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Unfortunately, when you go to see a castle, the chances are it'll just be a fancy manor home that gets noticed because its owners call it a "castle", or you'll be seeing something that looks like this:
a castle
(image from www.castlewales.com)
(image from www.castlewales.com)
No, really. That's a castle. Or it was. Something known as a Motte and Bailey Castle. Most of the earliest ones were constructed out of wood and plaster. These grassy mounds are all that is left, and they are every-freaking-where. You probably walked over one on your country-side hike and didn't even know you were treading on historic Britain.
You may occasionally find a place with a single stone wall still erect, but you're very rarely ever going to get to see what the Hollywood movies produce. Few castles really stand in all their former glory, and there is a reason for it. Most castles, the big stone wonders of your imagination, were all destroyed to prevent them from being used to enemy advantages during war. Plus, with modern times approaching, no one wants to live in a big, drafty, cold building that is just a little bit more comfortable than a tomb.
However, there are a few castles that remain in good enough condition that they are worth visiting. The one I'd like to talk about today is Conisbrough Castle, just outside of Doncaster in Yorkshire.
an Official English Heritage Sight
Needless to say this castle is very impressive. Not only is the Keep (pictured) in such good condition that it still reaches it's original height of 90 feet, you're able to actually walk around inside (and on the surrounding grounds) for an easy £4.50. The outer wall still stands but is in pretty rough condition, and the remaining buildings are nothing but a foot tall outline of where the walls used to be. The Keep, however, is impressive beyond impressing. There had been earlier buildings on the sight but this castle in particular was built in the 1100s and is one of the few round shaped Keeps in the country, as they were not very popular to build. The entire history of the castle can be bought and read in the guidebook at the gift shop, and if you go, I suggest you make the purchase for £1.50, as it gives a full look at who lived and died here.
View of the grounds from the top of the Keep
Myself and a big fireplace inside the Keep
Now, why wasn't this castle destroyed like many of the others? Sadly, by the time of Henry VIII's reign, the castle had fallen victim to neglect. Most of the walls had fallen as well as one floor inside the keep, and thus reached what is believed to be its present state of ruin. Who can use a castle that has fallen under disrepair; a castle that is no longer defensible? No one. Conisbrough Castle survived because it was neglected. It was no longer suitable for defence, and it wasn't destroyed (like many others) to prevent enemy usage. The castle was simply useless. That is why it is still here today. This amazing, impressive piece of architecture and civilization, centuries old, saved.
If you want to come to Great Britain to see castles, Conisbrough needs to be on your list, or you'll be deeply sorry. We even saw a few Kestrel chicks sitting on one of the ledges high up in the keep, so it's not been completely abandoned. ;) There is also a small but beautiful chapel inside, it's ornate carved ceiling still visible to the point where you can imagine what it must have looked like brand new.
I love being in places like this. I've always had a strange sense of the people who used to roam the halls of old buildings and houses, a sense of the strong emotions, events, and secrets that the walls whisper about. No, I'm not suggesting I'm psychic, or a medium of any sort. I simply have a strong emotional tie to people and the things that happen to them and it makes me emotional. While you may not witness this change in me, other than that I might have gone a bit quiet, it's one of the reason I enjoy visiting historical sights. Yeah, castles are freaking cool, but the people who lived there were even more interesting. I didn't get the willies except once whilst standing in the small chamber known as the "privy". That's the toilet room, if you don't know. I did, however, feel much appreciation for the abilities of the people who were able to build and erect such an immense structure, and wondered what sort of people they were.
Boyfriend eating a sandwich next to the Keep.
I also wished I could have seen it when it was new, when it was glorious. I'm sad such a place was neglected, but I'm happy it wasn't destroyed like so many of the others. Conisbrough Caslte: it's a stop on the (your) Great British Roadtrip that shouldn't be missed.
