Conwy, Gwynedd, was built by a prosperous merchant in the 14th century; the oldest remaining domestic medieval structure in town; furnishings reflect changes in styles and use since the seventeenth… Read More »Aberconwy House (Conwy)
Stonehaven, Grampian, stands on a real dream of a castle site – a hard red rock full with a variety of large pebbles and rocks like raisins in a fruitcakephoto… Read More »Dunnottar Castle (Scottish castle)
Situated along the River Tees in County Durham, Barnard Castle was originally a modest structure created by Guy de Balliol in the 11th century. Some 100 years later, Guy’s small… Read More »Barnard Castle
Dorset, one of the finest 15th century manor houses called by Thomas Hardy as “Athelhall” . An unusually fine garden including 12 giant yew pyramids and a river. On a… Read More »Athelhampton Hall
Fife, Scotland, was built in 14th century; the chapel was also built that time. Still lived in by the family of the Laird. Balgonie Castle is a historic castle in… Read More »Balgonie Castle (Scotland) – photo gallery, map and plan; filming location
Fife, Scotland, a 14th century stronghold on a promontory in the Firth of Forth; film location for Hamlet.
Clackmannanshire, Scotland, is one of the largest tower houses in Scotland and dates from the 14th century. The Erskine family has owned it since around 1360 and the property is… Read More »Alloa Tower
Continuously occupied by the Berkeley family since the 12th century, Berkeley Castle consists of a Norman, sandstone Keep with three semi-cylindrical turrets, and an Inner Ward surrounded by low-lying, 14ft thick walls. At one time there was a moat and the traditional Outer Ward to provide a defence strategy to the Inner Ward. The huge, round Keep is over sixty feet high, and is one of the oldest parts of the surviving castle.
Robert Fitzharding was in occupation during the mid-12th century when he was given permission by Henry II to construct a castle made of stone, to replace the former timber construction. It was from the descendants of Robert Fitzharding, who liked to describe themselves as ‘of Berkeley’, that lead to the family name still used today.