Castles were among the most dominant features of the medieval landscape and many remain impressive structures to the present day. This paperback edition of a book first published in hardback in 2002 is a fascinating and provocative study which looks at castles in a new light, using the theories and methods of landscape studies. For the first time castles are examined not as an isolated phenomenon, but in relation to their surrounding human as well as physical landscapes. Taking a thematic approach, the study examines a broad range of evidence - archaeological, documentary and topographical - to put castles back into the medieval landscape and assess their contribution to its evolution. Far more than simply a book about castles, this is a study of the impact of power and authority on the landscape. O.H. Creighton is Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Exeter. He is the author (with R.A. Higham) of Medieval Castles (Shire, 2003).

Castles were among the most dramatic features of the medieval landscapes of Europe and are still often dominant elements of our surroundings. They have been an enduring subject of fascination for professional and amateur alike for well over a century. This book offers an accessible and portable guide to the archaeology and architecture of castles in England and Wales, an area whose castles had some common developments in the medieval period and which now provides numerous and rich sites for both study and visit. A particular quality of the book is that it approaches the subject from a variety of perspectives. Architectural aspects of masonry castles are examined, as are the remains of earth and timber sites. Throughout, attention is given to the social and domestic, as well as to the military significance of castles and the aspirations of their builders. The authors explore many recent and exciting developments in the field of castles studies. The contribution of landscape history to the study of castles in their wider contexts is highlighted, as are innovative ways of analysing the fabric of masonry castles and the social messages which they contain. Finally, emphasis is given to the new light cats by archaeological excavation on the enigmatic timber castles that were such common features of the medieval world.