England
Wiltshire

Wiltshire Travel Guide - Castles

Devizes Castle Devizes, Wiltshire Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury built a Norman wooden pallisade castle here in 1080, but this burned down and was replaced in 1120 by Roger, Bishop of Salisbury. The castle was at the heart of 12th century civil war as rival claimants Queen Matilda and KIng Stephen vied for the throne, and Devizes was taken and retaken several times. Five centuries later the castle was besieged by Parliamentary forces several times and was finally taken by Cromwell. Parliament ordered the castle to be slighted, and all that remains today is the mound with visible foundations. A later mock castle was built but this has been turned into private flats and canot be visited. Devizes, Wiltshire, England,

Ludgershall Castle Ludgershall, Wiltshire A Norman castle known to have been used by Queen Matilda (Maud) during her struggle with KIng Stephen. Later, King Henry III used Ludgershall. Today little can be seen beyond a ringwork enclosure and the remains of foundation walls. Ludgershall, Wiltshire, England, Location: On the north side of Ludgershall

Old Sarum Old Sarum, Wiltshire Iron Age banks surround the original site of Salisbury, a few miles north of the curent city. Inside the earthworks are the foundations of a Norman castle and the first Salisbury cathedral. The castle ruins sits atop a striking motte, or mound, with a deep moat at the bottom. Old Sarum, Wiltshire, England, Location: Just north of Salisbury off the A345