Castles and Landscapes in Medieval England

Impressive castles

Castles were among the most dominant features of the medieval landscape, and many remain impressive structures to the present day. This work looks at castles in a new light, using the theories and methods of landscape studies. Castles are examined not as an isolated phenomenon, but in relation to their surrounding human as well as physical areas.

Evolution of the medieval landscape

Taking a thematic approach, the study examines a broad range of evidence, archaeological, documentary and topographical, to assess the contribution of these structures on the evolution of the medieval landscape. The imprint of castles on the human landscape was powerful and often long-lived. As imposing icons of status and lordship, castles re-shaped the landscape in the minds of contemporaries, while as estate centres and manors they were closely connected with their surrounding hinterlands.

Settlement

The settlement landscape was also deeply affected by castle building as their powerful aristocratic owners fostered new towns and villages, while other communities were disrupted by their construction. The types of sites chosen for castles are also examined, as are the features that often accompanied them, including churches, mills, monasteries, deer parks, fishponds and gardens. Throughout, this book challenges many of our perceptions about medieval castles and presents some new avenues for future research.