Castles and Fortifications of England and Wales

A Millennium of Military Defences

Welcome to the Castles and Fortifications of England and Wales site. It is primarily a database of all the English and Welsh castles that have been built since the eleventh century that are still standing, or at least still have some visible remains and are worth visiting. The site uses a system of maps to help you navigate around the country and you can at the same time also easily see which other castles are nearby if you are planning a holiday or a day out.

This is only a small proportion of all the fortifications that have been erected in the last 1000 years, but few remain from the most prolific period of castle building from 1066 until the end of the next century. The majority were built from earth and wood, and most now exist only as a motte, or grassy mound.

What is listed?

As well as castles, the site also includes information on the remaining 13th to 15th century fortified houses and towers, fortified Bishop's palaces and the 17th to 19th century coastal forts. The database currently contains details of 410 sites, one to a page, plus there are very brief details of another 44 which can be viewed with the Other Sites button.

There are photographs of many of the buildings, 168 so far, and more will be added as I tour the country (or as kind people help me out with any they have). The details are intentionally brief as it is designed to help you find interesting sites to visit and appreciate fully, rather than to be a substitute.

To use the site

Start with the Country Map button, choose the area of country you wish to see and then either click on the castle icon links, or use the dropdown lists if you are looking for a particular site. There is also a brief history of castle building over the last 1000 years. Click the Historical button to view.

I have tried to categorise the sites into Castles and Forts that have visible remains, those (a few) that are no longer standing (Ruins), Private sites that are not open to the public or are only open for a few days a year, and Bishop's Palaces. It also shows the location of some of the modern (19th century) buildings designed to look like castles, but there are no details of these more recent dwellings.