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The fortifications called castles by the French were scarcely known in the English provinces. Orderic Vitalis, 1075-c.1142
A network of castles appears across the land. The British II: People Power, Sky Atlantic 2012
The granddaddy of them all: Windsor Castle. While it may not be called a palace, for 900 years this fortress has been a home from home to Britain’s royalty … ‘Windsor castle is the largest occupied castle on the planet’ … This vast royal home comprises 951 rooms including 225 bedrooms and covers some 13 acres, and the look is straight out of a fairy-book. Secrets of the Royal Palaces III, Channel 5 2021
The medieval world was studded with castles – hundreds of them ... It was a symbol of the power of the aristocracy, the centre of their great estates and the foundation of their military might. Robert Bartlett, Inside the Medieval Mind IV: Power, BBC 2008
Of all the great feats of engineering that helped to shape Britain there’s nothing more dramatic than the great chain of medieval castles on the coast of north Wales. Built over 700 years by Edward I to stamp his authority on his newly conquered province. Among them are some of the finest castles in the country. One of the greatest feats of royal engineering in British history. Fred Dibnah’s Building of Britain s1e2: The Art of Castle Building, BBC 2002
They kept very detailed records. ibid.
Caenarfon took nearly fifty years to build and at nearly £20,000 it was the most expensive of all of Edward’s Welsh castles. The total cost of them all was over £78,000. ibid.
This is Glamis Castle – the childhood home of the Queen Mother ... One of the best examples of the Scottish Baronial style in existence. It’s a style that was developed in the sixteenth and seventeenth century. Fred Dibnah’s Building of Britain e4: Scottish Style
I’m the king of the castle,
Get down you dirty rascal. Brand’s Popular Antiquities, variations, 1870
This castle hath a pleasant seat. The air
Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself
Unto our gentle senses. William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Macbeth I v 1-3, King Duncan
Welcome, gentle sir knight. Welcome to the Castle Anthrax. Monty Python and the Holy Grail 1974 starring Graham Chapman & John Cleese & Eric Idle & Terry Gilliam & Terry Jones & Michael Palin & Neil Innes & Connie Booth & Carol Cleveland & John Young et al, directors Terry Gilliam & Terry Jones
We are but eight-score brunettes and blondes all between sixteen and nineteen and a half cut off in this castle with no-one to protect us. Oh it is a lonely life. ibid. welcome lady
Castle bird: And after the spanking, the oral sex.
Galahad: Well, I could stay a bit longer. ibid.
Father: One day, lad, all this will be yours.
Son: What, the curtains? ibid.
A former Scottish castle over there but we haven’t managed to unpack it. Citizen Kane 1941 starring Orson Welles & Joseph Cotten & Dorothy Comingore & Everett Sloane & Ray Collins & George Coulouris & Agnes Moorehead & Paul Stewart & Ruth Warrick & Erskine Sanford & William Alland et al, director Orson Welles
Castles: they dominate our landscape, tower over our history and fuel our imagination. Sam Willis, Castles: Britain’s Fortified History I, Instruments of Invasion, BBC 2014
The ultimate expression of military might. ibid.
Our story begins with the arrival of the castle with the Normans in 1066. A weapon of invasion. ibid.
A ‘motte-and-bailey’ is the most basic castle design, a moat surrounded by a walled enclosure – the bailey. ibid.
These stone castles were utterly alien. ibid.
Every landowner in the realm was required to swear an oath to the king ... The Oath of Serum. ibid.
That man was Stephen – what followed was a protracted civil war ... One of the bleakest periods in our history. ibid.
At 172 days the siege of Kenilworth was the longest to take place on English soil. ibid.
Castles have been part of our landscape for a thousand years, arriving as a tool of Norman invasion they spread to the furthest corners of England. Sam Willis, Castles: Britain’s Fortified History II: Kingdom of Conquest
Edward I ... what followed was a struggle of epic sieges and terrifying weapons to determine the future of the kingdom. ibid.
King Edward fielded the largest army since 1066 against this prince of Wales. ibid.
Edward I’s new fortresses had a colonial town built into them. ibid.
A castle within a castle ... Beaumaris offered him something unique. ibid.
Castles were enormously expensive ... Beaumaris was never actually finished. ibid.
This time turning north for Scotland: in 1296 Edward invaded. ibid.
It’s so elaborate it can only be for show. A nice bit of bling in rural Sussex. ibid.
Castles have stood indomitably in Britain for centuries. Over almost a thousand years they have played a seminal role in the history of these islands. Sam Willis, Castles: Britain’s Fortified History III: Defence of the Realm
Windsor Castle ... was being seriously considered for demolition. ibid.
For me a Great British castle is a fortress, a palace, a home. And a symbol of power, majesty and fear. For nearly a thousand years castles have shaped Britain’s famous landscape. Dan Jones, Secrets of Great British Castles s1e1: Dover Castle, Channel 5 2015
Britain’s greatest defensive castle: this imposing fortress on the White Cliffs of Dover has resisted all enemies. ibid.
A fortress, prison, execution place, built to inspire fear in everyone who walks through its gates. Dan Jones, Secrets of Great British Castles s1e2: Tower of London
Britain’s most visited tourist site. ibid.
William built a series of massive castles designed to put the masses in their place. ibid.
There are no dungeons here. There’s not even a torture chamber. ibid.
Warwick Castle: This stunning palace has been home to medieval warriors, royal mistresses and Hollywood actors. Dan Jones, Secrets of Great British Castles s1e3: Warwick Castle
In the 1440s the long line of Beecham heirs ran out. The Warwick castle and title now passed ... to Richard Neville ... Neville was the central player in the Wars of the Roses. ibid.
Warwick Castle would stay in the Greville family for generations. ibid.
One of the most stunning castles in the land. This fortress was built on tyranny, and has survived the bloodiest rebellion. It’s a great Welsh castle. Dan Jones, Secrets of Great British Castles s1e4: Caernarfon Castle
This castle is all about Edward I's stamping English power in a ring right round Snowdonia. ibid.
Stirling: for centuries this castle divided the warring nations of England and Scotland. But ultimately, was the key to uniting them. Dan Jones, Secrets of Great British Castles s1e5: Stirling Castle
These new kings of Scotland also used Stirling as a place to do their dirty work. ibid.