The Weald and Downland Museum; a wonderful journey back in time to get a taste medieval life.

/ Weald and Downland Living Museum/
The Weald and Downland Museum; a wonderful journey back in time to get a taste medieval life.

Seeingthepast.com gives you tons of information to help you plan a very successful visit to the Weald and Downland Living Museum. The museum is large and spread out and so planning your visit will improve your day. At the museum you can discover numerous historic buildings set in forty acres of the beautiful South Down’s National Park surroundings. Explore a collection of over 50 restored and replica buildings from a time period stretching from Anglo-Saxon to Edwardian times (approximately 950 AD to 1910 AD). Visitors can have a friendly and informative chat to numerous guides waiting to enthral you with the stories of these incredible structures. You can go inside and see the different kitchens, bedrooms and heating arrangements. Watch various demonstrations taking place and discuss with some highly skilled craftsmen and women what they are doing.

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Stokesay Castle; "The finest and best preserved fortified medieval manor house in England",-English Heritage

/ Stokesay Castle/
Stokesay Castle; "The finest and best preserved fortified medieval manor house in England",-English Heritage

English Heritage states on its website, Stokesay Castle is the finest and best preserved manor house in England and they are the experts. English Heritage also states ,” it remains a treasure by-passed by time, one of the best places to visiting England to experience what medieval life was like.” They own a huge amount of properties and so they would not make this claim lightly. There is an air of tranquility when wandering around Stokesay Castle on a summer’s day. Very little has changed over the past 700 years and it is easy to imagine life in the medieval world especially festivities in the amazing great hall.

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Beaumaris Castle; possibly the greatest British Castle if only it had been finished.

/ Beaumaris Castle/
Beaumaris Castle; possibly the greatest British Castle if only it had been finished.

Beaumaris castle is possibly the greatest British Castle if only it had been finished. It is a brilliant example of a concentric castle, ie, a castle with walls within walls , loads of round towers, a moat, barbicans and no keep. It was built by one of the greatest castle builders, Master James of St George, at a time just before cannons put an end to the first phase of castle building. He attempted to create the ultimate castle. Master James was given a clean canvas on which to design and construct there best ever castle. There is good access to both sets of wall walks and so plenty to explore. It is easy to see all the defensive features and how they added to the overall effectiveness of castles. This was Edward I’s last Welsh castle in his iron ring and initially, money was no object.

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Harlech castle; a fascinating castle with an awesome view

/ Harlech Castle/
Harlech castle; a fascinating castle with an awesome view

Harlech castle; a fascinating castle with an awesome view. Harlech is a beautiful castle and very different from castles nearby and elsewhere in Britain. Approaching the entrance with four majestic round towers in front of you creates an awesome medieval scene. You can walk nearly a whole circuit around the wall walk and get spectacular views of Snowdonia, the sea and the interior of the castle. Harlech has an amazing twin towered gatehouse and is concentric in design. Looking at Harlech from the shore, Harlech is at the top of a rocky promontory and towers over everything. It can be seen for miles. It is one of Edward I’s “Iron Ring” of castles in his quest for the English to control Wales in perpetuity.

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Caernarfon Castle: one of the best preserved medieval castles in Britain and a world heritage site.

/ Caernarfon Castle/
Caernarfon Castle: one of the best preserved medieval castles in Britain and a world heritage site.

Caernarfon Castle: one of the best preserved medieval castles in Britain and a world heritage site. The famous diarist, Dr Samuel Johnson described it as, “an edifice of stupendous majesty and strength”. Walking around the outside of the castle, you will see just how big a castle’s wall can be and how it appears, even today, to be totally impregnable. There is not a castle like it in Britain, with twelve, stunning, polygonal towers. It is described by Malcolm Hislop as Edward’s definitive castle and his most ambitious project when considering its sheer size and its elaborate town walls. There are lots of things to explore inside the castle and so many battlements to walk around and spiral staircases to climb. If you have been to other castles built in the 11th and 12th centuries you will notice how much had transformed in castle design of the 13th century. At Caernarfon there are loads of innovations. Caernarfon cost £27 000 to build which was a vast sum in the 13th century and lets you know what to expect. (By comparison, Harlech Castle, built at the same time cost £10 000, still a lot of money but small in comparison) The Treasury less than this in taxation in a whole year!

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Conwy Castle; a stunning castle with a fascinating history.

/ Conwy castle/
Conwy Castle; a stunning castle with a fascinating history.

Conwy is simply, a stunning castle with six massive round towers that dominate the area for miles around. If you are coming by road, your first sight will take your breath away. The Cadw guidebook states, “Conwy is exceptional not only for the grandeur of its high towers and curtain walls but also for its excellent state of preservation. Visitors can ascend one of the towers and then make a complete circuit of the battlements. Built by Edward I and his brilliant assistant, Master James St George, it is one of four castles that make up Edward’s “iron ring” of defence. Conwy, together with Caernarfon, Harlech and Beaumaris are on the World Heritage List, as a historic site of outstanding universal value. If you want to discover medieval castles or wish to inspire a child with medieval history, this is a good one to visit. Even better if, over the course of a few days, you visit all four mentioned above. They are all fairly close to each other. Edward’s aim was to have each one a day’s ride from the next one for mutual aid in case of attack.

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Why did Edward I build castles in North Wales?

/ Caernarfon Castle/
Why did Edward I build castles in North Wales?

Why did Edward I build so many “state of the art” castles in northern Wales? Dr Sam Willis has described Edward I as,” the greatest castle building king this country has ever seen”. He went on to say, "his castles were his Arthurian Camelot, a tool to conquer and then recolonise". Dan Jones has commented, "every Plantagenet king with exception of Richard I has come to Wales and all departed having barely left a footprint. Edward I ended that trend emphatically".

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Portchester Castle, a medieval castle within a Roman fort.

/ Portchester Castle/

Portchester Castle is one of history’s “must see places”. It is the best preserved example of a Roman fort north of the Alps and within its walls , is one of the best preserved examples of a medieval square keep. You get two for the price of one at Portchester! Whereas, in many square keeps, access is only available on the ground floor, at Portchester 3 floors of the keep are open to the public and covid permitting, so is the rooftop with a fine view over the harbour. Originally built to curb the activities of “Frankish Pirates” it then took on a medieval identity with many key events in English history are associated with it such as the battles of Crecy and Agincourt.

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Warwick Castle, home of the Kingmaker

/ Warwick Castle/

Warwick castle is one of the finest in the UK and a historical feast for all ages. For history geeks, there are a lot of historical features to seek out, such as its amazing barbican.It was very much at the centre of English history after William the Conqueror gained powering 1066 and played a huge part in the Wars of The Roses as the home of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, who became known as the Kingmaker. Everyone will be amazed by the huge catapult known as a trebuchet, the largest one in Europe and will be thrilled other activities like falconry displays and archery.

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What were the Wars of the Roses?

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The “Wars of the Roses” was a long civil war between two families, both claiming the throne of England. A series of battles lasted from 1455 to 1487 and was the longest period of civil war in England. In 1461, 50 00 men took part in the Battle of Towton of which 28 000 were slaughtered. This figure is worse than the horrific number who died on the first day Battle of the Somme in 1916, often cited as the worst ever casualty total in one day. Key participants in these battles were, for the Lancastrians, Henry VI, and Henry VII and for the the Yorkists, Edward IV and Richard III. The Earl of Warwick switched sides and after his death, he became known as the “Kingmaker” for helping Edward IV to gain the crown and Henry VI to reclaim it. The ultimate victor was the first Tudor, Henry VII whose aim was to die a natural death in his bed and be succeeded by his son without any hassle, the young Henry VIII.

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Leeds Castle; "On an autumnal evening, when the bracken is golden and a faint blue mist among the trees, the loveliest castle in the whole world!". Lord Conway.

/ Leeds Castle/
Leeds Castle; "On an autumnal evening, when the bracken is golden and a faint blue mist among the trees, the loveliest castle in the whole world!". Lord Conway.

Leeds Castle; "On an autumnal evening, when the bracken is golden and a faint blue mist among the trees, the loveliest castle in the whole world!". These are the words of Lord Conway in the popular magazine, magazine, “Country Life”. A visit to this beautiful but much altered castle is a great day out. This castle has links and associated features to many amazing stories from English history and is set in the exquisite kent countryside, often called, “the garden of England”. It is an experience not to be missed. Even the ramble from the car park to the castle is an attractive walk . Leeds is a unique castle in that it is associated six royal queens, people often overlooked in a male dominated world and should be high on every History lover’s lists of places to visit. It has links to the medieval world of the Plantagenets and that of Henry VIII. When he took possession of it, he transformed the castle from a fortified stronghold to a magnificent royal palace, fit for a mighty Tudor king and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. You can have fun looking for Henry’s and Catherine’s symbols which have been left behind for posterity.

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Dover Castle, the mightiest castle in Britain, defending our shores from the Middle Ages to the Cold War!

/ Dover Castle/
Dover Castle, the mightiest castle in Britain, defending our shores from the Middle Ages to the Cold War!

If you only have time to see one castle, then Dover is the one to see. Eighteen hundred years of history is something to boast about. A visit to Dover Castle is a day worth spent and will leave an everlasting impression on you. If you love history, you will love this place. It has it all. It is only 21 miles from France and has long been considered to be the gateway to England. If Dover fell, then the rest of the country would be wide open for conquest. It is a brilliant example of a medieval castle but it also has a complex of underground tunnels that during the second World War, was where the evacuation of Dunkirk was masterminded. You can also go back in time and see amazing sections of the “Great Tower” set out in the style of Henry II’s court.

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Bodium, quintessential, archetypal, photogenic and the most romantic of all British castles. A visit to Bodium castle is a must for all castle lovers and history fans.

/ Bodium Castle/
Bodium, quintessential, archetypal, photogenic and the most romantic of all British castles. A visit to Bodium castle is a must for all castle lovers and history fans.

Bodium, quintessential, archetypal, photogenic and the most romantic of all British castles. A visit to Bodiam castle is a must for all castle and history lovers.If you have never been to a castle, Bodiam is a great stating point. It is simply a beautiful, iconic 14th century castle, which on a summer’s day is unsurpassed. It has been described by Dr Marc Morris in his book on castles as; “the most photogenic and one of the most visited castles in Britain. Its ravishing good looks have made it a firm favourite with calendar compilers and magazine editors.” .You will be able to see good examples of typical castle features eg its round and square towers, its moat and machicolations. You will experience a place where your imagination can run riot.

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History lovers, search out the treasures of Rochester Cathedral.

/ Rochester Cathedral/
History lovers, search out the treasures of Rochester Cathedral.

Rochester Cathedral, a must for for history-lovers with its wonderful Norman architecture; its rare medieval wall painting of “the Wheel of Fortune”; a 900 year old book, the “Texts Roffensis” with the law code of King Athelbert of Kent; plenty examples of the “Green Man” to search out; impressive large sculptures of earlier bishops; its Norman crypt and its close proximity to Rochester Castle. Added to these attractions, go at the time of the summer’s Dicken’s festival or its christmas festival and you have a very full day of seeing the past.

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For the Castle enthusiast, Rochester must be high on your list.

/ Rochester Castle/
For the Castle enthusiast, Rochester must be high on your list.

Rochester Castle is great for castle lovers. It has a huge keep to explore and plenty of stories to discover. In 1215 King John attacked the rebel held castle using 40 pigs! Why pigs? Well, he mined under the south -east tower projecting from the keep and set the wooden props alight with the aid of the fat from 40 pigs acting as giant exploding sausages to bring a huge section down. The demolished tower was later replaced by a stronger round tower in the south -east corner looking rather odd against the other 3 square towers! Fantastic views can be had from the battlements at the top of the keep once you have trekked up the spiral staircases.

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Reading Museum; home of Britain's own Bayeux Tapestry and the lost Roman town of Silchester

/ Reading museum/

No need to go to France to see the Bayeux Tapestry, go to Reading Museum instead. It’s there in its entirety for all to see and its free! Whilst you are there, have a look at the Silchester exhibition, the story of the old Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum that was abandoned and returned to agricultural land. Behind the museum are the remains of Reading Abbey, one of the largest in the country and the burial place of Henry I.

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Lavenham, "the best preserved medieval village in the country".

/ Lavenham/
Lavenham, "the best preserved medieval village in the country".

The story of Lavenham , is the story of a very prosperous and thriving medieval town that peaked in the 1520s and then suffered a major economic decline, arresting virtually all building development and modernisation. This left numerous stunning, but unaltered, medieval timber framed houses for us to enjoy during a gentle stroll through the village. Houses in Lavenham could adorn a countless boxes of chocolate and calendars.

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Colchester Castle; one of the finest archaeological collections in the country and brilliant for kids.

/ Colchester Castle/

This is the largest Norman Keep in Europe built on top of the remains of the great temple of Claudius the conquering Roman Empire. Objects from over 2000 years including the Iron Age, Boudicca’s uprising, the finest display of Roman glassware rivalling that of the British Museum, are here along a gruesome dungeon section focusing on the BloodY Mary burning people at the stake, Matthew Hopkin’s witchfinding, There are countless invitations to touch objects and children’s activities include a roman chariot race simulation, 4 dressing up stations, use of tablets to compete an electronic quiz and creation of a mosaic.

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Ightham Mote; a 700 year old magnificent, medieval moated manor house set in the beautiful Kent Countryside.

/ Ightham Mote/
Ightham Mote; a 700 year old magnificent, medieval moated manor house set in the beautiful Kent Countryside.

A visit to the beautiful Ightham Mote will take you on a journey back to the 14th century. Various rooms and details result in you being taken along a timeline of discovery and evoking a deep sense of history. It was built by medieval knights, taken on by tudor courtiers desperate to gain favour with Henry VIII and on through high society Victorians before ending up in the hands of a very generous American benefactor who passed it on to the National Trust. It has many rooms to marvel at, from the medieval “Great Hall” and Crypt”, to Catherine of Aragon’s pomegranite emblem on the chapel ceiling and ending up in the impressive Victorian billiard room.

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Tower of London for kids - a great place for adults too. Royal Palace, Royal Prison, Execution Central and Murder Mysteries .

/ Tower of London/

With over 1000 years of history, you’ll find plenty to do in the Tower of London for kids as well as some of the more fascinating stories and murder mysteries English history. The Tower of London is one of England’s iconic buildings and the remnants of just how brutal and bloody the Middle Ages were. Why does it have this reputation?From the barbaric and gruesome William the Conqueror who created it, to kings and queens who were excited there, the Tower of London is a place of gripping and captivating history that the whole family can see close up.

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