Castles of Britain: A Guide to Exploration and Interpretation

Beetling ramparts, mighty keeps, palatial halls - Britain's medieval castles are still among the most awe-inspiring structures in the land. But that's not the whole story - a castle was a home, a business, an expression of lordship and even a fashion accessory. This course aims to get under the skin of castles, by seeing them in the wider context of society, politics and the overall history of fortification. An excursion will be included, and scores of beautiful slides to convince you that here are come of mankind's greatest architectural achievements. We see how the focus gradually shifted from displays of military stregnth to an expression of economic mastery. The political evolutions from Norman to Tudor times explain this. It's all about rulers, and the way they present themselves to their subjects, castles are manifestos in stone, which can be read like a book.

Castles of Britain: A Guide to Exploration and Interpretation is a 3 night course tutored by Tim Porter at Farncombe 22-25 July 2011.

Enquire online or call 033 3456 8580.


Farncombe Estate - Castles of Britain: A Guide to Exploration and Interpretation (3 nights) - Click here for further details ...