Architecture: castles Books

Book SynopsisThe essential companion to discover the styles, architecture, form, significance and historical impact of castles from all over the world. How to Read Castles is a travel-size primer that takes a strictly visual approach to castle architecture, building up your vocabulary of castle types, styles and materials, and showing you how these aspects can be recognised across architectural features from the floor-plan and moat, to the towers and crenulations. Focusing on the 10th-16th century period, and crusading across the globe from a Welsh motte-and-bailey to a Japanese hirajiro, this is both an architectural reference and a visitor's guide showing you how to read the stories embedded in every castle’s stones. Castles once dominated the landscape as seats of power and symbols of wealth and status, providing a means of control over borders, passes, routes and rivers. Armed with this book you will be able to unpick their histories and see how they shaped the land around them. From rugged coastline defences to soaring mountain fortresses, this book takes you on an international journey of discovery, exploring some of the most inspiring and impressive architecture history has ever seen.Trade ReviewFor anyone beginning to take an interest in castle building, Hislop's book will prove a very sound introduction. -- John R Kenyon * Medieval Archaeology *Table of ContentsIntroduction The Grammar of Castles Function Design & Construction Castle Types Destruction & Revival Castles: Feature by Feature The Great Tower The Enceinte Tower, Turrets & Bartizans The Entrance Barbicans Wallhead Defences Accommodation Chapels Dungeons, Oubliettes & Prisons Doors & Windows Water Supply & Sanitation Heating Staircases Glossary Resources Gazetteer Index Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisDr Elizabeth Green is the National Trust's Senior National Curator for Wales and Architectural History. George Clarke is an architect, television presenter, campaigner and educator.Table of Contents• Introduction by George Clarke • Essay by Elizabeth Green • 60 REMARKABLE BUILDINGS • Glossary of terms • Index • Acknowledgements • Picture credits

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Book SynopsisAll the foul facts about the Measly Middle Ages are ready to uncover, including why chickens had their bottoms shaved, a genuine jester's joke and what ten-year-old treacle was used for. These bestselling titles are sure to be a huge hit with yet another generation of Terry Deary fans.

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Book Synopsis'' Haunted is a wonderful book: part history, part rumination on life, and, of course a haunting book about ghosts .... beautifully written, fascinating, deeply moving and thought-provoking.'' - James Holland''A proper page-turner .... A fascinating tangle of witches and mermaids, drowned fishers and dead warriors, ghostly planes and spectral horses .'' - Christopher Somerville, author of Ships of Heaven''One of the most enjoyable books on the paranormal I''ve read. Neil Oliver creates a bucket list of places to visit, perfect for both paranormal investigators and history buffs alike.'' - Nick Tyler, author of Haunted Yorkshire.......................................................................................................................................................................For longer than recorded history there have been tales of spirits and of places where our hackles rise and our skin turns col

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Book SynopsisFrom Tintagel Castle in Cornwall to Skibo Castle in the Scottishhighlands, Horrible Histories: Crackin' Castles covers the historyof Britain from the time of the Romans to the London Blitz. Filledwith adventure, danger, magic, sieges, treachery, spies, revengeand much more besides - all in a new Horrible Histories newspaperstyle!

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Book SynopsisFollowing the Armada, there was the bloodless invasion of 1688, Bonnie Prince Charlie’s march south, the remarkable American John Paul Jones’ attack on Whitehaven during the American War of Independence, the German occupation of the Channel Islands and – the great what if of British, perhaps world history – the threat of Operation Sealion.

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Book SynopsisJames of St George has a reputation as one of the most significant castle builders of the Middle Ages. His origins and early career at the heart of Europe, and his subsequent masterminding of Edward I of England's castle-building programmes in Wales and Scotland, bestow upon him an international status afforded to few other master builders retained by the English crown. The works erected under his leadership represent what many consider to be the apog e of castle development in the British Isles, and Malcolm Hislop's absorbing new study of the architecture is the most important reassessment to be published in recent times. His book explores the evolution of the Edwardian castle and James of St George's contribution to it. He gives a fascinating insight into the design, construction and organisation of such large-scale building projects, and the structural, military and domestic characters of the castles themselves. James's work on castles in the medieval duchy of Savoy is revisited, as are the native and foreign influences on the design of those he built for Edward I. Some seventy years after A.J. Taylor began his pioneering research into James of St George and his connection with Wales, the time is ripe for this revaluation of James's impact and of the extent of his influence on the architectural character of the

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Book SynopsisBe transported through time with this wonderful guidebook to Britain''s 60 best castles, and 60 delightful walks from and around them.Castles often sit in spectacular landscapes that also offer exceptional walking opportunities, and some of the best views of castles are from a distance, where they can be seen in the context of the landscape. The Walker''s Guide to the Castles of Britain will inspire both keen walkers to visit castles and castle visitors to explore the surrounding area, by describing 60 of the best and most popular castles in Great Britain and an accompanying delightful short walk from each. Each chapter describes the castle itself, its history and architectural features, and how those relate to the landscape that surrounds it, followed by an easy-to-navigate description of the walk itself. This absorbing text is accompanied by brilliant photography of the castle and the sights you will see on your walk, and a useful map to guide you on your way.From the well-known and popular castles such as St Michael''s Mount, Tintagel Castle, Corfe Castle and Edinburgh Castle, to the lesser-known gems like Kidwelly Castle, Castle Stalker and Framlingham Castle, The Walker''s Guide to the Castles of Britain will show you how to better enjoy the castles you already know and love and discover some new ones to add to your favourites list.

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Book SynopsisAn engaging exploration of the history of the castles of Scotland. Will appeal to all those who wish to know more about the history of the country as well as those interested in the story of its castles.

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Book SynopsisFrom the Highlands of Scotland to the plains of northern India, Castles of the World is a beautiful examination of past worlds viewed through strongholds that continue to enrich the modern landscape. They evoke an imagined age of aristocratic warriors and noble aspirations. Presented in a handy, pocket-sized format, arranged chronologically and illustrated with more than 200 colour photographs, Castles of the World examines more than 150 fortifications from across the world, from Cathar castles and Alpine schlösser to Norman keeps and Samurai strongholds. Discover how the 13th-century Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland was destroyed during the Jacobite rebellion of 1719; learn about Turkey’s Marmaris Castle, built in 1522 by Suleiman the Magnificent to support his attack on neighbouring Rhodes; and explore the Mughal-constructed Red Fort in Delhi, home of Muslim rulers from 1648 until 1803, and today a symbol of Indian nationalism.Table of ContentsIntroduction Ancient Forts Maiden Castle, near Dorchester, Dorset, England Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India Masada, Judea, Israel Euryalus, near Syracuse, Sicily, Italy Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi, Homs Governorate, Syria Early Medieval Castles Pembroke Castle, Pembrokeshire, Wales Château de Chillon, Lake Geneva, Switzerland Mehrangarh, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India Rayen Castle, Iran Bam Citadel, Iran Berat Citadel, Albania Alcazar Castle, Segovia, Spain Hochosterwitz Castle, Austria Blagai Castle, Bosnia Herzegovina Rabati Castle, Georgia Warwick Castle, England Corfe Castle, England Rudkhan Castle, Iran Kantara Castle, Cyprus Burg Gussing, Austria Elz Castle, Trier, Germany Edinburgh Castle, Scotland Guaita Fortress, San Marino Leeds Castle, Kent, England Crusader's citadel, Island of Pharaohs, Egypt 1100s Krak des Chevaliers, Syria Trim Castle, Ireland Nafpaktos Castle, Greece Heidelberg Castle, Germany Bran Castle, Romania Conwy Castle, Wales La Iruela, Cazoria, Spain Late Medieval Genoese Fortress, Sudak, Crimea, Ukraine Beersel Castle, Belgium Belogradchik Fortress, Bulgaria Bodiam Castle, England Castle Stalker, Scotland Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland Karlstein Castle, Czech Republic Koluvere Castle, Estonia Malbork Castle, Poland Olavinlinna, Finland Early Modern Castles and Palaces Château de Pierrefonds, Oise, France Osaka Castle, Japan Camber Castle, Rye, East Sussex, England Chateau de Chambord, France Egskov Castle, Denmark Morro Castle, Havana, Cuba Red Fort, India Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, Colombia Castle of Good Hope, South Africa Four Metal Cross, Ghana Romantic Palaces and Modern Strongholds Citadelle Henry Christophe, Haiti Neuschwanstein, Bavaria, Germany Hohenschwangau, Bavaria, Germany Hohenzollern Castle, Germamy Bojnice Castle, Slovakia Palacio Da Pena, Sintra, Portugal Vajdahunyad Castle, Hungary Watchtower, Gull Bay, Torteval, Guernsey, Channel Islands Maunsell Forts, English Channel

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Book SynopsisJourney across the world and throughout history to discover the world''s best and most unusual castles, and learn about their features, from the tallest turrets to the dingiest dungeons. Find out how castles have changed over time and what happened to the people who lived in them.A glimpse into the history of different castles around the world, the dramatic battles to conquer them, and the weapons that defended and defeated them.Travel through time and venture into the wonderful world of castles, from the extravagant châteaux of France, to the impenetrable fortresses of Japan.Find out why castles were built and witness some of the most famous sieges in history. Trek across the world to visit castles perched on perilous clifftops and exotic islands. Meet the medieval rulers who built the grandest castles and forts, and the modern tycoons who splashed out money trying to replicate them.Discover why the spiral staircases in castles always turned c

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Book SynopsisA NEW STATESMAN BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020 ''An extraordinary achievement . . . gripping, grim and witty'' Robert MacFarlane ''Unputdown-able ... No book could be more timely'' Richard J Evans Today, the bunker has become the extreme expression of our greatest fears: from pandemics to climate change and nuclear war. And once you look, it doesn''t take long to start seeing bunkers everywhere. In Bunker, acclaimed urban explorer and cultural geographer Bradley Garrett explores the global and rapidly growing movement of ''prepping'' for social and environmental collapse, or ''Doomsday''. From the ''dread merchants'' hustling safe spaces in the American mid-West to eco-fortresses in Thailand, from geoscrapers to armoured mobile bunkers, Bunker is a brilliant, original and never less than deeply disturbing story from the frontlines of the way we live now: an illuminating reflection on our age of disquiet and Trade ReviewHow prescient and timely ... This is a tartly thoughtful work, by turns witty and philosophical, with an undercurrent of anger at the way we are governed and the commodification of existential fear. He writes pacily, bringing to vivid life a gallery of survivalist wingnuts, conmen and evangelists. -- Nick Curtis * Evening Standard *A kind of apocalyptic Super Size Me, in which the author force feeds himself a steady diet of paranoia, conspiracy, eschatology and end-times architecture. -- Chris Hall * The Guardian *This baseball-cap wearing academic is the world's leading expert on survivalists ... But he never expected Bunker to be so topical. -- Rachel Sylvester and Alice Thomson * The Times *Brilliant ... Bunker, self-evidently a work for our times, shimmers with a Ballardian imagery of disaster and melt-down. -- Ian Thomson * The Spectator *Bunker is a thoughtful study into the nature of paranoia and the people who try to profit from it - and it makes for a page-turning read. -- Nathan Brooker * Financial Times *A scary, unputdown-able account ... No book could be more timely as we stay in our own little bunkers to avoid infection, strip the supermarket shelves of loo paper, and squirrel away supplies of food to see us through the shortages that many fear will follow a no-deal Brexit. -- Richard J Evans * New Statesman *This study of bunker sites and the people preparing for the worst couldn't be better timed. -- Andrew Anthony * The Observer *Garrett's research has involved hanging out with millenarian fruitcakes, disaster profiteers and the uber-rich, not to mention tooled-up, swivel-eyed anarcho-libertarians from America to Australia ... His sense is that disaster gives us an opportunity to rethink how we live. What will we learn? -- Stuart Jeffries * The Guardian *This is a gripping and timely book about both the 'architecture of dread' and its multi-billion dollar industry, and what the growing appetite for bunkers reveals about the social conditions in which we live. * New Statesman *Garrett is a bright and buoyant guide and Bunker rattles briskly along ... A necessary read. * Literary Review *Bradley Garrett spent three years meeting doomsday preppers for his book Bunker ... If we work together, he thinks, there is no reason that a future global catastrophe has to become an apocalypse. Well, that's something. -- Luke Mintz * Sunday Telegraph *Bunker is an extraordinary achievement; a big-thinking, deep-diving, page-turning study of fear, privilege and apocalypse told through the space of the bunker. Garrett has written a gripping, grim, witty work of geography and ethnography, which he completed - with eerie timeliness - in the first weeks of the COVID pandemic. A book about prepping and prognostication, then, which had already foretold its own future. -- Robert MacFarlaneGarrett's book forces readers to reassess other assumptions about bunkers and those who own them. -- Jack Grove * Times Higher Education *There are many strands in this book ... [Garrett] brings sharp insight to a subject that no longer seems so remote or speculative. -- Mika Ross-Southall * Times Literary Supplement *A highly addictive book ... What makes Garrett's book fascinating is his portrayal of the balance between fringe thinking and the real world. -- Nick Smith * E&T Magazine *Bunker benefits from the mere fact of taking its protagonists seriously as humans and as members of society, rather than as outlandish characters. -- Julian Sayarer * openDemocracy *Garrett spent several years travelling the world, going down into bunkers and talking to their owners and tenants. His book is an incredible record of that journey, and also functions as a philosophical or psychological disquisition about space, about freedom, about survival. Bunker is an incredible read and will surely sell in quite enormous numbers, assuming the human race remains intact and can still read. -- Steve Braunias * New Zealand Herald *

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Book SynopsisDesigned to dominate the surrounding area, to house powerful garrisons, offer sumptuous quarters for local nobility, and to discourage and repel enemy attacks, castles dominated England and Wales for more than half a millennium. Though some were built before 1066, the Norman Conquest left a lasting legacy in the form of fortifications ranging from small earthworks now barely discernible, to mighty and dominating stone fortresses. This book examines why castles were so essential to medieval warfare, their importance in domestic politics, and the day-to-day lives of those who lived and worked within them. It also shows how the development of new technologies affected their construction and design, and why they eventually fell into disrepair in the late Middle Ages. Beautifully illustrated with stunning photographs, this is the perfect guide for any castle enthusiast seeking to discover more about medieval fortifications and their inhabitants.Table of ContentsCastles of Conquest Castles of Settlement Castle Development Castles of Conflict Building a Castle Life in a Castle Later Years and Decline Further Reading Places to Visit Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisLANCASTER CASTLE is one of Britain's major historic monuments. For over 900 years it has dominated the hilltop looking out over the river Lune and the city of Lancaster. Owned by Her Majesty the Queen in her role as Duke of Lancaster, the castle has a unique history, and who better to tell that history than Colin Penny and Graham Kemp. Between them they have almost 40 years of experience in managing the museum of the castle, researching its history and telling its tales to tourists from around the world. This book charts the growth and development of the castle from medieval times to the present day, but also explores the use of the site during the Roman period. Colin Penny and Graham Kemp give us an accurate historical account at the same time as bringing Lancaster Castle to life with their sometimes amusing and sometimes macabre anecdotes. This is no dry historical text, but a riveting story written by two people who have a passion for and intimate knowledge of this iconic building.Table of ContentsDedication vi Foreword vii Introduction ix The Romans on Castle Hill 1 Castle Foundation and Norman History, 1066-1260 12 Earldom and Dukedom of Lancaster 27 Lancaster Castle Assizes 44 Prisoners of Religious Conscience 57 The Lancashire Witches: 1612 71 The English Civil War and the Jacobites 83 Debtors 88 Notable Trials, Cases and Prisoners, 1795-1981 98 Prison Reform 116 Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries 147 Further Reading 163

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Book SynopsisHadrian''s Wall was a small part of the thousands of miles of Roman frontiers, but presents the most magnificent spectacle. Its 90-mile length was conceived on a grand scale, with a stone wall 10 Roman feet thick and 15 high, and has been the subject of research for four centuries. There is, however, one aspect which has never been studied in detail: the practicalities of how it was actually built.This book examines every aspect of the work needed to construct the Wall, and analyses all the building operations including quarrying, stone dressing, transport and scaffolding. It is presented in a form accessible to the interested layman as well as to the student, and among other new conclusions throws light on the attitude of the Roman army to the work.

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Book SynopsisEdward Couzens-Lake takes a look at the history behind the ruins and follies of the beautiful East Anglia.

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Book SynopsisCastles and palaces around the world are structures of grandeur, might and beauty. From the flamboyance of Germany's fairy tale-Neuschwanstein Castle to the gothic, Dracula-inspiring Bran Castle, perched high in the craggy peaks of Romania's Carpathian Mountains; Tokyo's Imperial Palace, previously home to samurai warriors to Ireland's Blarney Castle, where 'the gift of the gab' will be granted to any who kiss its stone, the world's castles and palaces are steeped in history and stories to tell. Travel writer and journalist Gilly Pickup shares these stories, providing a tour of 50 of the world's greatest castles and palaces, filled with humour, interesting facts and tips on how best to visit them.

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Book SynopsisA compact, accessible guide to 37 of Wales''s celebrated castles detailing their construction, ownership and uses. Each entry is accompanied by superb photography of the castle, key points of interest and character and their position in the landscape.

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Book SynopsisAn extremely comprehensive, fully illustrated guide to the history and evolution of the castle under Wales' native rulers (c.1066-1283). Spectacular aerial photography, plans and reconstruction drawings examine the various architectural designs and layouts that created the distinctive form of the Welsh castle.Trade ReviewThis handsome, elaborate volume is a comprehensive, fully illustrated guide to the history and evolution of the castle mainly under Wales’ native rulers (c. 1066–1283). The author, a professional surveyor and a former member of staff of the Dyfed Archaeological Trust, has been researching intensively the history of Welsh castles ever since the 1980s, and among his twelve published works on the historic monuments of Wales and the border areas is his previous volume, Castles of the Welsh Princes (Y Lolfa, 2007). The present authoritative volume is a much-expanded version of the 2007 study and takes full account of the intensive research undertaken on the ground and a full re-consideration of earlier work completed over the last fifteen years or so. The author estimates that at least 500 castles existed in mediaeval Wales, and the total may well have been as high as 700. Indeed, one of the greatest strengths of the work is its amalgam of rigorous academic research and exhausting fieldwork. The study is neatly and sensibly divided into three complimentary parts. The first provides a concise, scholarly overview of the political history of Wales from the dark ages, through to the Anglo-Welsh wars of the thirteenth century during the frenzied reigns of Henry III and Edward I, the Edwardian conquest of 1282 and the political settlement imposed thereafter. Some attention is given to the revolts of the post-Conquest period, notably the Owain Glyndŵr rebellion which broke out in 1400. There is firm evidence of the inclusion of the latest historical research throughout this section of the book, with its helpful endnote references. There follows a briefer introduction to the architectural features of the Welsh castles. The various categories of wooden castles are considered first, primarily the well-known, distinctive motte-and-bailey castles introduced by the Norman invaders from the late eleventh century. A particular problem arises when trying to identify the builders of these early structures which were inevitably vulnerable to fire, and their lifespan was of necessity relatively short. From about 1200 onwards the use of stone was thus becoming more commonplace, but the castles still pose real problems of dating, especially those constructed prior to the 1282 conquest. Much detailed information is included here on the methods of castle construction, the typical characteristics of these towering edifices, and the potential considerable costs involved – under severely restrictive mediaeval conditions and the relative penury of the native Welsh princes (compared with the resources then available to the English crown). Attention is given to the wide array of uses and functions of the typical mediaeval castle. It was, of course, a tangible symbol of the authority and prestige of each individual prince or marcher lord. Military campaigns were often organised and executed from them. In more peaceful times the castle was a place of residence and the centre of administration for the management of the surrounding estate, where taxes and tolls might conveniently be levied and collected. They could also serve as a judicial centre and often a convenient prison house. The history of each individual castle was certainly different, but in almost all cases their military and defensive functions assumed the highest priority rather than the aesthetic features which became much more significant to later generations from the Tudor period onwards. Part 3 of the book comprises a helpful and detailed gazetteer of the castles built by the three most prominent royal dynasties of the pre-1282 period, notably Gwynedd, Powys and Deheubarth. These are followed by a list of those castles for which the minor royal lines in Wales were responsible. Each entry in this section comprises a helpful history of the edifice in question and its background, outlines the features of each castle which are still standing today, and provides details for the present-day traveller of how to reach each individual castle. In many cases, the castles of yesteryear survive, if at all, only as overgrown earthworks. Many of these edifices remained a vital part of mediaeval life until at least the fifteenth century when they were superseded by more modern structures more suitable for modern methods of waging war. The rich array of sources used by the author are noted at the foot of each entry. And some superb photographs, many of these aerial, plans and sketches are also included throughout this part of the study and help us to examine in depth the various architectural designs and layouts that created the distinctive form of the pre-1282 Welsh castle. There are also a number of maps prepared for this study. Helpful features of the work include simplified family trees of each of the three main royal dynasties in pre-1282 Wales, a note on the complex field of Welsh heraldry, and a large number of helpful suggestions for further reading in this fascinating field. -- J. Graham Jones @ www.gwales.com

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Book SynopsisSpread 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.His

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Book SynopsisThe perfect stocking filler for lovers of English Castles.A handy guide to England's most dramatic castles and strongholds, many of which are open to visitors. Includes an eight-page map section showing the locations of castles covered in the book.Features historical background and architectural details for each of the castles, accompanied by beautiful colour photographs. The book covers the major sites of Windsor, Warwick and Leeds Castle, as well as lesser known fortresses scattered across the country.Includes details on the property's custodianship, whether cared for by the National Trust, English Heritage or another body, a description of the gardens where relevant, location, website and phone number.A concise guide to English castles in an accessible format.Of interest to English, local and architectural historians, as well as international visitors to England.

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Book SynopsisThis book celebrates the most popular Irish castles, from the Norman fortress of Bunratty to the five-star splendour of Ashford, from medieval Malahide to dramatic Dunluce, as well as introducing you to some of Ireland's most famous castle owners such as Grace O'Malley (Rockfleet) and W.B. Yeats (Thoor Ballylea).

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Book SynopsisAn expert on Roman frontier infrastructure, he has conducted extensive research of Hadrian’s Wall, and is the author of Hadrian's Coastal Route: Ravenglass to Bowness-on-Solway (also published by The History Press).

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Book SynopsisThe castle is an evocative structure, no matter its setting, and this is no truer than in Scotland, where the multitude of castles reflect the country's turbulent history: its many conflicts and skirmishes, whether against invaders from the north, the English to the south or between clans. Castle building reflected the dual needs to control a population and protect against rebellion and invaders. They have been the scenes for some of the most dramatic deeds in British history throughout war and political confl ict and, of course, without the strategic and psychological effect of castles the feudal system would have been impossible. In this well-researched and beautifully illustrated book, Marc Alexander explores the story of Scotland's castles, featuring many vivid tales from history and legend, and showcasing a wide range of its incredible wealth of castles.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive and concise guide to all medieval English castles of which something can still be seen today, ranging from the massive keeps which still dominate the landscape to grassy earthworks and Border pele towers, and spanning the centuries from the Norman Conquest to the accession of the TudorsA well-written contribution to the literature on the subject, and will interest both the historically minded tourist and, as a reference book, the scholar. WAR IN HISTORY A comprehensive and concise guide to all medieval English castles of which something can still be seen today, ranging from the massive keeps which still dominate the landscape to grassy earthworks and Border pele towers, and spanning the centuries from the Norman Conquest to the accession of the Tudors. English Castles contains over five hundred main entries in county order, each giving a brief history and description of the castle. A short introduction supplies the historical background to the explosion of castle-building in the middle ages, and there is a glossary covering all aspects of castles in some detail. There are also full Ordnance Survey map references.Trade ReviewA well-written contribution to the literature on the subject, and will interest both the historically minded tourist and, as a reference book, the scholar. * WAR IN HISTORY *If you want detailed information about every castle in England then this book can't be beaten. * WWW.CASTLEXPLORER.CO.UK *Table of ContentsBedfordshire; Berkshire; Buckinghamshire; Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire; Cheshire; Cornwall; County Durham; Cumberland; Derbyshire; Devon; Dorset; Essex; Gloucestershire; Hampshire; Herefordshire; Hertfordshire; Isle of Wight; Kent; Lancashire; Leicestershire and Rutland;; Lincolnshire; Middlesex; Norfolk; Northamptonshire; Northumberland; Nottinghamshire; Oxfordshire; Scilly Isles; Shropshire; Somerset; Staffordshire; Suffolk; Surrey; Sussex; Warwickshire; Westmorland and Furness; Wiltshire; Worcestershire; Yorkshire - East Riding and York; Yorkshire - North Riding; Yorkshire - West Riding.

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Book SynopsisA history of Britain's architectural masterpieces from the Georgians to today, with 200 magnificent pictures.

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Book SynopsisHighly illustrated history of European fortifications and fortified lines of the world wars.

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Book SynopsisThe formidable strongholds built by thecrusaders are among the most iconic castlesof the Middle Ages. These mighty structuresoffer fascinating insights into the lives ofthose who built and occupied them, and therole they played in the region's deep history ofconflict. The castle of Kerak, in modernJordan, is one of the largest, most imposingand best preserved of them all, and MichaelFulton's detailed, authoritative and highlyillustrated account is the ideal guide to it.His close analysis of the fabric of thismonumental building, and his description ofthe centuries of conflict associated with it,make absorbing reading. He takes the readerthrough the early military history of thecastle from the time it was constructed inthe 1140s by Pagan the Butler, through theprovocative actions of Reynald of Châtillonand Saladin's capture of the castle in 1188.He also recounts its later history underMuslim rule, when the castle served as atreasury for the Ayyubid and Mamluksultans of Egypt. Falling i

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Book SynopsisThe fascinating story of the buildings that have helped to defend Wales throughout its history from the Iron Age to the twentieth century.

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Book SynopsisAn illustrated study of the history of the Moscow Kremlin, a metaphor for Russia, a symbol for its government and an enduring icon of the country.A fortified complex covering 70 acres at the heart of Moscow, behind walls up to 18m high and watched over by 20 towers, the Kremlin houses everything from Russia's seat of political power to glittering churches. This is a fortress that has evolved over time, from the original wooden guard tower built in the 11th century to the current stone and brick complex, over the years having been built, burnt, besieged and rebuilt. Starting with the initial building of a wooden watch tower on the banks of the Moskva river in the 11th century, this book follows the Kremlin''s tumultuous history through rises and falls and various iterations to today, supported by photographs, specially commissioned artwork and maps. In the process, it tells a story of Russia, and also unveils a range of mysteries around the fortress, from the 14th-century undergrTrade ReviewThis well-illustrated book with its photographs of reconstructions to show how may have looked 700 years ago , is a remarkable piece of history telling. -- Laurent Tirone * Gun Mart and Milita Mart Magazine *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chronology The Moscow Gorod – The early wooden incarnations, including detail on design and construction, culminating in the razing of the later fort by the Mongols in the 13th century. A White-Stone Fortress – The construction of the first stone Kremlin by Dmitry Donskoi in the 14th century, again with information on the design and construction. Red Brick Kremlin – The expansion and development of the Kremlin over the years, including the building of new walls and towers and evolution to keep pace with military technologies. Times of Troubles – The 17th century: A summary of the actual combat experiences of the stone Kremlin, especially looking the 1680 siege of the city by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Napoleon and Nicholases – The fate of the Kremlin when Napoleon took it in 1812. Red Fortress – The Kremlin in the 20th century, including a description of the defences added as the Germans approached and attacked Moscow in 194–42. Twenty Towers - Analysis of the 20 towers around the Kremlin walls. Today's Kremlin – An overview of its current roles, including detail about its defences, from the Presidential Regiment barracked in the old Arsenal Building (known as Block 14) to the systems jamming drones and GPS in the area and the helipad built for a rapid evacuation of the president. Bibliography – including a few of the best Russian-language sources. Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisThe Wars of the Roses is one of the most dramatic and fascinating periods in medieval history. Much has been written about the leading personalities, bitter dynastic rivalries, political intrigues, and the rapid change of fortune on the battlefields of England and Wales. However, there is one aspect that has been often overlooked, the role of castles in the conflict. Dan Spencer's original study traces their use from the outbreak of civil war in the reign of Henry VI in the 1450s to the triumph of Henry VII some thirty years later. Using a wide range of narrative, architectural, financial and administrative sources, he sheds new light on the place of castles within the conflict, demonstrating their importance as strategic and logistical centres, bases for marshalling troops, and as fortresses Dan Spencer's book provides a fascinating contribution to the literature on the Wars of the Roses and to the study of siege warfare in the Middle Ages.

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Book SynopsisAn ancient hilltop fortress. A crusader citadel in the West Bank. A fairytale medieval castle fallen into ruin. From ancient times to the end of the nineteenth century, Abandoned Castles explores more than 100 forts, castles and defensive strongholds from all around the globe. From medieval Japanese castles to Spanish colonial forts in West Africa to Norman stone keeps, the book ranges widely across history. Many have long ceased to serve a purpose, but then, like the crusader castle Krak de Chevaliers in Syria today, their impenetrable walls become the site of more fighting centuries later. Others, such as the Cathar Château de Queribus in southern France, stand high above peaceful coastlines, testament to the wars of the past. Some are beautiful, others brutal, but each tells a story about the way we fought and defended ourselves, and how the building has survived and aged, long after the people it was built by are gone. With 150 outstanding colour photographs, Abandoned Castles is a brilliant pictorial examination of castles, forts, keeps, and defensive fortifications from the ancient world to the end of the nineteenth century.Table of ContentsIntroduction ANCIENT TIMES TO DARK AGES Eleutherae, Attica, Greece Danebury, Hampshire, England Masada, Judea, Israel Euryalus, near Syracuse, Sicily, Italy Coria, Northumberland, England Qal’at al-Bahrain, Bahrain Palace of Darius, Persepolis, Ira Circular Tower, Coastal Fortress, Qal’at al-Bahrain, Bahrain Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India Theodosian Walls, Istanbul, Turkey Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi, Homs Governorate, Syria EARLY MEDIEVAL PERIOD Coity Castle, Glamorgan, Wales Yamchun, Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan Riba de Santiuste, Guadalajara, Spain Helmsley Castle, North Yorkshire, England Château de Saint-Ulrich, Haut-Rhin, France Crac des Chevaliers, Homs Governorate, Syria Beaufort Castle, Nabatieh Governorate, Lebanon Araburg Castle, Lower Austria, Austria Rocco Calascio, Abruzzo, Italy Govone, Savona, Liguria, Italy Loarre Castle, Huesca, Aragon, Spain Dunamase Castle, County Laois, Leinster, Ireland Drachenfels, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany Clock Tower, Gjirokastër Fortress, Gjirokastër, Albania Beaufort Castle, Luxembourg Corfe Castle, Dorset, England Pendragon Castle, Cumbria, England Bait Jibrin, Southern District, Israel Château de Brésis, Gard, France Belvoir Fortress, Northern District, Israel Malbork Castle, Poland Château Gaillard, Eure, Normandy, France LATE MEDIEVAL PERIOD Château de Montgilbert, near Vichy, Allier, France Tintagel, Cornwall, England Caerlaverock Castle, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland Château d’Alleuze, Cantal, Auvergne, France Teczyn, Kraków-Czestochowa Upland, Poland Château de l’Ortenbourg, Alsace, France Beaupre, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales Ogrodzieniec, Krakow-Czestochowa Upland, Poland Rabi Castle, Bohemia, Czech Republic Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Château de Montségur, Ariège, Occitanie, France Carew Castle, Pembrokeshire, Wales Hammerhus, Bornholm, Denmark Altenstein, Bavaria, Germany Auchindoun Castle, Moray, Scotland Old Wardour Castle, Wiltshire, England Nakijin Castle, Okinawa, Japan Château de Quéribus, Aude, France Frangocastello, Chania Prefecture, Crete, Greece Tamagusuku, Okinawa, Japan Olsztyn, Silesia, Poland Dolwyddelan Castle, Conwy County Borough, Wales Leamaneh Castle, County Clare, Ireland Castle Stalker, Loch Linnhe, Argyll, Scotland Dobele Castle, Semigallia, Latvia Okor Castle, Bohemia, Czech Republic Hrusov Castle, Slovakia Fortress of Asklipio, Rhodes, Greece Hovenweep Castle, Utah, USA Takeda Castle, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan Kilchurn Castle, Loch Awe, Argyll and Bute, Scotland Nakagusuku, Okinawa, Japan Zakimi Castle, Okinawa, Japan EARLY MODERN ERA Citadelle de Palais, Belle-Île-en-Mer, Brittany, France Ballycarbery Castle, County Kerry, Ireland Bourtzi, Methoni Castle, Messenia, Peloponnese, Greece Palmanova, Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy Janjira, Maharashtra, India Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan, India Fakhr al-Din al-Maani citadel, Palmyra, Homs Province, Syria Carbury Castle, County Kildare, Ireland Mortella Tower, Corsica, France Dunluce Castle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland Golconda, near Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India Dunluce Castle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland Ardvreck Castle, Loch Assynt, Sutherland, Scotland Fort San Lorenzo, Colón, Panama Fort Mahon, Ambleteuse, Pas-de-Calais, France Krzyztopor Castle, Swietokrzyskie Province, Poland Fort Paté, Blaye, Gironde, Aquitane, France Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, Takahashi, Okayama Prefecture, Japan Minard Castle, Dingle Bay, County Kerry, Ireland Twizell Castle, Northumberland, England IMPERIAL ERA Mow Cop Castle, Mow Cop, Odd Rode, Cheshire, England Cape Coast Castle, Ghana Ussher Fort, Accra, Ghana Fort James, Accra, Ghana Palamidi, Nafplio, Peloponnese, Greece Kincasslagh, County Donegal, Ireland Martello Tower, Bawdsey, Suffolk, England Carleton Martello Tower, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada Fort Alexander, St. Petersburg, Russia Fort Union, Mora Valley, New Mexico, USA Buchanan Castle, Stirlingshire, Scotland Château de Noisy, Celles, Namur, Belgium Fort Gilkicker, Gosport, Hampshire, England Fort Zverev, Kronstadt, near St Petersburg, Russia Hajmasker Barracks, Hajmasker, Hungary Bannerman Castle, Pollepel Island, Hudson River, New York State, USA Fort de Malamot, Mont Malamot, Savoy, France Fort Richmond, New York City, USA Gun Turrets, Askold Island, Fokino, Russia

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Book SynopsisRuined cities overgrown by jungle. Towns buried beneath the ground. Statues lying half- hidden in the sand. Why do civilisations collapse? Why are towns abandoned? And how do once mighty cities come to be forgotten about? From the pyramids of Egypt to the ruins at Angkor in Cambodia and on to the mysteries of the Easter Island moai statues, Abandoned Civilisations is a brilliant pictorial work examining lost worlds. What emerges is a picture of how vast societies can rise, thrive and then collapse. We admire how whole cities develop, but equally fascinating is what happens when their moment has passed. From the 9th century temples at Khajuraho in India which were lost in the date palm trees until stumbled across by European engineers in the 19th century to Mayan pyramids in the Guatemalan jungle to Roman cities semi-buried – but consequently preserved – in the North African desert, the book explores why societies fall and what, once abandoned, they leave behind to history. With 150 striking colour photographs exploring 100 worlds, Abandoned Civilisations is a fascinating visual history of the mysteries of lost societies.Table of ContentsIntroduction Africa The Great Sphinx of Giza – The oldest known monumental sculpture, but we’re not sure who made, when exactly or why. At times so much sand built up that it only seemed to be a stone head in the desert. The Egyptian Pyramids – Nineteenth century explorers thought that there were 67 pyramids in Egypt – in fact there are twice that number, many buried in the sand. Abu Simbel, Egypt Luxor Temple, Egypt Carthage, Tunisia Cave paintings, Tassili, Algeria Timgad, Algeria – The Roman city of Timgad was abandoned more than once. When the Byzantines arrived in the city in the 6th century, they found it empty. It was later gradually consumed – but preserved – by the sands of the Sahara. Naqa or Naga, Sudan – including Lion Temple of Apedemak and Temple of Amun Nubian Pyramids, Meroe, Sudan Laas Geel Cave Art, Hargeisa, Somaliland – Laas Geel’s rock art is estimated to date to somewhere between 9,000 and 3,000 years BC. Cave of Beasts, Western Desert of Egypt – cave art from more than 7,000 years ago. Wadi Mathendusch, Libya – engraving of ox Twyfelfontein, Namibia – rock art Terracotta artefacts from Djenné peoples of Mali, from 13th century Great Zimbabwe Asia Harappa/Indus Valley Civilization/Mohenjo-daro, Pakistan Dharmarajika Stupa, Taxila, Pakistan - 2nd century CE, devastated by White Huns in 5th century and then abandoned Angkor, Cambodia – Built in the early 12th century AD, the temple city fell into decline in the 16th century. Persepolis, Iran – The capital of the Achaemenid Empire (550–330BC). Alexander the Great allowed his troops to loot the city and it was also partly destroyed by fire. Naqsh-e Rustam, Iran – 12km from Persepolis Chogha Zanbil, an Elamite ziggurat in Iran abandoned in 640BC Borobudur, Java – A ninth century temple with 504 Buddhas, the compound was abandoned in the 14th century with the conversion of Java to Islam. Lost in the jungle, it was rediscovered in the 19th century. Khajuraho, India – Temples from the 9th century AD that were lost in the date palm jungle until a British engineer in the 19th century was led to them. Now a new town has built up around them. Sat Mahal Ziggurat, Sri Lanka Ajanta Caves, India – Hindu and Jain temples as old as the 2nd century BC lost in the jungle until they were stumbled across in the 19th century. Merv, Turkmenistan Erk Kala (or Kyz-Kala) – the citadel in the city of Merv, Turkmenistan Van Fortress, Urartu, Armenia – 9th century BCE Terracotta Army, China – A collection of 8,000 sculptures of the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209BC, the purpose of which was to protect the emperor in his afterlife. It was found by chance by farmers in 1974. Stone City Kashgar, China Mogao Caves, China – Beginning in the 4th century AD, these caves in northwest China were on the Silk Road trade route west. They include some of the most impressive Buddhist art. After the Silk route ceased being used in the 10th century, the caves were gradually abandoned. Today, manuscripts are still being found as new caves in the complex are discovered. Niya ruins, Xinjiang, China – ruins of a city once important on the Silk Road Jiaohe ruins, Xinjiang, China – ruins of a city once important on the Silk Road Bhimbetka rock shelters, Raisen District, Madhya Pradesh, India Maros Rock Art, South Sulawesi, Calabria, Indonesia The Middle East Masada, Israel – It is believed that in 73/74AD, the 700 Jews besieged in the mountain city of Masada killed themselves rather than surrender to the Romans. Although the story was known from histories, the location of Masada itself was not identified until the 19th century. Beit She’an, Israel – Roman city Temple of Bacchus, Baalbek, Lebanon – well-preserved Roman temple Temple of Obelisks, Byblos, Lebanon Ain Dara Temple, Syria – Iron Age Syro-Hittite temple. According to the excavator Ali Abu Assaf, it was in existence from 1300 BC until 740 BC. Ruins of Ebla, Syria - an important centre throughout the third millennium BC and in the first half of the second millennium BC. Roman Theatre, Bosra, Syria Serjilla, Dead Cities of Syria – abandoned in 7th century with Arab conquest Mushabbak Basilica, nr Aleppo, Dead Cities of Syria Kharab Shams Basilica, nr Aleppo, Dead Cities of Syria Church of Saint Simeon Stylites, nr Aleppo, Dead Cities of Syria Palmyra, Syria, including the Valley of the Tombs/necropolis Hattusa, Capital of Hittite Empire, Turkey Fortress of Van, Turkey Ziggurat Birs Nimrud, Borsippa, Iraq Site of the Settlement of Uruk, Iraq Ctesiphon, Iraq – One of the great cities of late ancient Mesopotamia, Ctesiphon fell into ruin in the 7th century AD. Petra, Jordan – Established possibly as early as 312BC, the site was unknown to the Western World until 1812. The city had declined under Roman rule, suffered from earthquakes and a weakened water supply. It was finally abandoned after the Arab invasions in the 7th century AD. Harran, Turkey Çatalhöyük, Southern Anatolia, Turkey – Neolithic and Chalcolithic proto-city settlement Ani, Turkey – A medieval settlement destroyed by the Mongols in the 13th century. Europe & Eurasia Stonehenge, England – Built sometime between 3,000BC and 2,000BC by a culture that left no written text, this prehistoric monument still mystifies us: what was it for and how was it built? Hadrian’s Wall, England Carnac Standing Stones, Brittany, France Dolmen Er-Roc'h-Feutet., Brittany, France Hagar Qim, Malta - a megalithic temple complex dating from the Ġgantija phase (3600- 3200 BC) Minoan Civilization – Knossos Palace, Crete Pompeii, Italy – Destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD, Pompeii was lost and buried for 1500 years before being rediscovered in the 16th century. Acropolis, Athens, Greece Cerveteri, Etruscan Necropolis, Italy Saintes Roman Amphitheatre (Mediolanum Santonum), Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France – overgrown amphitheatre Pula Amphitheatre, Pula, Croatia – The Arena is the only remaining Roman amphitheatre to have four side towers and with all three Roman architectural orders entirely preserved. Catacombs, Rome – Chambers under Rome were used for hundreds of years to bury both Christian and Jewish dead. Churches with even built and frescos painted on the walls. After the waning of Roman civilization in the city in the 5th century AD, the catacombs were forgotten about for 1000 years until they were rediscovered in 1578. Lascaux Cave Art, France Magura Cave, Bulgaria Cueva de El Castillo (Cave of the Castle), Cantabria, Spain – Europe’s oldest cave art Cave of Altamira, Cantabria, Spain – cave art Creswell Crags, Derbyshire, England – evidence of Prehistoric occupation in the caves and some cave art Chauvet Cave Art, France The Americas & The Pacific Cueva de las Manos (Cave of Hands), Santa Cruz, Argentina – cave art Great Mural Rock Art, Baja California, Mexico Teotihuacan pyramids, near Mexico City – Begun around 100BC, the city of Teotihuacan was sacked in the 6th century. At its height, it would have been the largest pre-Columbian city in the Americas, with a population of 125,000. Tikal, Guatemala – Lost in the jungle until 1853, the civilization began in the 4th century BC and reached its peak – with its Mayan pyramids – in the 2nd to 9th centuries AD. Copan, Honduras – A major Mayan city from the 5-9th century AD that was abandoned by the time the Spanish arrived in the 15th century AD. Olmec, Mexico Tulum, Mexico – A Mayan, coastal city Palenque, Mexico – A Mayan city that flourished in the 7th century AD. The ruins date back to 226BC. After its decline, it was absorbed by the jungle. Calakmul - Mayan city and pyramid, Campeche state, Mexico Templo Mayor at Tenochtitlan, Mexico City – Aztec ruins Nazca Lines, Peru Macchu Picchu, Peru – A 15th-century mountain Incan site that was abandoned before the Europeans reached Peru. The site was unknown to the wider world until brought to international attention in 1911 by an American historian. Choquequirao, Peru – Incan site similar to Macchu Picchu Pyramids of the Caral Supe civilization, Peru – One of the oldest urban centres in the Americas, this desert settlement, including pyramids and a giant stone face, lasted from c.2600 to c.2000BC, and was discovered in 1948. Terraces of Pumatallis, ancient Inca fortress and mountains, Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, Peru Moray circular terraces, Inca civilization, Ollantaytambo, Peru Tucume Mounds, Valley of the pyramids, Peru Ciudad, Perdida, Colombia – A Tairona settlement abandoned during the Spanish conquest. Cahokia Mounds, Illinois, USA – Native American city Mesa Verde, Colorado – The Anasazi inhabited Mesa Verde cliff dwellings between 600 and 1300AD. Burro Flats Painted Cave, Simi Valley, Ventura County, Southern California, USA – dating to 500AD. L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, Canada – Viking settlement Arnhem Land Plateau, Australia – cave art Nan Madol, Temwen Island, Micronesia Easter Island – By the time the Europeans reached Easter Island in the 18th century, the Polynesian population had fallen to 3,000 from 15,000 a century earlier. Why had the population collapsed? And what was the mystery surrounding the fallen statues around the island?

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Book SynopsisOne of Scotland’s finest late-medieval strongholds, Doune Castle stands high on a promontory between the River Teith and the Ardoch Burn in Perthshire. It is a testament to the power of one nobleman, Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany. He was known as Scotland’s ‘uncrowned king’, and the castle was one of his main residences in the late 1300s. For a long time Albany has been credited with the complete construction of the castle, making Doune a remarkable example of a medieval fortress built as one man’s vision. However, fresh research is casting new light on Doune Castle, suggesting a much more complex history dating back to the century before Albany and beyond.

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Book SynopsisEdinburgh Castle is one of Scotland's great historic landmarks, standing on a volcanic crag occupied since the Bronze Age. A medieval royal castle which was a major residence for Scottish royalty for centuries, it remains a centre of royal and military ceremony.

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