- Joined
- Sep 27, 2002
- Messages
- 3,411
Stokesay Castle is not a real castle but rather a fortified manor house, probably one of the finest in England.
Stoke means dairy farm and a manor house was built here by the Say family. The lower part of the North Tower was reputedly built by them around 1240.
In 1281 the property was acquired by the Ludlow family who rebuilt most of the accommodation in the 10 years to 1291. Other than the gatehouse of 1641, no additions have been made since.
The North Tower, with it's famous overhanging top storey.
The gatehouse of 1641, with the south tower to the left.
The gatehouse from inside.
These look like musket ports in the gate. If so, they must have been made in 1645.
The Great Hall, of 1281-91. Note the absence of glass in the windows!
Part of the Great Hall roof. 35 feet high, it is of base cruck construction. The hall always had a central open hearth and, other than the windows, there is no provision for the smoke to escape.
In the top storey of the North Tower, a musician plays.
Spinning
Lacemaking
Churchyard from the North Tower.
The main block: North Tower to the right, hall in the centre, solar to the left with it's external staircase.
The Solar. The oak panelling is Jacobean.
In the solar.
Inside the South Tower.
A Royalist Musketeer discharges his piece from the battlements of the South Tower.
Parliamentarian scouts watch the castle.
Parliamentarian officer and drummer.
The gatehouse from the moat.
The South Tower from the moat.
Solar windows from the moat
Courtyard from the South Tower. The courtyard was once surrounded by a curtain wall about 30 feet high and conained several other buildings including a kitchen.
Parliamentarian troops have accepted the surrender of the castle.
The church outside the castle was having a flower fete and a book sale. Tea and delicious home-made cakes were available in the ground floor of the tower.
Demonstration of the loading and firing of muskets.
Fire!
The death of a young musketeer!
Stoke means dairy farm and a manor house was built here by the Say family. The lower part of the North Tower was reputedly built by them around 1240.
In 1281 the property was acquired by the Ludlow family who rebuilt most of the accommodation in the 10 years to 1291. Other than the gatehouse of 1641, no additions have been made since.
The North Tower, with it's famous overhanging top storey.
The gatehouse of 1641, with the south tower to the left.
The gatehouse from inside.
These look like musket ports in the gate. If so, they must have been made in 1645.
The Great Hall, of 1281-91. Note the absence of glass in the windows!
Part of the Great Hall roof. 35 feet high, it is of base cruck construction. The hall always had a central open hearth and, other than the windows, there is no provision for the smoke to escape.
In the top storey of the North Tower, a musician plays.
Spinning
Lacemaking
Churchyard from the North Tower.
The main block: North Tower to the right, hall in the centre, solar to the left with it's external staircase.
The Solar. The oak panelling is Jacobean.
In the solar.
Inside the South Tower.
A Royalist Musketeer discharges his piece from the battlements of the South Tower.
Parliamentarian scouts watch the castle.
Parliamentarian officer and drummer.
The gatehouse from the moat.
The South Tower from the moat.
Solar windows from the moat
Courtyard from the South Tower. The courtyard was once surrounded by a curtain wall about 30 feet high and conained several other buildings including a kitchen.
Parliamentarian troops have accepted the surrender of the castle.
The church outside the castle was having a flower fete and a book sale. Tea and delicious home-made cakes were available in the ground floor of the tower.
Demonstration of the loading and firing of muskets.
Fire!
The death of a young musketeer!
Last edited:
