Dunstanburgh Castle is the largest fortress in Northumberland and stands on a remote headland on the spectacular coastline and despite its ruinous state, it presents a formidable and imposing sight from a distance. The Earl of Lancaster began construction of the fortress in 1313, when relations between himself and King Edward II, his cousin,  had [...]

St Mawes Castle is one of the best-preserved of Henry VIII’s coastal artillery fortresses, and the most elaborately decorated of them all. Built between 1539 and 1545 to counter an invasion threat from Catholic France and Spain, this fort, along with its sister, Pendennis Castle, guards the important anchorage of Carrick Roads on the Fal [...]

Pendennis Castle is one of Henry VIII’s Device Forts, or Henrician castles, built to guard the entrance to the River Fal on its west bank, near Falmouth, Cornwall. St Mawes Castle is its opposite number on the east bank and they were built to defend Carrick Roads from the French and Spanish . The castle [...]