With the exception of the key royal sites, such as Stirling and Edinburgh, few Scottish castles were located at strategic points, or were intended to house garrisons required to defend or subjugate towns. Instead they were primarily fortified dwelling houses, erected in an environment of weak Royal authority and endemic feuding between rival clans and groups, in both Highland and Lowland areas. Although some enceinte castles were developed during the 16th and 17th centuries, most defensive construction focused on the tower house, a distinctive vernacular style of Scottish fortification. This book examines the design, development, and purpose of these quintessentially Scottish buildings, and also covers larger sites such as Urquhart and Blackness.

Spread across the medieval kingdom of England in a network of often formidable strongholds, castles, like cathedrals, are defining landmarks of their age, dominating their settings, in many cases even to this day. By representing an essential aspect of our history and heritage, the interpretation of which is constantly being revised, they demonstrate the value of Malcolm Hislop’s compact, authoritative and well illustrated new guide to English castles. The gazetteer includes an astonishing variety of types, sizes and designs. Individual entries bring out the salient points of interest including historical context, building history and architectural character. The defensive and domestic purposes of these remarkable buildings are explained, as is the way in which their layout and role developed over the course of hundreds of years, from the predominantly earth and timber fortresses of the Normans to the complex stone castles of the later Middle Ages, many of which can be visited today. Hislop’s experience as an archaeologist specializing in medieval buildings, castles in particular, as well as his eye for structural detail, ensure that his guide is a necessary handbook for readers who are keen on medieval history and warfare, and for visitors who are looking for an accessible introduction to these monumental relics of England’s military past.

The Yorkshire countryside’s ancient earthwork castles, built in the time of the Norman Conquest, come to life in this beautiful guide—includes pictures! The Norman conquest of the British isle was a landmark event in England’s history, drawing a line between its misty Roman and Saxon origins and the grand empire it would eventually become. Largely built after 1071, the era’s castles were basic earth-and-timber structures situated on high mounds known as mottes. Though these ancient structures have largely been forgotten, neglected, or in some cases even destroyed, many still exist today—and have fascinating stories to tell. Drawing on the Yorkshire Archeological & Historical Society archives, this comprehensive and knowledgeable guide explores the fascinating history of these enduringstructures. Providing a guide to seventy-five castles in total, the book offers detailed information and anecdotal trivia about each site.

A highly illustrated, fascinating description of the lost country houses of South and West Yorkshire.

Containing pictures from the county's top photographers, Sir Bernard tells the sometimes bloody, often romantic stories behind Yorkshire's rich and turbulent past through its impressive castles and fortifications.

The first of a three-volume survey of greater houses in England and Wales of the 14th and 15th centuries, first published in 1996.