Author
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Topic: Appleby Castle
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knightmare Senior Member
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posted 02-14-2001 02:43 PM
I'm trying to find some info on Appleby Castle in England. If anyone could give me some info about I would be very thankful. Thank you.------------------ Knightmares can haunt you
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Philip Davis unregistered
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posted 02-15-2001 12:05 AM
Appleby has a fine example of a small Norman square keep. http://www.btinternet.com/~lake.district/pen/appbcas.htm has some nice pictures and a little information. http://members.nbci.com/andrewmuller/Castles.html has another picture and a tiny bit more info.The following is from English Castles; a Guide by Counties by Adrian Pettifer,
- APPLEBY CASTLE was founded by Ranulf le Meschin (later Earl of Chester)
about the year 1100. It occupies a commanding position overlooking the town and the River Eden. The town, in a protective loop of the river, was probably established at the same time. Appleby descended to Hugh de Morville but he forfeited it for his part in the murder of Thomas Becket. The castle was in royal hands when the Scottish King, William the Lion, invaded the Eden valley in 1174. Its constable surrendered without a fight, Henry II imposing a stiff fine on him in punishment. Afterwards Henry granted the castle to Theobald de Valoignes. Either De Morville or De Valoignes built the tall, square keep which dominates the castle. It is one of the few Norman keeps still intact and roofed over. There is the usual first-floor entrance but no trace of a forebuilding. The first and second floors were the chief apartments, well-lit by pairs of windows. Above that there is a plain top storey — quite unlike the gallery level which might have been expected in a keep of this stature. The walls rise higher to mask the roof and the pilaster buttresses continue above parapet level to form diminutive turrets. Originally there was no internal division; the cross-wall is a later insertion. The keyhole plan of the bailey, which is surrounded by a truncated Norman curtain, suggests that a motte originally occupied the site of the keep. If so it must have been flattened when the keep was built. In 1269 Appleby was inherited by Roger de Clifford and the castle began its long association with the Clifford family. Their much-altered residential buildings occupy the east side of the bailey, opposite the keep and overlooking the river. A postern passes through the middle of the range (the main gatehouse has disappeared). The great hall is still recognisable beneath its later veneer and each end of the range is built up into a tower. However, the only flanking tower to survive on the curtain is the semi-circular one on the north side. It may be the work of Robert de Clifford (d.1314). Appleby town was twice devastated by the Scots in the fourteenth century but they seem to have left the castle well alone. Instead it was dismantled during the Rising of the North (1569) to prevent its use by the rebels. There is little to show for Lady Anne Clifford’s restoration of the castle during the Commonwealth period. More evident is the work of her son-in-law, the Earl of Thanet. In 1686—88 he transformed the hall block into the Classical mansion we see today.
------------------ And the astronomyours beheldyne the constellacions of hys bryth by thare castle, and foundyn that he sholde bene wyse and curteyse, good of consaill Secreta Secretorum Visit Castellarium Philippis | |