Medieval Island Castles

Medieval Island Castles

In the many hundreds of years since the days of Roman Britain, the island which makes up England, Wales and Scotland has become studded with thousands of castles, fortifications and towers. Even major highlights of the apparently unending wars which swept over this land would make for lengthy reading, and a solid understanding of them could consume a lifetime of study. So it is not surprising that as I was once driving along the southern coast of England, I chanced upon the dramatic ruins of Corfe Castle which was partly destroyed on the orders of Parliament in 1646. The resulting demolition is still clearly evident today, and the jagged sections of the castle's remaining walls are a popular destination for photographers, historians and tourists. These enduring ruins are also a clear reminder of just how powerful Corfe Castle was during its hundreds of years of very active service. Its relative remoteness, commanding location and extremely heavy construction combined to create a nearly impregnable position which took Parliamentarian forces three years to reduce by siege at the height of the English Civil War. Long before that however, the castle's location had been strategically important for the entire region. It was already a major state holding by 1100 when it was a depository for the English King's treasury, and by 1200 it had become an important arms depot and prison.

http://www.wtj.com/articles/castles/

Medieval Island

Medieval Island

While villages developed naturally around the hub of church and manor, medieval towns were generally planned and laid out on open land. The lords who established these towns gained financially through income from land leases and trading sites, and the leaseholders gained freedom from their legal obligations to the manor. On the Island all three medieval new towns were based on a simple grid layout around harbour facilities. Newport, and Yarmouth were established in the 12th century: Francheville (Freetown), later renamed Newtown, was established in the 13th century. At the time it doubtless seemed there was plenty of scope for all these towns to grow into major trade and shipping centres. In the long term only Newport was to achieve its potential.

http://freespace.virgin.net/iw.history/nt/newtown.htm