Bodiam Castle

Bodiam was commissioned in 1384 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, a Knight for the Shire of Sussex, on his return from war in France. Dalyngrigge was a veteran of the 100 Years War and wanted the castle was to be a heraldic symbol of his military success.

Richard II agreed to its building as he wished to protect this southern area of England from the French.

Source: www.visit1066country.com

Alnwick Castle

Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in England, the first being Windsor Castle, and has been the home of the Percys, Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since 1309. The earliest mention of Alnwick Castle in the history books appears soon after 1096 when Yves de Vescy became baron of Alnwick and erected the earliest parts of the Castle.

The Castle was first restored by the 1st Lord Percy of Alnwick in the early 1300's and portions of this restoration remain today, including the Abbot's Tower, the Middle Gateway and the Constable's Tower.

Source:www.alnwickcastle.com/history

Arundel Castle

Arundel has grown from its modest origins as a motte and bailey castle built by Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Arundel, around 1068. A shell keep was added to the top of the motte in about 1140, and curtain walls, a chapel and a garden, possibly the first Royal garden in England, were added by King Henry II.

Arundel Castle has belonged to the Earl's of Arundel and the Dukes of Norfolk for many centuries. Passing from the d'Albinis to the Fitzalans in the 13th century and to the Howards in the 16th century, it has been home to many prominent figures in English History.

During the Civil War (1642-51) the castle was badly damaged after being besieged twice, first by Royalist forces who took control and later by Parliamentary forces. Restoration began in the 18th century, and many of the original Norman features were repaired. But the most extensive period of building work occurred at the end of the 19th century when Henry, the 15th Duke of Norfolk, rebuilt most of the castle in a grand gothic style.

Source:www.castlexplorer.co.uk

Bamburg Castle

Standing high on a basalt outcrop, overlooking the North Sea, Bamburgh Castle is one of the most impressive looking castles in England. It is visible for many miles, and from its battlements offers views of Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island, the Farne Islands and the Cheviot Hills.

The site of the castle has a history of occupation dating back to the 1st century BC. One of the oldest buildings remaining is a large Norman Keep, probably built by Henry II. In 1464, during the Wars of the Roses, Bamburgh became the first castle to succumb to cannon fire, suffering heavy damage. The ruins of the castle were restored and extended in the 18th and 19th centuries leaving little of the earlier fortifications.

Source:http://www.castlexplorer.co.uk

Castle Rising

Construction at Castle Rising began around 1140. It was built for William D’Albini II, who had recently acquired great wealth and power through his marriage to Alice of Louvain, the widow of King Henry I.

The castle features some ornate decoration and was built at great expense using imported stone. The large hall keep had most of its principle rooms, including the great hall, on the first floor. The ground floor was primarily used for storage. A forebuilding containing an impressive staircase leading to a first floor entrance vestibule provided access to the great hall. A large arch with Romanesque decoration served as a grand entrance to the hall. This arch was blocked up and a fireplace installed during the 16th century, and the entrance to the hall is now through a side door and passage.

The keep sits in the middle of an oval bailey surrounded by a large earthwork. The earthworks are so high that very little of the castle can be seen from outside them, but when they where first built they would have been much lower and the castle would have been visible for some distance. The earthworks were heightened at a later date, possibly in the 1170’s. There are some remains of a wall that once stood on top of the earthwork bank. There is a smaller outer bailey, also surrounded by earthworks, and access from this to the inner bailey is via a bridge over the dividing moat and through a small gatehouse.

Source:www.castlexplorer.co.uk

Located at the shortest crossing point to Europe. Dover Castle was built on an Iron Age fort, and a later Roman Lighthouse .

William of Normandy strengthened the Anglo-Saxon fortifications here in 1066. however it was Henry II who rebuilt the fortifications in the 1180's, adding the massive keep and a series of concentric defences. Over the centuries, the defences were enlarged and improved, and the castle was used by the military until after the Second World War.

Built between 1189 and 1200, the castle never had a keep, instead relying on its strong walls, towers and surrounding earthworks. If an attacker managed to scale the wall, the planks spanning the hollow towers could be removed, isolating that section of wall.