An innovative examination of heritage politics in Japan, showing how castles have been used to re-invent and recapture competing versions of the pre-imperial past and project possibilities for Japan's future. Oleg Benesch and Ran Zwigenberg argue that Japan's modern transformations can be traced through its castles. They examine how castle preservation and reconstruction campaigns served as symbolic ways to assert particular views of the past and were crucial in the making of an idealized premodern history. Castles have been used to craft identities, to create and erase memories, and to symbolically join tradition and modernity. Until 1945, they served as physical and symbolic links between the modern military and the nation's premodern martial heritage. After 1945, castles were cleansed of military elements and transformed into public cultural spaces that celebrated both modernity and the pre-imperial past. What were once signs of military power have become symbols of Japan's idealized peaceful past.

Japan's ancient castles provide deep insights into the country's compelling military history. Discover the secrets of Japan's feudal past by exploring the most famous castles of the Samurai era. The enormous stone walls, multi-level towers, and sophisticated defense systems are not simply impressive fortresses, but spectacular works of Japanese architecture, constructed without the use of steel or modern equipment. These monumental structures fulfilled a need for protection without sacrificing aesthetic values. Understanding the cultural contexts of these Samurai castles helps create a better understanding of Japanese culture today. In this fascinating Japanese castle book you will discover the rich history and creators of well-known castles such as Himeji, Osaka, and Nijo that you would otherwise need to travel to Japan to experience in person. Chronicling the story of each castle individually conveys a greater understanding of how and why they were built, and identifies their singular features for historians, architecture aficionados, world travelers, and Japanophiles alike. With over two hundred colour images, numerous diagrams, maps, and detailed descriptions, Samurai Castles is the most comprehensive Japanese history book on this intriguing topic.

Carmarthen Castle was one of the largest castles in medieval Wales. It was also one of the most important, in its role as a centre of government and as a Crown possession in a region dominated by Welsh lands and Marcher lordships. Largely demolished during the seventeenth century, it was subsequently redeveloped, first as a prison and later as the local authority headquarters. Yet the surviving remains, and their situation, are still impressive. The situation changed with a major programme of archaeological and research work, from 1993 to 2006, which is described in this book. The history of the castle, its impact on the region and on Wales as a whole are also examined: we see the officials and other occupants of the castle, their activities and how they interacted with their environment. Excavations at the castle, and the artefacts recovered, are described along with its remaining archaeological potential. This book puts Carmarthen Castle back at the heart of the history of medieval Wales, and in its proper place in castle studies and architectural history, the whole study combining to make a major contribution to the history of one of Wales's great towns.

Kent has an impressive collection of castles, over 60 including the scanty ruins and earthwork remains of now vanished castles, as well as the more celebrated castles, such as Leeds, Rochester and Dover. Because of their picturesque and dramatic appearance they have often been the subject of antique prints and early photographs and in Castles of Kent Through Time author John Guy draws on his extensive collection of historical images of Kent castles, to produce an illustrated history through the ages, charting the castles’ changing fortunes over the decades. Many are now ruined, when once they were homes and fortresses. Others, like Allington, have been transformed from ruins back into habitable and very comfortable homes, while others, such as Dover, have been in continuous military use right across the centuries from the Iron Age through to the Second World War. Just a few, like Westenhanger, which once was a completely overgrown ruin, have since been rescued and brought back into use. This fascinating selection of old and new images of the castles of Kent, showing how castles, which are often perceived as static elements of the historic landscape, are, in fact, ever changing. will be essential reading for all those who are interested in the history of the county.

Military Architecture after the Introduction of Firearms. Specialized and systematic dictionary.

Learn all about knights and castles in this spooky history-themed instalment of DK Books' new educational fiction series for children aged 7 to 9 years old. Meet the Secret Explorers - a band of brainiac kids from all around the world, here to take young readers on a series of fact-filled fictional adventures! Each with their own specialty, from outer space to dinosaurs, these young globetrotters will teach kids that learning can be fun, encouraging them to become experts in something they love. In this fun, fact-filled children's book, Kiki the engineering explorer and Gustavo the history expert get caught up in a spooky time travel mystery when a ghostly figure shows up at a medieval castle and terrifies the crowds! This epic adventure is packed with: -Fun facts and illustrations about exciting prehistoric animals -Simple and informative diagrams telling kids all they need to know about castles and knights -Quizzes, mission notes, and a glossary of words with definitions With a gripping narrative that keeps kids engaged, The Secret Explorers and the Haunted Castle by SJ King is the perfect gift for children who are into all things history. It's written for children aged 7-9 years, with lots of information about medieval knights, castles and ghosts, to give them an exciting introduction into the world of history. At the end of this fictional book, you'll find "Kiki's Mission Notes" which is a summary of all the scientific facts and discoveries made throughout the story. With fun illustrations, quizzes, and a vocabulary list, the educational value of this book is outstanding and great for a classroom read! Never miss a mission! A total of nine different books, The Secret Explorer series is both educational and imaginative, combining exciting stories with real-life facts. Embark on another space mission adventure in The Secret Explorers and the Comet Collision. Travel back in time to save a dinosaur egg from destruction in The Secret Explorers and the Jurassic Rescue. Take part in a volcano rescue in The Secret Explorers and the Smoking Volcano. Then travel to the arctic for a rescue mission in Secret Explorers and the Missing Scientist. Whatever your preferred topic, there's a mission waiting for you!

Sussex is a fascinating county, saturated with history, legends and mysteries. Everywhere there are remains of these stories: a curious relic preserved in a church, an unusual grave outside, some ruinous building down the road, or a bizarre artefact in the local museum. Author Christopher Horlock has been travelling around Sussex for many years, photographing these remains and researching the stories behind them. Myths, legends and folklore further enrich the tales and reveal the mindset of Sussex people of the past. Ruins, Remains and Relics: Sussex delves into the unusual, the offbeat and the decidedly quirky, ranging from a ruined castle to a simple, single spoon. This fascinating exploration of the history, legends and stories of Sussex will interest all those who know the county well in addition to those who wish to know more about its history.

3-vol. CASTLES: Their Construction and History, Sidney Toy. Concise, scholarly survey traces castle development from ancient roots. Nearly 200 photographs and drawings illustrate moats, keeps, baileys, many other features. Caernarvon, Dover castles, Hadrian's Wall, Tower of London, dozens more. 199 black-and-white illustrations. Preface. Index. Footnotes.

Journey across the world and throughout history to discover the world's best and most unusual castles, and learn about their features, from the tallest turrets to the dingiest dungeons. Find out how castles have changed over time and what happened to the people who lived in them. A glimpse into the history of different castles around the world, the dramatic battles to conquer them, and the weapons that defended and defeated them. Travel through time and venture into the wonderful world of castles, from the extravagant chateaux of France, to the impenetrable fortresses of Japan. Find out why castles were built and witness some of the most famous sieges in history. Trek across the world to visit castles perched on perilous clifftops and exotic islands. Meet the medieval rulers who built the grandest castles and forts, and the modern tycoons who splashed out money trying to replicate them. Discover why the spiral staircases in castles always turned clockwise, and why their toilets always smelled so bad! And learn about the great lengths that prisoners would go to in order to escape... This children's book takes you on an immersive adventure to a collection of castles each beautifully illustrated at a particular moment in history. See the world's best castles from a range of viewpoints, whether you are standing next to samurai warriors waiting to attack, or castle jesters entertaining the king. Castle is a fact-packed, modern look at a classic topic.

In this stunning, full-colour book, John Kinross explores the fascinating history behind the castles of Herefordshire, Shropshire and the Welsh border. Areas characterised by their rural beauty and agricultural charm, it is no surprise that they are home to such extraordinary relics. From the majestic Goodrich Castle, which is situated on the River Wye and boasts one of the most intact sets of medieval domestic buildings surviving today, to the red sandstone fort at Shrewsbury, protected by the River Severn, each site tells a different tale. The castles of Herefordshire and Shropshire form the background of this book, but the Marcher Court, based at Ludlow Castle, controlled all legal affairs in the area of the Southern Marches. In the north the northern court was based at Chester Castle until being moved to Rhuddlan when the Welsh ceased to cause rebellions. Thus Cheshire castles are included plus the mighty Welsh castles like Chirk and Chepstow. For interest the many moated manors, used especially during the Civil War, are also included, where there are still some remains to be seen. Beautifully illustrated and extremely informative, Castles of the Marches is a must-read that brings the past to life.

A reissue of the classic guide to the origins, purpose and identity of the great castles of England and Wales, built after the arrival of the Normans. Castle studies have been shaped and defined over the past half-century by the work of R. Allen Brown. His classic English Castles, renamed here to acknowledge its definitive approach to the subject, has never been superseded by other more recent studies, and is still the foundation study of the English, and Welsh, castles built between the Norman Conquest and the mid 1500s. As the subject evolved, so too did this book, and for the most recent edition a considerable amount of French comparative material was added, though it remains essentially a study of English castles. For Allen Brown, castles were fortified residences (or residential fortresses), and developed, from European precursors, to support political and social realities as the Norman and Angevin kings secured their realm. Once these political ends had been largely met, the castle and castle-building entered a period of decline, and domesticand military interests went in opposite directions. This book, with numerous photographs and plans, remains the outstanding guide to the origins, purpose and identity of the great castles of England and Wales. R. ALLEN BROWN was also the author of The Normans, The Norman Conquest of England and The Normans and the Norman Conquest and founder of the annual Battle Conference on Anglo-Norman Studies.

Billy Colfer's Wexford Castles expands the IRISH LANDSCAPES series by taking a thematic approach, while still staying loyal to the central landscape focus. Rather than adapting a narrowly architectural approach, he situates these buildings in a superbly reconstructed historical, social, and cultural milieu. County Wexford has three strikingly different regions - the Anglo-Norman south, the hybridised middle and the Gaelic north - which render it a remarkable version in parvo of the wider island. Colfer's wide-angle lens takes in so much than the castles themselves, as he ranges widely and deeply in reading these striking buildings as texts, revealing the cultural assumptions and historical circumstances which shaped them. In this most cosmopolitan of counties, we range far and wide in search of the wide-spreading roots of its cultural landscape - from the Crusades and the Mani peninsula in Greece to the Bristol Channel, from Crac des Chevaliers to Westminster, from the Viking north and the cold Atlantic to the warm Mediterranean south. The book breaks new ground in exploring the long-run cultural shadow cast by the Anglo-Normans and their castles, as this appears in the Gothic Revival, in the poetry of Yeats and in the surprisingly profuse crop of Wexford historians and writers. While most books on a single architectural form can end up visually monotonous, creativity has been lavished on this volume in terms of keeping the images varied, fresh and constantly appealing. The result is a sympathetic and innovative treatment of the castles, understood not just as a mere architectural form, but as keys to unlocking the mentalite of those who lived in them. Wexford Castles: landscape, context and settlement is a worthy conclusion of Billy's Colfer's superb trilogy of landscape studies.

'Somerville knows more about wooden barn construction than almost anyone alive.'-The Telegraph 'A joyful reminder of why nature, being outside, being together and creating beauty is so good for the soul.'-Kate Humble, broadcaster and author of A Year of Living Simply 'For all our advances, it's hard to deny the modern world brings with it new ills of disconnection and disenfranchisement, but here in Barn Club they've found their cure.'-Barn the Spoon, master craftsman and author of Spon Nature meets traditional craft in this celebration of the elm tree, beautiful buildings and community spirit. Barn Club calls on us to discover our landscapes more intimately and to explore the joys of making beautiful things by hand, together. When renowned craftsman Robert Somerville moved to Hertfordshire, he discovered an unexpected landscape rich with wildlife and elm trees. Nestled within London's commuter belt, this wooded farmland inspired Somerville, a lifelong woodworker, to revive the ancient tradition of hand-raising barns. Barn Club follows the building of Carley Barn over the course of one year. Volunteers from all walks of life joined Barn Club, inspired to learn this ancient skill of building elm barns by hand, at its own quiet pace and in the company of others, while using timber from the local woods. The tale of the elm tree in its landscape is central to Barn Club. Its natural history, historic importance and remarkable survival make for a fascinating story. This is a tale of forgotten trees, a local landscape and an ancient craft. This book includes sixteen pages of colour photographs, and black and white line drawings of techniques and traditional timber frame barns feature throughout.

James of St George has a reputation as one of the most significant castle builders of the Middle Ages. His origins and early career at the heart of Europe, and his subsequent masterminding of Edward I of England's castle-building programmes in Wales and Scotland, bestow upon him an international status afforded to few other master builders retained by the English crown. The works erected under his leadership represent what many consider to be the apog e of castle development in the British Isles, and Malcolm Hislop's absorbing new study of the architecture is the most important reassessment to be published in recent times. His book explores the evolution of the Edwardian castle and James of St George's contribution to it. He gives a fascinating insight into the design, construction and organisation of such large-scale building projects, and the structural, military and domestic characters of the castles themselves. James's work on castles in the medieval duchy of Savoy is revisited, as are the native and foreign influences on the design of those he built for Edward I. Some seventy years after A.J. Taylor began his pioneering research into James of St George and his connection with Wales, the time is ripe for this revaluation of James's impact and of the extent of his influence on the architectural character of the

With its pale pink sandstone, picturesque domes and dramatic setting, Drumlanrig is one of Scotland's most romantic castles, its history entwined with that of the country itself. The twists and turns of its story are here captured atmospherically in words and pictures. It took a decade for a medieval stronghold to emerge in 1689 as the palace that greets visitors today. The legacies of three ducal families have combined to create a collection of imposing portraits and rare French furniture. Stately interiors lead to delightful, intimate spaces and an unforgettable Rembrandt. Still home to the heirs of William, 1st Duke of Queensbury, the castle continues to evolve and impress to this day.

LANCASTER CASTLE is one of Britain's major historic monuments. For over 900 years it has dominated the hilltop looking out over the river Lune and the city of Lancaster. Owned by Her Majesty the Queen in her role as Duke of Lancaster, the castle has a unique history, and who better to tell that history than Colin Penny and Graham Kemp. Between them they have almost 40 years of experience in managing the museum of the castle, researching its history and telling its tales to tourists from around the world. This book charts the growth and development of the castle from medieval times to the present day, but also explores the use of the site during the Roman period. Colin Penny and Graham Kemp give us an accurate historical account at the same time as bringing Lancaster Castle to life with their sometimes amusing and sometimes macabre anecdotes. This is no dry historical text, but a riveting story written by two people who have a passion for and intimate knowledge of this iconic building.

This book takes an affectionate journey around some of the atmospheric and occasionally mysterious ruins and follies that can be found in East Anglia. It might be a building that has a particular historical, cultural or other significant interest but which is, at the time of writing, in such a state of disrepair that its restoration is either impractical or unlikely - or, in the cases of particularly old buildings, for example castles, not a consideration for obvious reasons. Or it might be a folly, a building that is still wholly complete and standing but was solely constructed for ornamental purposes and often for no practical use other than for the planners involved to 'prove' that it could be done. With a design that is often deliberately eye-catching, eccentric or even controversial in appearance, Edward Couzens-Lake investigates the reasons for this quirk, looking at, for example, the Victorian 'fashion' for making buildings that had a utilitarian purpose, such as workhouses or water towers, as ornamental in design as possible. Featuring forty-five such sites that fit into those descriptions, together with an accompanying set of photographs, each ruin or folly selected will include a concise and informative narrative relating to the reasons for its construction, its history and, where relevant, its present day function. Edward Couzens-Lake also looks at the future of some of the ruins and follies featured - do they have a future? Are they under threat? Might they eventually be lost to the landscape altogether, or do they have a function to play in the modern world? This charming and fascinating book looks to answer some of these questions.

'A lovely, uplifting, summery read. ' Bestselling author, Lisa Hobman 'A wonderful summer read. It had everything - romance, family, forgiveness and second chances. Highly recommended!' Bestselling author, Alison Sherlock Every end has a new beginning... When Pixie Sampson's husband tragically dies, she inherits the beautiful Chateau Quiltu in Brittany, Northern France. But unbeknown to her, she also inherits a mysterious lodger, Justine Martin and her 4-year-old son Ferdie. Heartbroken and with her adventurous Mum, Gwen in tow, they travel to France to put the Chateau on the market but are soon drawn into a quest to seek the Chateau's secrets. Who is Justine? Why is she living at the Chateau? How did she know her husband? Over the Summer months, the Chateau fills with family and laughter and secrets are discovered and old wounds begin to heal. Escape to the Chateau with top 10 international bestseller Jennifer Bohnet, for an uplifting story of family, love and second chances. What readers are saying about Summer at the Chateau:'This book was a wonderful story full of likeable characters, grief, forgiveness, family, new beginnings, and second chances.' 'An uplifting and wise tale.' 'Emotional and realistic, a wonderful read.' 'A feel good read, dealing mainly with themes as forgiveness, family and second chances.' 'A very well written book, set in a beautiful and superbly described location.' 'I really do think each one of Jennifer's books I read becomes my new favourite.' If you are looking for your next read to give you that escape from reality, lockdown and life with Covid, that I think we all need right now, this is one for you.'

A compendium of 28 beautiful, historical Scottish Castles for local and visitor alikeScotland: A land with rich history, wild landscapes and some of the most beautiful castles on Earth. There have been over 2000 castles in scottish history; some have been preserved in superb condition, some lie in picturesque ruin and others have been resigned to historical records.Discover the story of the well-trodden fortress of Edinburgh Castle, uncover the beautiful remoteness of Eileen Donan and learn all about Castle Urquhart, on the banks of Loch Ness. These are the sites of feuds, the homes of royalty and the locations of great battles.This Pitkin guide takes the reader on a tour of 28 of Scotland's most magnificent castles. Revised for 2019, it makes a perfect addition to the literature for any visitor to the country.

'A lovely, uplifting, summery read. ' Bestselling author, Lisa Hobman 'A wonderful summer read. It had everything - romance, family, forgiveness and second chances. Highly recommended!' Bestselling author, Alison Sherlock Every end has a new beginning... When Pixie Sampson's husband tragically dies, she inherits the beautiful Chateau Quiltu in Brittany, Northern France. But unbeknown to her, she also inherits a mysterious lodger, Justine Martin and her 4-year-old son Ferdie. Heartbroken and with her adventurous Mum, Gwen in tow, they travel to France to put the Chateau on the market but are soon drawn into a quest to seek the Chateau's secrets. Who is Justine? Why is she living at the Chateau? How did she know her husband? Over the Summer months, the Chateau fills with family and laughter and secrets are discovered and old wounds begin to heal. Escape to the Chateau with top 10 international bestseller Jennifer Bohnet, for an uplifting story of family, love and second chances. What readers are saying about Summer at the Chateau:'This book was a wonderful story full of likeable characters, grief, forgiveness, family, new beginnings, and second chances.' 'An uplifting and wise tale.' 'Emotional and realistic, a wonderful read.' 'A feel good read, dealing mainly with themes as forgiveness, family and second chances.' 'A very well written book, set in a beautiful and superbly described location.' 'I really do think each one of Jennifer's books I read becomes my new favourite.' If you are looking for your next read to give you that escape from reality, lockdown and life with Covid, that I think we all need right now, this is one for you.'

The Wars of the Roses is one of the most dramatic and fascinating periods in medieval history. Much has been written about the leading personalities, bitter dynastic rivalries, political intrigues, and the rapid change of fortune on the battlefields of England and Wales. However, there is one aspect that has been often overlooked, the role of castles in the conflict. Dan Spencer's original study traces their use from the outbreak of civil war in the reign of Henry VI in the 1450s to the triumph of Henry VII some thirty years later. Using a wide range of narrative, architectural, financial and administrative sources, he sheds new light on the place of castles within the conflict, demonstrating their importance as strategic and logistical centres, bases for marshalling troops, and as fortresses Dan Spencer's book provides a fascinating contribution to the literature on the Wars of the Roses and to the study of siege warfare in the Middle Ages.

Through colourful illustrations and accounts of actual sieges in every chapter, you'll discover how armies from medieval times up to the English Civil War attacked and besieged British castles and how changing weaponry shaped the defences we see the remains of today. As castle design developed, attackers had to change their tactics and introduce new siege methods to bring the walls down. The weapons, siege engines and mining techniques used are described in detail here, alongside diagrams showing how they worked and details of the defensive structures erected to counter them.