British and Irish Castles

Are you looking for something to do in Scotland that will combine not only fun, but a little bit of learning and knowledge? If you are, then you should look no further than the abundance of castles in Scotland. Scotland is an old country whose history goes back through the centuries. Deep in the heart of each Scottish person is a love of country and understanding of where they came from and where they can go.

Scotland is a country that has survived many battles and many changes of power. Those facts are evident on the first stop of your Castles in Scotland tour. There is nothing like walking into a castle the first time. You feel yourself almost transported back in time as you look around you. And allow yourself to go there; allow yourself to be taken back to another place and another time. As you stand in the great throne room, allow yourself to see the kings and queens of old as they sit on their thrones and do their best to govern.

The only way to truly appreciate the experience of castles in Scotland is to know where you are and know the history of the castle. Make sure that you have a castle guide in your travel pack. It’s not hard to find a castle guide that includes descriptions of the main castles you will see in Scotland. In fact, there are so many castles in Scotland that you will probably not be able to see them all before you have to leave the country. For that reason, make sure you know what castles you want to see before you begin looking at castles in Scotland.

Many people are almost disappointed the first time they walk into a castle. They expect castles to be these great and glorious things, which they are, but at the same time it is important to keep in mind that these castles are old. Most, if not all, are no longer inhabited and all are in various states of disrepair. The draw of castles in Scotland is that they are old, not that they are still the current homes of kings and queens.

That being said, there are also many castles in Scotland that are in great shape and used regularly for functions. Those castles are also available to see and tour. People have long understood the allure of castles in Scotland and many families have restored the castles of their ancestors to their glory or at least made them habitable for people to see and tour. If you are looking for restored castles in Scotland, then make that a priority.

As you wander through the Scottish countryside, you will probably be surprised how many castles and remnants of castles in Scotland that you will see. As stated earlier, the history of Scotland is everywhere and everyone knows that. You will see just pieces of what once stood as the pride and joy of an area. You will see what could still be a working castle today. There is so much history and so much pride that surrounds castles in Scotland, you will always have something to see and something to experience. A word of caution; if you happen upon the ruins of a castle and want to explore, proceed with caution. While the Scottish people are kind and generous people, ruins are not always safe and not always place where visitors are welcome. If there is a home nearby, you would do well to inquire about the ruins before you enter. To some, castles in Scotland are sacred.

Whether you are looking for castles in Scotland that remain untouched by conveniences such as electricity and running water or are looking for castles in Scotland that could be the perfect place for a wedding reception, there is a castle that seems to have come right out of your dreams. Get familiar with local customs and geography and step back in time with castles in Scotland. Go exploring with an open mind, a curious heart, and a great attitude and you will see just how amazing castles in Scotland can really be!

Smooth Hound http://www.smoothhound.co.uk/ offers affordable hotel, guest house and bed & breakfast accommodation throughout Scotland and the rest of the world.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=S_Wander

Share This

Lancaster Castle stemmed from an original fort built by the Romans overlooking the town of Lancaster and the River Lune to help combat the invading forces of the Picts and Scots. Following the demise of the Roman Empirein Britain during the 5th century, Lancaster fell into decline and it was not until the Norman Conquest that the present castle took on a more solid structure with the building of the Norman Keep by Roger of Poitou.

The Castle led a very turbulent and colourful life having a succession of owners. A total of 265 executions took place within her walls, as well as the infamous Pendle witch trials of 1612. A total of ten people were tried and convicted of witchcraft. If you were unlucky enough to be imprisoned within her walls from the later half of the 18th century onwards, you could have found yourself transported to the new found colony of Australia.

In 1399 Richard II seized the castle from the 2nd Duke of Lancaster, John of Gaunt after his death and claimed the castle in the name of the monarchy. When Henry IV ousted Richard in the same year, the castle became part of the Duchy of Lancaster where it has remained ever since.

Henry undertook a massive rebuilding program which saw the addition of a twin-towered gatehouse. The gatehouse consisted of two 20 metre high towers consisting of several floors with the top two being dived into a number of rooms. A WellTower(which became know as the Witch�s Tower) was built during the 14th century and consisted of two deep wells and several underground dungeons. These dungeons went on to house people accused of witchcraft prior to their trial at LancasterCastleduring the reign of King James I in the 16th century.

In 1585, ElizabethI rebuilt the upper storey of the 12th century Keep.

Extensive modifications were undertaken during the 18th century, converting the castle into a prison. The use of which, has lasted for over 3 centuries. Separate complexes were built for female and male prisoners as well as a Wardens house. This wide-ranging refurbishment program began in 1788 with the warden�s house and cumulated in the prison for male inmates in 1796.

The rooms of the gatehouse were converted in to prison cells which were used to house debtors. These rooms were quite comfortable and reserved for those debtors who were able to lay their hands on a little money, enabling them to live a comfortable life compared to others in the same predicament. Prior to that they were probably used and maintained by the Castles Constable.

This was not the first time the castle was used to house prisoners. A Reference to prisoners being held at the castle dates back to 1196.

The last major build program undertaken at Lancaster Castle was in 1821 when a new female prison was built to the design of Joseph Gandy who had been trained by James Wyatt and had worked for John Nash.

In Pt2 we will find out about the infamous witch trials of 1612 and how you could have been transported to Australiaduring the later half of the 18th Century. You will learn about her Royal visitors and debtors prison.

I hope you have enjoyed this read and I look forward to your visit in Part 2.

Best Wishes

Stuart Bazga

www.guide-to-castles-of-europe.com

A Guide to Castles of Europe was born from childhood dreams and aspirations. It is my hope to educate and stimulate you into exploring these castles for yourselves

2005 www.guide-to-castles-of-europe.com- All rights reserved.

Share This