#Chepstow Castle

[connectparanormal]

Haunted Chepstow Castle

One of the most historically significant and aesthetically stunning castles in Britain is Chepstow Castle, which is located spectacularly on a limestone cliff overlooking the River Wye in Wales. Built soon after the Norman Conquest in 1067, Chepstow Castle stands as one of the nation's first stone fortresses. Its strategic location on the England-Wales border served as a defensive bastion and established Norman authority over the unstable Welsh Marches. Chepstow Castle has witnessed social transformation, military wars, and political turmoil over the ages, and it now serves as a reminder of the creativity and aspirations of its architects. It is now thought to have ghosts as well. William FitzOsbern, a close associate of William the Conqueror, is credited with erecting the fortress when he was given the responsibility of protecting the recently conquered area. As an enduring symbol of Norman domination, Chepstow was built primarily of stone from the beginning, in contrast to many other early Norman fortresses that were created as wooden motte-and-bailey buildings. Its design has elements that were novel for their period and represents the changing architectural style of medieval castles. Later occupants enlarged and altered the Great Tower, one of the castle's earliest remaining sections, and it serves as a strong reminder of its early Norman origins.

Chepstow Castle saw numerous changes over the Middle Ages, each of which reflected the shifting interests and requirements of its residents. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the castle expanded to incorporate more defensive walls, gates, and towers, transforming it into a formidable stronghold. Interestingly, the early 13th-century wooden castle doors are some of the oldest castle doors still standing in Europe. These substantial, iron-studded doors demonstrate the castle's emphasis on protection and resiliency during a time of recurrent conflict. The plan of the castle became more intricate with each stage of building and restoration, transforming it from a fortification to a home worthy of its aristocratic owners. Owain Glyndŵr's uprising in the early 15th century was one of the historical wars in which Chepstow Castle was central. Withstanding sieges and offering safety to its defenders, the castle functioned as a stronghold of English power as tensions between the Welsh and English grew. During the 17th-century English Civil War, Royalist soldiers took control of it, subsequently handing it over to Parliamentarians. Chepstow's military importance ended with the battle, and by the late 17th century, the fortress had become partially abandoned and in ruins. But later, in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the Wye Valley gained popularity as a destination for scenic tourism, its majestic structure and lovely ruins would enthrall artists and tourists.

The Welsh government's historic environment service, Cadw, is in charge of maintaining Chepstow Castle, a beloved historical landmark. Its stunning setting and the chance to visit its well-preserved ruins (spiders and all), which offer an intriguing window into medieval life, attract tourists. The castle's expansive views of the River Wye and the surrounding area enhance its appeal and give a hint of its former strategic significance. Every stone in its construction tells a story of conquest, defense, and final decline, revealing its complex history from its Norman beginnings to its involvement in later conflicts. Apart from its historical significance, Chepstow Castle has also been the focus of local folklore and ghost stories, which have given its already dramatic presence a sense of mystery. Stories of spectral figures, weird sounds, and unexplained events have further enhanced its reputation as a place of intrigue, making it a focal point for paranormal aficionados. Regardless of whether a visitor comes for its architectural beauty, historical significance, or eerie reputation, Chepstow Castle continues to stand as a testament to the lasting influence of Britain's past. Its imposing walls, historic doors, and dominant location over the River Wye guarantee its status as one of Wales' most recognizable monuments.

[the-history-of-fighting]

The gatehouse at Chepstow Castle.

[wezg]

Review: Queens of the Crusades – by Alison Weir

I had previously read Alison Weir’s most excellent book specifically on Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine many years ago so the author was familiar to me. I chanced upon this title in my local library (Caldicot) and thought I’d give it a go. It covers the lives of several British Queens, or rather the historical period in England during which they lived. The period is one of the most interesting…

[10siglosdehistoria]

12th century AD, wooden door of the Welsh castle of Chepstow

Siglo XII d.C., puerta de madera del castillo galés de Chepstow

XII secolo d.C., porta in legno del castello gallese di Chepstow

(English / Español / Italiano)

12th century AD, wooden door of the Welsh castle of Chepstow. One of the oldest preserved wooden castle doors in Europe.

Dendrological examination showed that the wood used to build the gate dates back to 1159-89 AD. Chepstow Castle is located in south-east Wales in Monmouthshire. It stands on a cliff above the River Wye in a strategic position on the border between England and Wales.

Construction of the stone castle began after the Norman conquest of England in 1067, under the supervision of Lord William Fitz Osbern. At the beginning of the 18th century, it fell into disrepair.

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Puerta de madera del siglo XII d.C. del castillo galés de Chepstow. Una de las puertas de madera de castillo más antiguas que se conservan en Europa.

El examen dendrológico demostró que la madera utilizada para construir la puerta data de 1159-89 d.C. El castillo de Chepstow está situado en el sureste de Gales, en Monmouthshire. Se alza en un acantilado sobre el río Wye, en una posición estratégica en la frontera entre Inglaterra y Gales.

La construcción del castillo de piedra comenzó tras la conquista normanda de Inglaterra en 1067, bajo la supervisión de Lord William Fitz Osbern. A principios del siglo XVIII, cayó en el abandono.

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XII secolo d.C., porta in legno del castello gallese di Chepstow. Una delle più antiche porte del castello in legno che sia stata conservata in Europa.

L'esame dendrologico ha dimostrato che il legno utilizzato per costruire il cancello risale al 1159-89 d.C. Il castello di Chepstow si trova nel Galles sud-est nel Monmouthshire. Si trova su una scogliera sopra il fiume Wye in una posizione strategica al confine tra Inghilterra e Galles.

La costruzione del castello di pietra iniziò dopo la conquista normanna dell'Inghilterra nel 1067, sotto la supervisione di Lord William Fitz Osbern. All'inizio del XVIII secolo cadde in rovina.

Sorce: tuttorete.info

[ukdamo]

Today's Flickr photo with the most hits: Chepstow Castle

[rhapsodynew]

#rare photos

RARE PHOTOGRAPHS OF GEORGE HARRISON TAKEN BY PAUL MCCARTNEY IN 1959.

Paul McCartney and George Harrison at that time lived just one stop away from each other in the so-called "Trading Estate" in Speke.

During these bus trips, George found out that Paul plays trumpet and got a guitar, and Paul found out that George plays guitar, they got together at night and played songs that Paul remembers, such as "Besame Mucho" and "Don't Rock me Daddy O".

Paul and George became fast friends, even hitchhiking to Wales in August 1959 before they became famous and joined The Beatles.

"Better times with George? We hitchhiked to a place in Wales called Harlech, we were kids." We heard the song "Men Of Harlech", saw it on the sign, yes, there was a big castle. And we just went there. We had guitars everywhere and we ended up in this cafe. You know, we tried to go to some place, to a central meeting place, there was a small cafe in Harlech that had a jukebox. So we sat down there. We met a guy, he started talking, he was into rock and roll, you know, we went and stayed at his house. - Paul McCartney

"One day Paul and I decided to hitchhike. This is something that no one dreams of today. Firstly, you will probably be robbed before you even pass through the Mercy Tunnel, and secondly, everyone has cars and they are already stuck in traffic. I often traveled with my family to the south, to Devon, to Exmouth, so Paul and I decided to go there first. "We didn't have a lot of money. We found a bed and breakfast. We got to a city, walked down the street, it started to get dark. We saw a woman and said, "Excuse me, do you know where we can stay?" She felt sorry for us and said, "My boy has left, come and stay at my house." She took us to her place, she allowed us to stay in her boy's room and cooked breakfast for us the next morning. She was very sweet. I do not know who she was.

"We continued along the south coast towards Exmouth. On the way, we talked at the pub with a customer who told us his name was Oxo Whitney. (He later appears in "A Spaniard in the Works". After we told John this story, he used this name. Most of John's books are based on funny things that were told to him.) Then we went to Paignton. We still had almost no money. We had small backpacks, we stopped at grocery stores. We bought spaghetti bolognese or spaghetti Milanese. They were in striped cans: Milanese with red stripes, bolognese with blue stripes. And rice with Ambrosia cream. We opened the jar, bent the lid and held the jar over the stove to keep it warm. It was what we lived for.

"We arrived in Paignton with no extra money, so we spent the night on the beach, got up in the morning and went for a walk again. We drove through North Devon and took the ferry to South Wales because Paul had a relative, so we decided to go there. "In Chepstow, we went to the police station and asked to stay in the cell. They said, "No." So we went and slept on a hardboard bench. It's damn cold. We left there and hitchhiked on. Moving north through Wales, we were given a lift by truck. Back then, trucks didn't have a passenger seat, so I sat on the engine cover. Paul was sitting on the radiator. He was wearing jeans with zippers on the back pockets and after a while he suddenly jumped up screaming.His zipper connected the positive and negative poles of the battery, heated red hot and left a mark. "When we finally got to Butlins, we couldn't get there. They had barbed wire fences to keep the campers and us out. That's why we had to break in." – George Harrison, The Beatles Anthology.

1960s

George, Paul and Ringo, Vee Caldwell House, Liverpool, 1961

George, Rory Storm, Ringo, Johnny "Guitarist" Byrne and their friends, Vee Caldwell House, Liverpool, 1961

George and Paul, the Cashba Club, February 1961

[laclefdescoeurs]

Chepstow Castle, John Sell Cotman

[whencyclopedia]

Chepstow Castle

Chepstow Castle, located in Monmouthshire, South Wales, was first built c. 1067 by William FitzOsbern and then significantly improved c. 1190 CE by Sir William Marshal (c. 1146-1219 CE), one of England's greatest ever knights who served four kings and acted as regent for Henry III of England (r. 1216-1272 CE). Chepstow Castle then became the home of a succession of rich and powerful medieval and Tudor nobles. Despite its innovative design, and the expense of its formidable defensive features - or perhaps because of them, the castle was never attacked in the medieval period. Chepstow is today a fine example of 11-13th-century CE castle architecture and boasts the oldest castle doors in Europe.

Early History

Chepstow Castle was first built from around 1067 CE by Earl William FitzOsbern, an ally of William the Conqueror (r. 1066-1087 CE). As with any medieval castle, the location was an important consideration for the castle's future defence and its strategic value. Accordingly, Chepstow Castle was built at one of the gateways to Wales on a limestone cliff overlooking the River Wye. The dramatic curve here in that river gave the castle its Welsh name - Striguil, meaning 'the bend'. Domesday Book (1086-7 CE) records Chepstow Castle as an asset (one of only two castles to be so categorised) because its owner could outweigh the heavy costs of its upkeep by charging a toll on crossing river traffic.

The Norman castle was one of the first to be built in stone, and it is also unusual for not being located near an urban centre. The solid rock base made the castle impregnable to undermining, and its high walls and towers made any attack by siege engines next to impossible. It is perhaps no surprise then that the castle was never attacked in the Middle Ages but it was largely intended as a fortified base from which to attack southern Wales rather than a point of defensive retreat.

The first version of the main rectangular stone castle keep (donjon) was built c. 1072 CE, one of the earliest to be built in England and Wales. The tower cleverly saved costs by having a thinner wall on the river side, and it had the main entrance on the first floor, a typical defensive feature of the period. Another cost-saving device was to reuse locally-found old Roman bricks and tiles in the lower courses, a reminder that the border region between England and Wales had a long history of conflict. Either side of the tower two enclosed courtyards or baileys (aka wards) were built. After FitzOsbern's son Roger de Breteuil participated in a rebellion against William the Conqueror, the Crown took possession of the castle. Sometime before 1119 CE Henry I of England (r. 1100-1135 CE) then gave Chepstow to a loyal follower, one Walter de Clare. Walter's nephew Gilbert Fitz Gilbert de Clare so impressed King Stephen of England (r. 1135-1154 CE) with his martial qualities that he was made, in 1138 CE, the Earl of Pembroke and the castle became thereafter attached to that title.

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[intercal]

saying "come to madras" is kind of like saying "come to chepstow" in the UK. except smaller and less historically significant (even chepstow has a castle)

[ghw-archive]

Looking across the River Wye from Chepstow Castle

[superconductivebean]

#1499

flew over the rookwood castle

i thought korrow ruins were a strange castle, but this one takes the cake. it doesnt cover the perimeter of the rock it sits on, there are two perfect access points besides the gate and behind the castle is a perfect place for a siege camp. its irl counterpart, the chepstow castle, hasnt these weaknessess

[wildernessuntothemselves]

In Chepstow rn and this castle reminds me so much of tyun's castle in yamqn but with a river instead of the sea

[professorbook]

Chepstow Castle sits atop a cliff across the River Wye which separates England and Wales.