Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. A project on Castles in the UK would not be complete without showing a castle where the Harry Potter films had been shot! Alnwick was initially designed as a border fortress, but was later turned into a private residence for the Percy family. Image Source: http://globetrotterswanderlust.blogspot.ca/2012/12/alnwick-castle-alnwick-county.html
LEgacies: Family Homes or disuse
By the end of the 14th and beginning of the 15th century, with the development of gunpowder and firearms, castles and medieval fortifications fell out of use.[1] The use of cannons in warfare did quick work to destroy the thick stonewalls that had been painstakingly crafted by masons.
So, while castles were always intended to serve a combined purpose of defense and habitation, many castles transitioned to palaces, smaller manor houses or prisons, depending of course on the original size of the structure.[2] A great example of one of these transitions is Windsor Castle, which was initially built by William the Conqueror in 1070, but was transformed into a palace by the mid-fourteenth century (more about Windsor castle here).[3]
While it appeared that the sun had set on the role of the castle in warfare, many of these castles, especially in Wales, were refortified during the English Civil War between Parliamentarians and Royalists in the seventeenth century. Many of these castles proved to be useful once again against gunpowder-propelled weapons.[4] Though, the English Civil War would prove to be the castle's last expression of its original intention to protect the rich and powerful from their enemies. Some were able to be retrofitted to accommodate the needs of a dynamic state, and have since been converted into modern palaces or tourist destination. But most of these once powerful strongholds have spent centuries crumbling under the elements, neglected by a rapidly advancing society.
[1] Jean-Denis G.G.LePage, Castles and Fortified Cities of Medieval Europe: An Illustrated History (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company Inc.), 143, http://do.rulitru.ru/docs/16/15655/conv_1/file1.pdf.
[2] David Ross, "Castles in England in Wales," Britain Express, accessed 24 October 2013, http://www.britainexpress.com/counties/cornwall/castles/Restormel.htm.
[3] "Windsor Castle: Who Built the Castle?" Royal Collection Trust, accessed 24 October 2013, http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/windsorcastle/about/who-built-the-castle
[4] Jeffrey L. Thomas, "The Castles of Wales and the Civil War," The Castles of Wales, last modified 2009, http://www.castlewales.com/civilwar.html.
So, while castles were always intended to serve a combined purpose of defense and habitation, many castles transitioned to palaces, smaller manor houses or prisons, depending of course on the original size of the structure.[2] A great example of one of these transitions is Windsor Castle, which was initially built by William the Conqueror in 1070, but was transformed into a palace by the mid-fourteenth century (more about Windsor castle here).[3]
While it appeared that the sun had set on the role of the castle in warfare, many of these castles, especially in Wales, were refortified during the English Civil War between Parliamentarians and Royalists in the seventeenth century. Many of these castles proved to be useful once again against gunpowder-propelled weapons.[4] Though, the English Civil War would prove to be the castle's last expression of its original intention to protect the rich and powerful from their enemies. Some were able to be retrofitted to accommodate the needs of a dynamic state, and have since been converted into modern palaces or tourist destination. But most of these once powerful strongholds have spent centuries crumbling under the elements, neglected by a rapidly advancing society.
[1] Jean-Denis G.G.LePage, Castles and Fortified Cities of Medieval Europe: An Illustrated History (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company Inc.), 143, http://do.rulitru.ru/docs/16/15655/conv_1/file1.pdf.
[2] David Ross, "Castles in England in Wales," Britain Express, accessed 24 October 2013, http://www.britainexpress.com/counties/cornwall/castles/Restormel.htm.
[3] "Windsor Castle: Who Built the Castle?" Royal Collection Trust, accessed 24 October 2013, http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/windsorcastle/about/who-built-the-castle
[4] Jeffrey L. Thomas, "The Castles of Wales and the Civil War," The Castles of Wales, last modified 2009, http://www.castlewales.com/civilwar.html.