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Paul Remfry

The site of Richmond castle seems to have had a long history, but this is more civil than military. The county of 'Richmondshire', of which the castle was the caput, may have begun with the Norman Conquest, but the name first seems to... more
The site of Richmond castle seems to have had a long history, but this is more civil than military. The county of 'Richmondshire', of which the castle was the caput, may have begun with the Norman Conquest, but the name first seems to occur with the war of 1173-74 when itinerant justices were sent to Richmondshire. Around the turn of that century Gervase of Canterbury placed this shire between Yorkshire and Durham the penultimate entry in his list of the 34 counties of England. To him Richmondshire included the abbeys of Holme Cultram, Richmond, Coverham and Egglestone as well as 10 priories which covered the area from Carlisle to Lancaster and Egremont to Richmond. However the basis of the 'shire' was the honour of Richmond or sometimes the honour of Brittany as it was sometimes known due to its Breton lords. From the first, the honour, which later became an earldom and briefly a shire, was bound up with Breton lords who came over to England with the Norman Conquest. This means that to a certain degree, the unravelling of the history of the castle involves delving into Breton politics. This has been undertaken in a parallel essay. Another interesting source for the castle history is the Richmond Register written possibly early in the fifteenth century and describing the honour in some detail.
A look at the early evidence for the foundation of the County of Westmorland from its first mention in the eleventh century until the reign of King John (1199-1216).
A brief survey of the castle building work done by Prince Llwyelyn ab Iorwerth from original documentation.  A chapter from Harlech Castle and Its True Origins.  ISBN 1-899376-88-7
A translation and comment on the chronicle known as O Oes Gwrtheyrn.
Taken from the book, The Aberconwy Register and Aberconwy abbey:
http://www.castles99.ukprint.com/Essays/Aberconwyabbey.html
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The tower at West Malling is a complex and little understood structure, that has only undergone one systematic study *695. This gives a valuable breakdown of the tower's composition, while its brief survey of the manor shows that the... more
The tower at West Malling is a complex and little understood structure, that has only undergone one systematic study *695. This gives a valuable breakdown of the tower's composition, while its brief survey of the manor shows that the attribution of the tower's building to Bishop Gundulf (1077-1108) is based purely on the tired old ground of he was a well-known person who built lots of things and therefore he must have built this.  The claims put forward for Bishop Gundulf's amazing fortification of Kent are way beyond the scope of such a small appendix as this, but the similarities between St Leonard's tower and Goodrich keep are strong enough to spend some little time on this structure and its history. For this to be done we first have to strip away the hearsay and get back to what we can truly say about the tower.
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A chapter from my new book: Medieval Battles: Wales, 1055 to 1216: Volume 2, part 1 [ISBN 9781899376933] Introduction The aim of this volume is to write the known history of the battles which were fought within the land of Wales. Much... more
A chapter from my new book:
Medieval Battles: Wales, 1055 to 1216: Volume 2, part 1 [ISBN 9781899376933]

Introduction
The aim of this volume is to write the known history of the battles which were fought within the land of Wales.  Much has been written of this time between the coming of the Normans in the late eleventh century and the destruction of the principalities of Wales in the late thirteenth century.  However, much of this ‘knowledge' has been written without evidence.  Just compare the real historical facts as printed in this book with the entries of these battles on Wikipedia or even in supposedly more learned works.  It has often happened that historians' guesswork - which is often recognised as speculation by the original learned writer - is increasingly taken as fact by those reading it later, even when further contemporary evidence comes to light which clearly shows that the original assumption was wrong.  Therefore, this book will attempt firmly to stick to facts which can be verified by comparison with original sources - and the value of this original evidence will be examined as to its veracity.  Speculation will occur, as it is simply necessary to make sense of many of the events which have been recorded, but it will be noted as such.
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A chapter taken from Whittington Castle explaining how Whittington castle became a chief castle of the kingdom of Powys during the Anarchy and remained so until the death of King Madog ap Maredudd in February 1160.
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A chapter from Grosmont castle looking at the royal garrisoning of the fortress and its history between 1160 and 1201.  A timeline of the castle is included.
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This is the story of the killing of Prince Llywelyn gathered from translations of the original documents - many of which have not been translated before. The book takes a long look at those recorded as involved in the events of that day... more
This is the story of the killing of Prince Llywelyn gathered from translations of the original documents - many of which have not been translated before.  The book takes a long look at those recorded as involved in the events of that day as well as many myths that have grown up over the centuries.
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A brief study of what is known from history on Llywelyn's palace from the sixteenth century onwards and some comparison with other sites.  Includes a translation of the 1303 to 1306 renovations at the palace.
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A reappraisal of the career of James St George in Wales and the lack of evidence for his involvement in the design of the so-called 'Iron ring of castles' of Edward I.
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"Table of Historical Events at Aber between 1100 and 1710 ... . 3 A Description of the Pen y Bryn House . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 6 The Basement (B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 7 The East Range... more
"Table of Historical Events at Aber between 1100 and 1710 ... . 3
A Description of the Pen y Bryn House . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 6
The Basement (B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 7
The East Range (E) . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . 21
The House (H) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . .. . . 33
The South Range (S) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  .. .. .. ... . . . . . 38
The Porch (P) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . 52
The Tower (T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........ . . . . . . . 62
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
The Early Castles of Gwynedd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Aber Motte and Bailey Castle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 72
Llys sites in Gwynedd . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . ... . . . . . . . . 82
Rhosyr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 84
Llys Gwenllian and Dinorben . . . . . . . . . . . . .  .. . . . . . . . . 89
Aberffraw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Antiquarian References to Llywelyn’s Palace at Aber .. . . . . 94
Other Houses of Medieval Date in North Wales . . . . .. . . . . 98
The Bishop’s Palace, Gogarth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 100
Cochwillan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . 101
Penrhyn Castle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . 102
Gwydir Castle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Coed Helen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 106
William Thomas’ Caernarfon Town House of 1652 .  . . . . . . 108
Penhyddgan, Nefyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 110
Pen y Bryn, Edern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 110
Windmills, Dovecots and Watchtowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
The Repairs to the Palace of Aber, 1303-6 . . . . .. . . . . . . . 112
Proposals for Further Study of the Llys site at Aber . . . . . . 114
Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 115

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And 15 more

A new look at Kenilworth castle, both its history and its architectural remains. This tends to show that much of the 'Norman' fabric is in fact Elizabethan. The method of the castle being obtained by Henry II is also explored and the... more
A new look at Kenilworth castle, both its history and its architectural remains.  This tends to show that much of the 'Norman' fabric is in fact Elizabethan.  The method of the castle being obtained by Henry II is also explored and the resulting dispute over the fortress between the barons and King John.
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A verbal exploration of Dunamase Castle. Excavations in the 1990s demonstrated that the Rock of Dunamase was first settled in the ninth century when a hill fort or dun was constructed on the site. This was known as Dun Masc, or Masc's... more
A verbal exploration of Dunamase Castle.
Excavations in the 1990s demonstrated that the Rock of Dunamase was first settled in the ninth century when a hill fort or dun was constructed on the site. This was known as Dun Masc, or Masc's Fort.
This is an ongoing project to list the castle entries in the Pipe Rolls of the first 3 Plantagenet kings. This seems to be throwing up some interesting figures and conclusions on castle building. Any Comments would be welcome. The... more
This is an ongoing project to list the castle entries in the Pipe Rolls of the first 3 Plantagenet kings. This seems to be throwing up some interesting figures and conclusions on castle building.  Any Comments would be welcome. 
The other 2 lists can be read under the Archaeology section at:
http://www.castles99.ukprint.com/essays.html
Herringbone is a type of masonry formed by laying stones in alternately leaning layers to make a pattern similar to herringbones. The form first seems to have become established in the Roman era when it was called opus spicatum-spiked... more
Herringbone is a type of masonry formed by laying stones in alternately leaning layers to make a pattern similar to herringbones. The form first seems to have become established in the Roman era when it was called opus spicatum-spiked work. This masonry style appears prominently in the upper parts of some of the 'Roman walls' at Pevensey and Portchester Roman forts. Whether this work is Roman or later Saxon is a moot point. Yet, considering the lack of such masonry in other Roman forts in Britain the latter seems more likely. The same is true of the herringbone work above the curtain of Lincoln castle west gate which is apparently built on the old Roman wall. The rest of the herringbone masonry in England and the rest of Europe is listed below. This list is not exhaustive, so please feel free to email me concerning other examples.
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An examination of the available data used to build a tree of the early Baskerville family from 1066 to 1200. Please feel free to add comments, corrections and any further original sources. Hopefully this article will be published next... more
An examination of the available data used to build a tree of the early Baskerville family from 1066 to 1200.
Please feel free to add comments, corrections and any further original sources.
Hopefully this article will be published next year as an appendix to a forthcoming book.
Virtually since the study of Welsh history began in earnest it has been asserted that Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth (d.1240) was only married once and this was to Joan, the daughter of King John (d.1216). Such an assertion can now be seen... more
Virtually since the study of Welsh history began in earnest it has been asserted that Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth (d.1240) was only married once and this was to Joan, the daughter of King John (d.1216).  Such an assertion can now be seen to have been false as is shown in the following text taken from the forthcoming book, The Aberconwy Register and Aberconwy Abbey.
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Dunnottar Castle and church are set upon a rocky headland on the NE coast of Aberdeenshire, about 2 miles S of Stonehaven. It has been thought that the medieval castle has disappeared, while the surviving buildings are largely of the 14... more
Dunnottar Castle and church are set upon a rocky headland on the NE coast of Aberdeenshire, about 2 miles S of Stonehaven. It has been thought that the medieval castle has disappeared, while the surviving buildings are largely of the 14 th to 17 th C. However a close inspection of the ruins that cover an area of 3½ acres suggest reality could be very different.
My earlier attempt to load this missed most of the text, so I have reloaded.
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The fortress and church are set upon a rocky headland on the NE coast, about 2 miles S of Stonehaven. It has been thought that the medieval castle has disappeared, while the surviving buildings are largely of the 16th and 17th century.... more
The fortress and church are set upon a rocky headland on the NE coast, about 2 miles S of Stonehaven. It has been thought that the medieval castle has disappeared, while the surviving buildings are largely of the 16th and 17th century. However a close inspection of the ruins that cover an area of 3½ acres suggest reality could be very different.
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The foundation dates of three castles in Maelienydd, traditionally built by the Mortimers. However the contemporary evidence suggests that Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth (d.1240) was far more likely the builder of Cefnllys and Knucklas... more
The foundation dates of three castles in Maelienydd, traditionally built by the Mortimers.  However the contemporary evidence suggests that Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth (d.1240) was far more likely the builder of Cefnllys and Knucklas castles.
The evidence for the foundation of Timboeth by Roger Mortimer in late 1267 and Dolforwyn by Dafydd ap Llywelyn (d.1246) is also put forward.
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While working on Harlech castle and then the Aberconwy Register I suddenly realised that although Llywelyn ab Iorwerth is commonly called the Great these days I have never seen the term used by a contemporary. The result was some... more
While working on Harlech castle and then the Aberconwy Register I suddenly realised that although Llywelyn ab Iorwerth is commonly called the Great these days I have never seen the term used by a contemporary.  The result was some protracted research and this is the result.
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A brief summing up of what is known about the history and development of Goodrich castle taken from by book compiled from the original sources: Goodrich Castle and the Families of Maplestone, Ballon, Clare, Marshall and Talbot (ISBN... more
A brief summing up of what is known about the history and development of Goodrich castle taken from by book compiled from the original sources:
Goodrich Castle and the Families of Maplestone, Ballon, Clare, Marshall and Talbot (ISBN 1-899376-78-X). 404 A4 pages
http://www.castles99.ukprint.com/Essays/goodrich.html
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A short paper looking at Dirleton Castle.
With due thanks to Canmore for making plans and photographs of sites available.

Apologies for posting wrong file last time!
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