271 (Google Maps) | Directions | Directions via Google Maps |
| County |
TBC |
| Categories |
TBC |
| Remains |
TBC |
| Access |
TBC - Please check before visiting |
| Location |
| 49.8768,1.1271 |
| Directions |
| Directions via Google Maps |
Timeline
1038
This imposing castle, located seven miles to the south of Dieppe on the French coast, was built by William of Arques.
1052
William the Conqueror besiged Arques-la-Bataille castle in Normandy. Its owner William count of Arques had rebelled and the siege the lasted for several months until it surrendered after agreeable terms were arranged.
1145
Arques-la-Bataille Castle was the final one to fall to Geoffrey of Anjou during his conquest of Normandy.
Selection of references used:
- 1: John Kinross, Discovering Castles in England and Wales, Shire Publications Ltd
- 2: Statute of Acton Burnell (Farlax), Acton Burnell Castle (Virtual Shropshire), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acton_Burnell_Castle
A Medieval Mystery
There appear to be some strange connections between the fourteenth century Old Wardour Castle and ancient stone circle Stonehenge.
1: Location
Old Wardour Castle appears to be aligned to ancient sites in the Stonehenge landscape.
2: Alignment
Stonehenge is aligned to the Summer Solstice. Old Wardour has a very similar alignment.
3: Size
Could the builders of Old Wardour used mesaurements from Stonehenge to layout the geometrical keep?
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