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From BBC Website, 18th February 2005 Views sought on castle's future People living in Exeter are to be offered the chance to have their say over the future of one of the city's most historic landmarks. Rougemont castle is about 935-years-old and includes an 11th Century Norman keep, an 18th Century court building, gardens and courtyard. It also has the most intact stretch of the city's medieval wall. The site had been home to Exeter Combined Courts for the past few hundred years. Comments welcome The courts recently moved to a new purpose-built building off Southernhay. As a result the owners, the Department of Constitutional Affairs, will shortly market the sit…

An copper plate by James Sargant Storer from a drawing of Pevensey Castle by T. Whichele. It was published in the "Antiquarian and Topographical Cabinet" c1807-11, and now forms part of my collection.

Recently purchased a vintage postcard of Woodsford Castle. A first for me. This is an unusual and little known castle.

From The Observer, 4th December 2005 Lock me up and throw away the key Oxford jail has been reborn as a stylish hotel. Mike Carter samples life on the inside. As any reasonable Daily Mail reader will tell you, these days prisons are more like hotels than places of punishment. Certainly, when I walked into Oxford jail and my welcoming committee asked if I'd had a pleasant journey and would I like breakfast in bed and the papers delivered to my room, I was tempted to conclude that the voice of middle England has a point. But before outraged taxpayers descend on the city with flaming torches, I must explain that Her Majesty's Prison Oxford is Maj's no longer. For …

From the Gazette, 28th April 2011 Owners of Thornbury Castle go into administration The owners of Thornbury Castle have gone into administration, throwing the historic landmark’s future in doubt. The Tudor castle, situated in the historic part of Thornbury, has been owned by von Essen Hotels for the past 11 years. It was bought by British businessman Andrew Davis, who set up the von Essen chain, for a reported £5 million in 2000, to add to his collection of 28 luxury hotels across the country. Thornbury Castle has become a popular wedding venue and attracts several hundred visitors to the town every year. Von Essen Hotels, which also owns the Royal Crescent Hotel …

An old engraving recently added to my collection, which comes from Grose's Antiquities, and is dated 26th June 1785.

A recent addition to my postcard collection.

I recently purchased an original 1887 copy of Sir Walter Scott's book "Peveril of the Peak", complete with frontispiece of Peveril Castle.

From the BBC Website, 31st January 2005 Grant protects future of castle Visitors will be able to enjoy a castle for years to come after vital repairs were carried out with an £80,000 grant. The poor condition of Mitford Castle, near Morpeth, in Northumberland, it is on English Heritage's Buildings at Risk Register. The grant from English Heritage is the first of a series of phases to protect the site from further deterioration. The 11th century motte and bailey castle features prominently in the history of the area. During its history, it was burnt down by King John, confiscated by Henry III and sacked by Robert the Bruce. 'Serious battering' English Heritage No…

Thirlwall Castle Ordnance Survey Map Reference NY 659662 Thirlwall Castle lies just north of the village of Greenhead in the county of Northumberland, and stands on high ground on the west bank of the Tipalt Burn. It can be reached via a footpath off the B6318 road and is well sign-posted. The footpath takes one across a railway line and links up with a section of the Pennine Walk. At the time of my visit, the castle stood on private land by a farm, but was easily visible from the footpath. Above : Thirlwall Castle – August 1998 It is said that Edward I slept here on 20th September 1306, but there is no record of a castle until 1369, when it was described as…