Castles & Churches

Conwy Castle, North Wales

Royal Palaces, Castles, Churches and Cathedrals dominate the British landscape and are nowadays museums in their own right, showcasing and highlighting the architecture, artifacts and artwork of the periods in which they were built.

Castles were often built as fortresses used during the various battles that endured over the centuries but were often used as markers of strength to intimidate locals or anyone thinking of overthrowing the reigning monarch.

Some of these structures are over a thousand years old, some even older. Some remain intact while others have since been either partly or fully demolished or simply left to weather away over time.

Peveril Castle c. 1066

Peveril Castle was build shortly after the Norman invasion in 1066. The castle stood in a high hill overlooking the Hope Valley in Peak District in northern England.

William Peverill, after whom the castle was named, was the keeper of the Royal Forests. The castle was built to control the surrounding area, the hunting grounds and the local lead and silver mines.

William's son forfeited the castle to King Henry II who reigned between 1154 and 1189 as punishment for a war he waged against the King's mother.

Castleton c. 12th Century

Castleton was built shortly after Peveril Castle in the late 12th century. It was built in a grid-like system of houses and mills which provided an important income for the castle.

This was the first town we visited after our arrival in Manchester a few months earlier.