There are thousands of castles in Great Britain if you take a wide definition of what constitutes a castle. Castles have had a strong romantic hold on the imaginations of poets, novelists and artists. These buildings were erected as defenses as early as the Bronze Age. Some are in ruins and some are in excellent condition. There are hundreds of well preserved castles that can be visited.
The English country house is among Britain's greatest contributions to western civilization. The houses range from medieval manors and Scottish tower houses to Victorian extravaganzas and also include cottages. They were the homes of the rich and powerful. Some are now privately owned or some are in the hands of the National Trust or some other official body. Hundreds of these houses can be visited by the public.
For anyone interested in history or architecture both of these types of buildings are facinating to study, giving one a feeling of how things used to be in the past.
Some of the best books on this subject will be mentioned along with what call numbers and subject headings to look for in the library. The primary electronic database that deals with British Architecture will be mentioned. And finally a list of web sites relating to this subject will be given.This pathfinder will cover castles and country houses in England, Scotland and Wales. Some of the web pages also cover Ireland, but are primarily devoted to Britian.
Disclaimer: Many of the web pages listed below were found on the directory portion of Google.
(at University of Arizona)
Castles England
Castles Great Britain
Country Homes England
Country Homes Great Britain
(at University of Arizona)
(Castles)
DA28
DA660
GT3520
NA997
NA7745
UG429
(Country Homes)
DA28
DA660
NA997
NA7328
NA7562
NA7620
(Neither of these books are available at the U of A)
Castles of Britain. Patrick Cormack
The English Country House in Perspective. Gervase Jackson-Stops
Royal Institute of British Architects Library Online Catalogue
http://www.riba-library.com/oncat.html
This database indexes articles about British architecture. Many of the
articles refrenced come from the journal Country Life.
The National Trust
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/
The National Trust provides information on places of historic interest
or natural beauty in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It has
information on castles and country houses that it maintains.
British Castles, Stately Homes and Houses
http://www.castles-uk.com
An interactive map leads to short descriptions by Risto Hurmalainen of
historic buildings he has visited, a gallery of expandable thumbnail
photographs and links to official sites. Hosted by Castles of the World.
Scotland's Castles and Historic Houses
http://www.aboutscotland.co.uk/castles/castles.html
Articles, with photographs and plans, on Traquair, Mary Queen of Scots
House, Linlithgow Palace, Hermitage Castle, Castle Urquhart, Crichton
Castle, Strome Castle, Threave Castle and Caerlaverock Castle, from
Scotland HolidayNet.
Castles of Britain
http://www.castles-of-britain.com/
US-based Castles Unlimited offers a commercial research service. Lists
of castles; photo gallery; ground plans and bird's-eye views of a few
castles; general background articles; glossary.
Castle Studies Group
http://www.castlewales.com/csg.html
Aims to promote the study of castles in all their forms and by all
possible means. Committee, news, conference. Hosted by Castles of Wales.
Castles, Palaces and Stately Homes of Britain
http://www.magical-romance.connectfree.co.uk/Castles.htm
A guide with many photographs, to some of the castles, and stately
homes of Britain, with particular emphasis on Nottinghamshire, where
the author comes from.
CastleXplorer
http://www.castlexplorer.co.uk/
Uses interactive maps to find castles in Great Britain, featuring
descriptions, photos and directions.
Island Castles
http://www.wtj.com/articles/castles/
Appealing introduction to medieval fortresses of Great Britain by
Edward Blanchard, from The War Times Journal, with professional
photographs of a few of the most famous.
Castles in England and Wales A-Z
http://www.britainexpress.com/Where_to_go_in_Britain/castles/castles1.htm
A gazetteer from Britain Express: highlights, opening times, location
maps and thumbnail photographs for castles.
Castles and Ancient Monuments of Great Britain
http://www.britcastles.com/
Personal notes on and pictures of castles visited by Grobius Shortling.
Glossary and outline history of fortification in Britain.
CastleUK.net
http://www.castleuk.net/
Site provides information and pictures for many castles in England,
Scotland and Wales. Visitor information is enhanced by use of ordnance
survey maps to pinpoint actual locations. Castles are easily searchable
by location or alphabetical listings.
Castles and Fortifications of England and Wales
http://www.ecastles.co.uk/
Database of 800 survivals. Interactive maps lead to photographs, brief
descriptions and visitor information by Charles Taylor. Also a brief,
illustrated history of the subject.
Hudson's Historic Houses and Gardens
http://www.hudsons.co.uk
The publishers of the guide to heritage properties in Great Britain and
Ireland maintain this directory of links to web-sites of historic
houses and gardens.
The DiCamillo Companion to British and Irish Country Houses
http://www.dicamillocompanion.com
A database that aims to list every British and Irish country house from
circa 1500 to 1945, standing or demolished. Also an online shop.
English Country Houses
http://www.britannia.com/history/c-house.html
Britannia's collection of illustrated articles: regional studies and
the histories of specific houses.
English Country Houses and Stately Homes A-Z
http://www.britainexpress.com/Where_to_go_in_Britain/historic_houses/historic_houses_index.htm
A gazetteer from Britain Express: highlights, opening times, location
maps and thumbnail images for country houses.
John Stanton
IRLS 524
August 8, 2003