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THE GATEHOUSE
Philip
Davis
 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.
This sort of project is bound to require help from others. I am indebted to
the following for their help and support:
- The various authors from whom I've collected this data and who have
inspired me by their work and their great regard for the subject. Please see
the bibliography.
- Much of the bibliography for individual sites is derived from the three
excellent bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British
Archaeology (Volumns 2
and 3 are
available online) and the annual bibliography produced by him for the Castle
Studies Group.
- The National
Monument Record Team at Swindon for much information on various sites,
for running the PastScape
online National Monuments Database from which much of the information on
this site is derived and for there kindness in allowing me to use that
information.
- The various librarians, booksellers and museum curators who have helped
with requests for books and information.
- Jeff Thomas for his
praise, support, information and the inspiration provided by his web site.
- Michael Cook
for his praise and support.
- Andrew Muller for his photo of Holwell
Motte and Bailey.
- Paul Reeves for sharing his information on obscure castle sites.
- Peter Iles for his information on the castles of Lancashire.
- Richard Skinner for his information on Holme
Spinney.
- Michael Radcliffe for information on Parwich
'castle'.
- Jamie Ayers for information on Ceaser's
Tower, Coventry.
- Rebecca Roseff for helping to resolve some questions about possible
castles in Herefordshire.
- Neil Guy for general encouragement and suggestions on layout and content.
- Paul Remfry
for general support for the idea of the site and much specific information
on many castles in the Marches.
- Paul Brown for information on Oswestry
Castle and Town
Walls.
- David Roffe for
information on Newhouse
Castle and Grantham,
Lincolnshire and for help with design of this site.
- Rob Dixon for information on Boarstall
Tower, Buckinghamshire.
- Peter Ryder for sharing thoughts and comments on tower houses and bastles.
- Jon Seddon for locating 'Barkshale
Wood'.
- Will Davies for pointing out errors and adding information on castles
sites in Monmouthshire.
- Christopher Taylor for information on Hanwell
Castle.
- Peter Thompson for information on Ty
Gwyn, Barmouth.
- Phil Wood for information and a citation regarding Newbury
and Hamstead
Marshall castles.
- James Davidson for information and a citation regarding Hen
Domen, Llansantffraid Deuddwr.
- Charles Coulson for help with the list of licences
to crenellate.
- James Wright for information on East
Bridgford and Strelley
Hall in Nottinghamshire.
- David Maynard for pointing out an error and for information on several
sites in South Wales.
- Robert Waterhouse for information on some south Devon sites, particularly Keynedon
Barton.
- Me Mum and Dad for taking me to so many castles when I was young.
- Jan for
keeping me company at home and on trips to castles.
Registered Charity
No. 247283
“Safeguarding the past for the future”
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