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Perevil Castle

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Throughout its history, from the 11th to the 16th century, Peveril Castle served as a base for the government of the local area, the ‘Forest of the Peak’. The town of Castleton, at the foot of castle hill, was founded 100 years after the castle. Peveril Castle was established on this site soon after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The castle stood on a high hill overlooking the Hope Valley and a deep cave, the ‘Peak Cavern’. The site was probably unoccupied at the time, though prehistoric earthworks in this area and a flint blade found within the castle show that the site had been used for centuries before.  William Peveril, after whom the castle was later named, was Keeper of the Royal Forest.  Peveril Castle’s history shows that it was concerned less with defence and warfare than with the protection and government of the Royal Forest of the Peak.  The Peak Forest contained valuable natural resources including timber, land for pasture, and lead and silver mines which had been exploited s
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Pembroke Castle

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In 1093, Arnulf of Montgomery built the first castle at the site when he fortified the promontory beside the Pembroke River during the Norman invasion of Wales. Callum visited the display depicting the birth of Henry VII of England in the castle. He would have liked a turn to hold the baby. The de Valence family held Pembroke for 70 years. During this time, the town was fortified with defensive walls, three main gates and a postern.[4] Pembroke Castle became de Valence's military base for fighting the Welsh princes during the conquest of North Wales by Edward I between 1277 and 1295.  It is said to be the birth place of the Tudor dynasty. What is a Tudor Callum wonders? Here's more information about the Tudors . Callum thinks this is the perfect size court yard for playing soccer. The walled town of Pembroke which grew up around the castle also contains many ancient and interesting Norman buildings. Callum wishes he could reach that flag. He wonders what the first flag might ha
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Condor Castle

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Codnor Castle is a ruined 13th-century castle in Derbyshire, England. The land around Codnor came under the jurisdiction of William Peverel after the Norman conquest. The castle is a stone keep and bailey fortress and was established by William Peverel. The present fragmentary remains represent a three-storey keep and a strong curtain wall and ditch, flanked by round towers. The outer bailey is on a lower level and was constructed at a later period.  It originally had a deep moat and on its eastern side there was once a considerable abundance of trees, which have now been cut down. On the west side there was a courtyard that was strongly fortified by huge round towers, which had battlements. In other parts of the ruins there is evidence that the outer walls had arrow-loops included to allow bowmen to use them if necessary. By 1211 it was owned by Henry de Grey, a descendant of the Norman knight Anchetil de Greye. Henry's descendants include the long line of Lords Grey of Codnor, th
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Alnwick Castle

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Do you recognize this Castle? Dubbed the Windsor of the North, Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in the country and has been home to the Duke of Northumberland’s family, the Percys, for over 700 years. The Castle’s rich history is brimming with drama, intrigue and extraordinary people; from a gunpowder plotter and visionary collectors, to decadent hosts and medieval England’s most celebrated knight: Harry Hotspur. In recent years it has also taken starring roles in a number of film and television productions, featuring as the magnificent Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey and previously appearing as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the Harry Potter films. That's right! It's Hogwarts!! Callum hasn't read Harry Potter all the way through but he thinks it would be amazing to train to be a wizard.  Alnwick castle had been founded in the late 11th century by Ivo de Vesci, a Norman nobleman from Vassy, Calvados in Normandy.  This is a remarkably c
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Pevensey Castle

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Callum and Patrick were super excited to visit Pevensey.  It is a really really old Castle. Beginning in the 4th century as one of the last and strongest of the Roman 'Saxon Shore' forts, two-thirds of whose towered walls still stand. It is also famously the landing place of William the Conqueror's army in 1066.  These stairs are incredibly steep.. could you imagine when it rains or snows! It seems spring has come to this castle pond too. There are so so many tadpoles around the edges of the water. Patrick wishes they had a pond at home to have tadpole pets. What a view from the window! Callum and Patrick wonder if knights might have practiced jousting in the courtyard.  Around the castle there are many canons. Patrick thinks it would be fun. Callum fears they might be terribly loud!  
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Rochester Castle

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Today, Callum decided to visit Rochester. It looked quite gloomy in the misty air. Rochester is a Norman tower-keep of Kentish ragstone was built about 1127 by William of Corbeil, Archbishop of Canterbury, with the encouragement of Henry I. Consisting of three floors above a basement, it still stands 113 feet high.  (It really is very tall. Callum is standing very close to the camera.) Inside the keep there is a stairway that goes up and up and up. According to the plaque, in 1215, garrisoned by rebel barons, the castle endured an epic siege by King John. Having first undermined the outer wall, John used the fat of 40 pigs to fire a mine under the keep, bringing its southern corner crashing down. Even then the defenders held on, until they were eventually starved out after resisting for two months. Callum wonders if maybe they just really didn't want to climb all these stairs! It goes up so high, that Callum is getting a little nervous about looking down. Still Callum goes up and u
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Pitsligio Castle

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Callum took the Northlink ferry over to Aberdeenshire to visit Pitsligio Castle. ''I wonder where this passage might lead.'' Isn't it neat how doorways and passages keep for centuries longer than walls. Callum thinks there is probably some great lesson there, but he isn't sure.   A Callum sized window! Ooooh a shield!  Do you have a family shield? Callum wants to colour his own shield when he gets home. And a coat of arms! As Callum looked around the ruins of Pitsligio, he spotted a Stegasaurus! ''Hello!'' Callum asked the Stegasaurus if he would play a game.  I spy with my little eye something that is grey! ''Let's see what we can find under all these rocks,'' Sid the Stegasaurus asks Callum. ''Wow, these rocks are really heavy!'' Callum is amazed Sid's strength. Callum think this has been a great castle. It is hard to choose a favourite castle. Callum thinks any castle where you meet a new friend is the b
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