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English Castles with medieval festivals and living museums

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English Castles - A Link With The Past

Across England, as with most of Europe, there are castles in just about every city and town dating from Roman times, like Colchester castle, to the 19th Century Victorian follies and modern times if you include the full size castle at Legoland. Many of these castles are in disrepair while others have been restored to their former glory. A number of these castles, not just in England but France and no doubt other parts of Europe regularly host medieval festivals and events and some, like Mountfitchet castle are permanent living museums with live animals of the period roaming the grounds.

Mountfitchet Castle 1066

A living museum

My Favourite has to be Mountfitchet Castle situated in the village of Stansted Mountfitchet in Essex. With a prominent position overlooking the Stort Valley, Mountfitchet Castle is located on its original site. Rich in history this site was originally an Iron Age hill fort, then it became a Roman signals fort and later a Saxon and Viking settlement before being attacked in 1066 by William the Conqueror army who built a wooden motte (an enditched mound) and bailey castle.

Mountfitchet Castle is an historically accurate reconstruction of the castle which enables visitor to travel back in time to 1066 Norman England. Visitors can explore the Castle, roam through the Norman Village behind the castle walls and explore the houses; smell the log fires burning and experience the ambience of an ancient bygone lifestyle.

A Living Museum, giving visitors the opportunity to mingle with the animals that roam freely throughout the castle grounds, as they would have done all those centuries ago, thereby giving you an experience of a living, hands-on and interactive experience.

View Photos of Mountfitchet Castle 1066

Warwick Castle

A Norman Castle hosting many medieval events during the year

Warwick Castle is a medieval shell keep castle in Warwick, Warwickshire, England. It is situated on a cliff overlooking a bend in the River Avon. The castle was built by in 1068 by William the Conqueror by the Anglo-Saxon burh of Warwick. It was used as a fortification until the early 17th century, when Sir Fulke Greville converted it to a country house. It was then owned by the Greville family, who became earls of Warwick in 1759, until 1978.

Medieval festivals, banquets and a host of other events are regularly held in the castle and grounds. Visit the official Warwick Castle website for more information.

Or view a selection of photos from here Warwick Castle

Berkeley Castle

Berkeley castle civil war re-enactment of 1645

Berkeley Castle has been lived in by the same family for over 900 years. It's where Edward II was murdered, where the Barons of the West gathered before Magna Carta and where Queen Elizabeth I hunted and played bowls. It also played an active role in the English civil war of 1642-1651, and the grounds for the re-enactment of the Berkeley castle civil war of 1645.

With the defeat of Lord Goring at the battle of Langport and the capture of Bristol from Prince Rupert, the south-west of England was effectively closed to the King from mid-September 1645. In order to secure his position before advancing to complete the conquest of the west, General Fairfax sent Colonel Rainsborough to besiege Berkeley Castle, the only Royalist stronghold between Bristol and Gloucester. Rainsborough stormed and captured Berkeley after a three-day bombardment on 25 September 1645. Meanwhile, Lieutenant-General Cromwell marched with 2,000 horse, three regiments of foot and a formidable artillery train to clear remaining Royalist strongholds threatening the road between Bristol and London.

Three videos and two photo ablums of Berkeley castle and the 1645 civil war re-enactment can be viewed on my Nathanville European Holiday Blogs on Multiply.

Lulworth Castle

Lulworth Castle and grounds with The Knights of Lutlworth and their Horses Impossible

Lulworth Castle is an early 17th-century hunting lodge, originally built to attract James I to hunt in the Isle of Purbeck. In 1929 the castle was gutted by fire but years later it was restored and today is open to the public. The grounds which houses a living museum of farm animals has also been home to 'Horses Impossible by Impossible Horses' who as the Knights of Lulworth put on a very impressive jousting display for the castle's visitors.

A video of The Knights of Lulworth and photos can be viewed on my Multiply site of European Holidays.

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Berkeley Castle civil war of 1645 - Video

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Berkeley Castle civil war of 1645 the canon - video

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Berkeley Castle Civil War Re-enactment 1645 - video

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Nathanville European Holiday Blogs - Warwick Castle

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County base for royal court
It proved to be the last year in the life of one of medieval England's greatest rulers. He held his parliament in Carlisle Castle, now an English Heritage visitor attraction and home to the Border Regiment Museum. From within the castle's stone ...
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Arundel Castle in West Sussex is among fortresses which use money raised from tours and exhibitions for their conservation and maintenance. The 16th Century Smythe Barn, at Westenhanger Castle, in Kent, was given an English Heritage award for "best ...
Seattle Anhalt-designed home gets an update with respect
She came back several days later and told me that she couldn't find anything like that, all she had was a book about English castles. Well, I took one look at that book and I knew I'd found my style of building. I went through that book and picked a ...
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