Advantages: Beautiful castle and grounds Disadvantages: None
Living in the North East, I am fortunate enough to be able to visit some of the beautiful castles of Northumberland without having a long journey to reach them.
One of the places I visited again a couple of months ago was Chillingham Castle.
This remarkable castle with its alarming dungeons and torture chambers has, since the twelve-hundreds, been continuously owned by the same family line. It is the home of Sir Humphry Wakefield Bt., his wife The Hon. Lady Wakefield and their family.
It was a 12th century stronghold, and became a fully fortified castle in 1344.
It occupied a strategic position as a fortress during Northumberland's border feuds. It was often besieged and also had many royal visitors. In the Tudor times there were additions, but the underlying Mediaeval character has always been retained.
The 18th and 19th centuries have ...
Advantages: Beautiful grounds, lots to see outside, a very popular 'must go to' tourist attraction Disadvantages: Can get extremely busy, expensive tickets (dungeon is additional)
office, etc. Then, once you're ready, you go through electronic barriers into the main castle grounds.
I was surprised at just how big the castle is. I knew it was going to be large because of the long walk around it to get from the car park to the entrance, but I was amazed to see just how much ground there is when you get in. Take this as a warning to wear comfy shoes and be prepared for some walking!
The castle grounds are divided into different areas for you to wonder around and peruse in your own time. There's a lot here to do and look at, so it's best to leave a few hours for your visit and make the most of it.
On the day I went, because it was nice weather, there were plenty of displays on. Much was aimed at children in my opinion, and as the place was packed full of people including a great deal of children who looked ...
gothic_moon 06.09.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Warwick Castle
Advantages: Outstandingly Beautiful and Romantic Setting. Interesting History. A Great day Out. Disadvantages: Difficult to Find - Otherwise None!
home - a manor house - as well as a defensive stronghold.
The castle was the main residence of Dalyngrigge and his descendants until around 1470 when due to a lack of heirs the castle passed into the hands of another land owning family, the Lewknor's. Regrettably, having taken the wrong side during the Wars of the Roses, in 1483 Sir Thomas Lewknor was tried for treason, following a siege the castle was surrendered "to levy men in the Counties of Kent and Sussex." Upon accession to the crown in 1485, King Henry VII pardoned Sir Thomas and he was reinstated to Manor of Bodiam. He died a month later, by which time it would appear that the living quarters within the castle had already been dismantled - leaving it pretty much as you see it today?..
??well, not quite. During the centuries in between, Bodiam Castle was left pretty much to ...
RICHADA 22.03.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Bodiam Castle
