Over 400 years old, this is an oak frame castle gatehouse in England
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
This is the gatehouse at Stokesay Castle, owned by
English Heritage on the site of a Norman
stronghold that dates back to 1281. The gatehouse is an oak
timber-framed 16th century home built onto the outside of the
castle walls and decorated with carvings. The conversion into a manor
house was done by Lawrence of Ludlow, a wealthy
wool
industry merchant. Take a tour around the castle on
Google Street
View. |
|
|
| |
Watch the 1936 film from British Pathé above
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
During the Civil War of 1642 to 1646 the occupants
of the castle were Royalists and were forced to hand the building
over to the Roundheads who ordered Stokesay to be demolished, but
the order was not carried out leaving the buildings as they stand
today. |
|
| |
|
Gatehouse carvings |
 |
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
The gatehouse is not the original but a new one built by Sir
George Mainwaring who bought the castle in 1570. The gatehouse was
eventually
completed in 1620 when the royalist Cravens moved into the manor.
During this period in England there was a resurgence in the craft
of wood-carving leaving the gatehouse overflowing with elaborate
carvings. There is a strong tradition of wood
carving in England and Europe kept alive by organisations
like the
British Woodcarvers Association. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
