Castle in East Midlands

Peveril Castle occupies one of the most dramatically positioned sites of any castle in England, perched on a limestone crag high above the village of Castleton in the Peak District with steep drops on three sides making it almost impregnable without the benefit of modern artillery. The combination of natural defensive strength, historic interest and sweeping views across the Hope Valley makes it one of the most rewarding castle visits in the north of England, accessible via a steep but short footpath from the village below. The castle was built shortly after the Norman Conquest by William Peveril, a knight who was among the followers of William the Conqueror and received extensive lands in the Peak District as a reward for his service. The Peveril family gave the castle its name and held it until its estates were forfeited to the crown following a succession of complications in the twelfth century. Henry II subsequently invested in the site, adding the square stone keep that remains the most prominent feature of the ruins today in 1176, providing the castle with a proper royal tower after earlier construction that had relied largely on the natural defensive properties of the crag itself. Sir Walter Scott set his 1823 novel Peveril of the Peak here, further cementing the castle's romantic reputation and drawing Victorian tourists to what was already a remarkable piece of landscape history. The novel is now largely forgotten but the castle's setting remains as atmospheric as any fictional treatment could wish. The keep, though roofless, retains most of its walls to full height, and the entrance passage and interior arrangement of rooms can still be traced clearly. The curtain wall following the edge of the crag encloses a large inner ward, and on the north side the natural limestone cliff forms the defensive wall without any additional construction being required. The gatehouse and various domestic buildings have been reduced to lower wall remnants but contribute to a sense of the full medieval complex. Below the castle, Castleton village offers a remarkable concentration of Peak District attractions: the show caves including Blue John Cavern, Speedwell Cavern, Peak Cavern and Treak Cliff Cavern are all accessible from the village and between them represent some of the finest cave systems open to the public in England.

Lincoln Castle is situated 37 miles north of Nottingham, in Lincoln city centre near the cathedral. Today's castle comprises of two mottes; one with an observation tower, the other a 12th century shell keep and curtain wall, a Georgian building within the bailey, an eastern gatehouse with two round 13th century turrets protected by a barbican and a large western gatehouse with barbican. Facilities The castle is open daily all year from 10am. Visitors may explore alone or take one of the guided tours of the castle site when one of the castle's volunteers will talk about the history of both the castle and its occupants. Other possibilities include a walk along the length of the curtain wall; offering fantastic views of the cathedral, city and surrounding countryside, a visit to the prison including the women's wing and the chapel along with an exhibition which includes the rare opportunity to see one of the four original copies of the Magna Carta sealed by king John in 1215. There is also a cafe and shop on site. The first castle was built on the site for William the Conqueror in 1068 on the site of a Roman fortress with the original wooden structure being later replaced by a stone castle. Lincoln Castle is unusual in that it is only one of two surviving castles to have two mottes; the other being Lewes Castle in East Sussex. It saw combat in both the 1st and 2nd Battles of Lincoln, following the first battle the 'Lucy Tower' was built and after the second battle, and the signing of the Magna Carta, new barbicans were added to the east and west gates. In 1787 a prison was built on the site and until 1868 inmates were publicly hanged in the north east tower. In 1878 the prison was relocated to another site when the castle was left unoccupied. Lincolnshire County Council now own the castle.

Nottingham Castle is a landmark heritage and museum site on the Castle Rock above the city centre of Nottingham, occupying a spectacular natural position on a sandstone promontory that has been the most strategically dominant point in the city since the Norman period. The original Norman castle was replaced by a ducal palace built for the Duke of Newcastle in the seventeenth century, which was subsequently burned by Chartist rioters in 1831 and restored as a museum in 1878, making it the first provincial municipal art gallery and museum in England. The castle complex includes the medieval underground caves and passages carved into the sandstone beneath the rock, the museum and art gallery displaying Nottingham's industrial and cultural history, and the statue of Robin Hood outside the gate. The museum underwent major redevelopment and reopened in 2021 with an enhanced visitor experience.

Castle Rising is located in the village of Castle Rising in Norfolk, England. The castle is in ruins but most of the square keep is still standing - the keep was probably modeled on Norwich Castle. An impressive feature of the castle is the massive earthworks surrounding the castle keep (one of the largest in the country). The castle earthworks cover an area of about twelve acres. There is an oval shaped inner bailey, and two smaller enclosures to the east and west. There is a ruined church north of the castle that dates to around 1100. The castle is now in the care of English Heritage and is open to the public. Castle Rising was built around 1140 by William d'Albini, 1st Earl of Arundel, who also owned Arundel Castle. The castle and earthworks were extended during the late 12th or early 13th century. This may have been in response to the Revolt of 1173-1174 when Hugh Bigod, 1st Earl of Norfolk captured Norwich Castle during the revolt. During the Anarchy (1135-1154) the castle was used as a mint producing coins for King Stephen. Between 1330 and 1358, it was the residence of the disgraced former Queen Isabella of France. The castle passed to the Howard family in 1544 and it remains in the family today. Castle Rising Castle has been used over the years as a hunting lodge, royal residence, and in the 18th century used as to house mental patients. Castle Rising keep. Largely built c1140, the impressive keep at Castle Rising is one of the most important twelfth century castles in England

Castleton in the Peak District is one of the most comprehensively interesting villages in the national park, a settlement in the Hope Valley beneath Mam Tor whose combination of the remarkable concentration of show caves, the ruins of Peveril Castle on the limestone ridge above the village, the Blue John mineral unique to this area and the walking available on the surrounding gritstone and limestone hills creates a destination of exceptional variety and scientific interest. The four show caves accessible from the village represent different aspects of the remarkable cave system that honecombs the limestone below Castleton. Peak Cavern, accessible from the village centre through a dramatic gorge entrance, is the largest natural cave entrance in Britain, its great arched opening once housing a rope-making village of considerable complexity. The Blue John Cavern and Treak Cliff Cavern contain deposits of Blue John, a semi-precious fluorspar mineral found only in the mines of Castleton and unique to this area of Derbyshire, whose purple and yellow banding has been worked into decorative objects since the Roman period. Speedwell Cavern, entered by boat along an underground canal, provides a different and entirely memorable cave experience. Mam Tor above the village, its summit accessible by a fine ridge walk, provides outstanding views of the Hope Valley and the contrast between the limestone White Peak to the south and the gritstone Dark Peak to the north, one of the most informative single viewpoints for understanding the Peak District geology.

Beeston Castle is located in Beeston, Cheshire, England. The castle is positioned on a rocky crag above the Cheshire Plain with views to the Pennines in the east to the Welsh mountains in the west. Beeston was defended by its natural position on a crag, and by massive walls with towers and strong gate houses. There was a small inner courtyard with fortified wall on top of the hill with cliffs on three sides and a defensive ditch cut into the rock on the fourth side. The outer bailey was built further down the hill with a large gatehouse protected by a moat. The walls of the outer bailey contain a number of D-shaped towers which allowed defenders to fire across the walls as well as forwards. The castle is now owned by English Heritage and is open to visitors. It has a small museum and visitor centre. It is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Beeston Castle was built in the 1220s by Ranulph de Blondeville, 4th Earl of Chester, on his return from the Fifth Crusade. (Ranulph de Blondeville also built Bolingbroke in Lincolnshire.) Henry III enlarged Beeston Castle during his wars with Wales. In 1254 Henry gave Beeston to his son Prince Edward. By the 16th century, the castle was declining in importance to the English Crown, and in 1602 it was sold to Sir Hugh Beeston. During the English Civil War, Beeston was seized in 1643 by parliamentary forces. During 1643 Captain Thomas Sandford and eight soldiers of the royal army of Ireland crept into Beeston at night and surprised the castle governor, Captain Thomas Steele, who surrendered the castle. (Steele was later tried and shot for failing to hold the castle). The Royalists holding the castle were subsequently besieged by parliamentary forces in late 1644, and surrendered a year later. The castle was partially demolished in 1646, to prevent its further use as a stronghold. During the 18th century the castle was used as a quarry and the gatehouse in the outer bailey was demolished. In 1840, the castle was purchased by John Tollemache, 1st Baron Tollemache. Legends It is rumoured that Richard II hid treasure at Beeston in 1399, before leaving for Ireland to suppress a rebellion. On his return, Richard was deposed by Henry, Duke of Lancaster, who later became Henry IV. The treasure is said to have remained undiscovered despite many searches.

Newark Castle is a substantial medieval castle ruin in the market town of Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire, standing dramatically above the River Trent and representing one of the finest examples of late Norman castle architecture in the East Midlands. The castle was built by the Bishops of Lincoln in the twelfth century and achieved historical significance during the Civil War when it was one of the last Royalist strongholds in England to hold out against Parliamentary forces, surrendering in May 1646 only on direct orders from the captured King Charles I. The striking remains include the Norman gatehouse, sections of curtain wall and towers, and the riverside position provides an attractive setting. The castle is managed by Newark and Sherwood District Council and the adjacent museum provides interpretation of the castle's history.

Situated in the middle of England, Kenilworth Castle is 8 miles north of Stratford on Avon. The red sandstone ruins are surrounded by a curtain wall. The castle has recently undergone a restoration project which includes the Elizabethan gardens, stables and the gatehouse, with the rest of the site including the three storey Norman tower being left unrestored. Facilities Open daily throughout the year between 10am and 5pm, and until 4pm November to March, visitors can stroll around the castle's ruins and to now also visit the newly restored 'Leicester's Gatehouse'. One of the gatehouse's exhibitions brings to life the love story between the Earl of Leicester, Sir Thomas Dudley and Queen Elizabeth I. It has major items on loan from private collectors and museums which include a copy of the letter that the Earl of Leicester sent to the Queen; a letter she kept by her bedside until her death. The gatehouse also has another exhibition, authentic room displays, an audio tour detailing the history of the castle and its occupants as well as a shop, visitor centre and tea room. As well as the audio tour the castle also offers two other tours the first entitled 'From Fortress to Palace' is a description of the castle's history and development; two weeks advance booking is required. The second tour is a tour of the gardens. A member of the gardening team takes visitors through the inspiration behind the garden design by the Earl, the tour also tells the tale of the love story between the Earl and his Queen. The first building on the site was a Saxon fortification, around 1125 Geoffrey de Clinton was responsible for building a square stone tower on the site. King Henry II took possession of the castle and during his reign it was extensively enlarged, strengthened and transformed into a great palace. In the 1560's the castle was again improved and modernized by Robert, Earl of Leicester, he added a gatehouse on the northern boundary wall and a suite of luxurious Tudor apartments; known as Leicester's Building, and formal gardens. Leicester and Queen Elizabeth I were close friends and she was entertained at the castle on many occasions including one occasion in 1575 where she stayed for nearly three weeks during which time she was entertained with music, dancing, feasts and pageants, it was the most lavish extravaganza that England had ever seen. After Leicester's death the castle once again came into the hands of the monarchy and throughout the Civil War was taken by both the parliamentarians and the royalists. After the end of the English Civil War in 1649, Oliver Cromwell's parliamentarian partially demolished the castle, with one wall of the keep being blown up and the battlements destroyed. During the 1650's the gatehouse was converted to living accommodation and the lake drained and in 1984 the castle and grounds were handed over to English Heritage. The Arts The festivities held for Queen Elizabeth were said to have been the inspiration for William Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer nights Dream'.

Tattershall Castle in Lincolnshire is one of the most unusual and visually striking medieval castles in England: a great tower built entirely in brick at a time when stone was the conventional material for prestigious construction, its deep red colour and soaring height making it visible for miles across the flat Lincolnshire Fens and providing an instantly distinctive landmark in a county of remarkable flatness. Built by Ralph Lord Cromwell, Treasurer of England to King Henry VI, between 1430 and 1450, the castle represents both an architectural experiment and a very deliberate statement of personal wealth and political status. The choice of brick for a building of this ambition was innovative for England in the mid-fifteenth century, though brick had been established as a prestigious building material in the Netherlands and North Germany for generations and had been used in a few earlier English buildings. Cromwell had access to wealth, political connections and presumably knowledge of continental building practice that allowed him to deploy brick on this scale and with this sophistication. The quality of the brickwork is exceptional: the walls are up to three metres thick at the base and the construction has survived remarkably well despite the castle's eventful later history. The interior of the tower, which rises to six storeys and originally had a seventh, preserves exceptional examples of late Gothic decorative stonework in the four great hall fireplaces that dominate successive floor levels. Each fireplace is set within an elaborate stone surround carved with the arms and heraldic devices of the Cromwell family, providing both functional heating for the rooms and permanent heraldic self-advertisement. The quality of this carving, in considerable contrast to the utilitarian brick of the walls, demonstrates the mixed materials approach typical of ambitious late medieval building. The castle was rescued from potential destruction in the early twentieth century by Lord Curzon, former Viceroy of India, who purchased it and had the tower restored. He also tracked down and repurchased the carved stone fireplaces that had been purchased and were about to be shipped to America by a dealer who recognised their value. The castle is now managed by the National Trust and the adjacent collegiate church adds further medieval interest to the site.

Bolsover Castle is located in Bolsover, Derbyshire, England. There are three main buildings standing today. The "Little Castle" is a mock medieval keep built in a romantic style. The Terrace Range is a separate block near the Little Castle, and has a suite of state rooms and living quarters, with kitchen area. The Riding School is at right angles to the Terrace Range, running from the car park to the end of the Terrace Range furthest from the Little Castle. There is a Discovery Centre in the Riding School. Parts of the original curtain wall are incorporated in the "Wall Walk" in the castle gardens. The castle regularly hosts historic and cultural events throughout the year and is popular for family picnics. Bolsover Castle was built by the Peverel family in the 12th century. It was taken over by the Crown in 1155 when the third William Peverel went into exile. The castle was strengthened later in the 12th century with the addition of a stone keep and curtain wall around 1173. The castle was attacked in 1216 and fell into disrepair. Sir Charles Cavendish bought the castle in 1608, and rebuilt the castle into an elegant home. The tower, known as the "Little Castle", was completed around 1621. The Cavendish family subsequently added the Terrace Range and Riding School Range. During the Civil War Bolsover Castle was taken by the Parliamentarians who damaged it, and Bolsover again fell into ruin in the 1650s. William Cavendish restored it again by 1676, also adding a new hall and staterooms to the Terrace Range. The castle was later owned by the Dukes of Portland. In 1883 the castle was no longer in use as a residence, and eventually given to the nation by the 7th Duke of Portland in 1945. The castle is now in the care of English Heritage. Bolsover Castle Bolsover Castle Looking NW towards the main keep with the ruined facade on the left.

Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, pronounced Beaver locally, is one of the grandest and most strikingly romantic country houses in England, a Gothic Revival castle of the early nineteenth century crowning a ridge above the Vale of Belvoir in the East Midlands and serving as the ancestral seat of the Dukes of Rutland, whose family has occupied this site continuously since the eleventh century. The present building, completed in the 1830s, replaces several predecessors on the same ridge, the earlier buildings having been demolished, burned or allowed to decay over the centuries, but the continuity of aristocratic occupation gives the site a depth of family history unusual even among England's great country houses. The castle was designed principally by James Wyatt and later Matthew Wyatt in an elaborate Gothic Revival style that captures the romantic imagination of what a medieval castle should look like rather than reproducing the defensive practicality of genuine medieval military architecture. Towers, turrets, battlements and pinnacles create a picturesque composition on the skyline that is visible for considerable distances across the flat Vale of Belvoir below, and the effect in certain lights, particularly at dusk or in winter, approaches the theatrical quality of a stage set for a Gothic novel. The interior of the castle contains one of the finest private collections of furniture, paintings and works of art in England. The paintings include works by Poussin, Holbein, Reynolds and Gainsborough among others, displayed in a series of state rooms of considerable splendour. The Elizabethan Room, the Regent's Gallery, the Ballroom and the King's Bedroom are among the most impressive spaces, and the overall quality of the interior reflects the resources and collecting ambitions of a family that has been among the wealthiest in England for several centuries. The grounds of the castle include formal gardens, parkland and the estate village of Knipton, and a programme of events throughout the year including jousting tournaments and outdoor theatre adds to the visitor offer.