British Castles

Sir Francis Drake is most famous for his role in defeating the Armada of 1588 and saving England from a Spanish invasion. By that point in his life, he was already a wealthy and famous seafarer: the first Englishman to sail around the world, knighted by Queen Elizabeth I in recog ...  Show more

The American singer-songwriter and musician Bob Dylan is one of the most important recording artists on the planet. A cultural icon, his work has had a profound influence on popular music since the 1960s. First gaining fame as a folk singer with songs that addressed the subjects ...  Show more

What was the interior design like in medieval castles? Why were so many of these fortresses built in Wales? And what was it like to live in one? In our latest ‘Everything you wanted to know’ episode, Marc Morris answers listener questions on the history of British castles. Speaki ...  Show more

What makes a man a King? Aside from genetic luck and a glittering crown, it’s a castle. From the defensive towers erected by William I to secure his conquest of England, to the grand banqueting halls of the Tudors; the luxurious state rooms of the Stuarts and Georgians to the lov ...  Show more

What makes a man a King? Aside from genetic luck and a glittering crown, it’s a castle. In this three part series, we’ll explore 15 of the most historically important Royal Castles & Palaces of England. In the last episode we explored the medieval castles built by William the Con ...  Show more

Though today it is just a muddy field, the small hamlet of Yeavering was once a bustling centre of Anglo-Saxon power in the North of England. At its heart was a 7th century palace - known in Latin as Ad Gefrin - which was built by King Edwin in 616 AD, the first king of a unit ...