As long as
I can remember I have been fascinated by castles. In the summer months during
my childhood my family went camping in various parts of the UK and we often
visited castles. Here I'm pictured sheltering from the rain at Pickering
Castle in Yorkshire with my father and sister.
Pickering
Castle has a fine example of a Shell Keep built on a motte
of about 1100. The last time I visited it was winter and was again raining.
The custodian was most surprised that I wanted to visit the castle. I'm afraid
little puts me off when it comes to castles.
I never lost the
habit of visiting historic sites. Here I'm pictured sat outside Santa
Maria del Naranco, a 9th century visigothic palace of King Ramiro, near
Oviedo, Spain, during a holiday in 1990. I managed to fit in visits to about
30 or so castles during this holiday in France and Spain including Falaise,
Coca, and Segovia's
Alcazar
I visit castles on a regular basis, assisted by my membership of English Heritage, who care for so many English castles. My main interest is the medieval castles of England and Wales although I do have a more general interest in medieval life and often visit churches and other medieval places, I don't travel abroad very often but when I do I'm always looking at the local castle and church.
I do occasionally allow myself to dream about building my own castle based
upon Castle Hedingham in Essex.
I have visited hundreds of castle
sites in England and Wales, ranging from grand
royal castles like Conwy
to half hidden mounds of earth in isolated church yards like Pulford, in Cheshire. To understand
castles in the wider context I also visit other medieval sites and I am always
reading some history book or other .
I have, a while ago, been a bit more directly involved in the presentation of the past and here I'm pictured in my guise as a 17th century farm labourer (pictured here enjoying some potage. - Notice the square plate, properly called a trencher, leading to the expressions 'trencherman' and 'square meal')
I am not a professional historian and have no academic qualifications in the field so please take my site as the work of an amateur enthusiast.