Kenilworth Castle was built in the early 1120s on land granted by Henry I to Geoffrey de Clinton. Henry II took the castle back into royal ownership from Clinton’s son and commissioned chambers for himself and his queen. In 1266 when the castle was in the custody of Simon de Montfort, it suffered the longest siege ever mounted on English soil. After the surrender of the castle Henry III granted it to his younger son, Edmund Earl of Lancaster and for nearly two centuries, Kenilworth was in Lancastrian possession. In 1361 John of Gaunt, the fourth son of Edward III, inherited the Dukedom of Lancaster with all its lucrative estates. Between 1373 and 1380 Gaunt transformed Kenilworth into the most spectacular non-royal residence of its age. The main influence was his father’s new lodgings at Windsor, themselves the most splendid ever built by an English king. When John of Gaunt’s son became King Henry IV, Kenilworth became a royal again and was most favoured by Henry V, VI and VII.

Edward I "Longshanks" began Beaumaris Castle in 1295 after the Welsh uprising under Madog ap Llywelyn. "Despite its tragic history, the castle still upholds its reputation as one of the most intimidating fortresses in British history. Beau maris literally translates to beautiful marsh in French, an apt name for the spectacular beauty of the Isle of Anglesey." - EnglandExplore

"It was King Henry II who established the first stone castle at Dover in the 12th century, replacing earlier earthwork and timber fortifications. Seeking to control traffic across the Channel, he spent lavishly to turn Dover into a major royal castle and maritime base. The Great Tower later built by Henry stands to this day as the largest surviving medieval stone tower in England."- Histories and Castles

Still a magnificent structure, Cardiff Castle was once home to Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, who built the "octagon tower and hall block." During the 1404 rebellion of Owain Glyndwr, the stone church of St. John the Baptist was destroyed and then "reconstructed in the second half of the same century creating the fine perpendicular nave and tower which are such prominent features of the city today." When Richard III, who inherited the castle through his wife, became king, he made Sir James Tyrell Constable of Cardiff Castle. Tyrell was long suspected of killing the two princes at Richard's behest. Though it is said Tyrell had confessed prior to his execution, there is no proof or record of such a confession.

"Conisbrough Castle is located in the town of Conisbrough, England. It was established by the Normans following their conquest of England in 1066, marking the beginning of its recorded history. The site was initially held by the Anglo-Saxon King Harold II before passing to William de Warenne, Earl of Surrey, after the Norman victory. William de Warenne founded the castle during the late 11th century, securing control over the large estate that included Conisbrough and its surrounding townships. This early period laid the foundation for the castle’s role as a manorial and defensive site in the region. In 1163, ownership transferred by marriage to Hamelin Plantagenet, an illegitimate half-brother of King Henry II. Hamelin and later his son William undertook substantial rebuilding between 1180 and 1190, reconstructing key elements of the castle in stone. This major phase included the erection of the castle’s striking cylindrical keep, a prominent feature that defines the site today. The castle remained within the Warenne and Plantagenet families for several centuries, despite occasional seizures by the Crown. During the 14th century, Conisbrough Castle was inherited by Edmund of Langley, Duke of York. The castle returned to royal hands in 1461 when Edward IV took the throne amid the Wars of the Roses. Following this turbulent period, the castle’s military importance diminished." - Ancient History Sites

In 600 AD Saint Dubricius founded an oratory dedicated to St Mary Magdalen and later became the first Bishop of Warwick. Guy of Warwick was a Saxon believed to have been born in Warwick. He was from a modest background. Guy married Felicia, the daughter of Rohund, Earl of Warwick. The Earls of Warwick became associated with the Chapel located at Guy's Cliffe. Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, founded a chantry chapel in Warwickshire in 1423, making the necessary provisions for two priests whose given mission was daily Mass to be said for the souls of the Beauchamp family and Richard Beauchamp after his death in 1439. John Rous was chantry priest in 1445. Rous produced a history of the Earls of Warwick, known also as the Rous Roll. Thus, it appears to have been John Rous, Chantry priest of St. Mary Magdalene, who cast the initial dark shadow over Richard III, and from there the young king's name, in death, endured relentless malignment. As it has turned out, Rous apparently knew something tragic may have occurred. It was also in this chapel that Piers Gaveston, supposed lover of Edward II, sought shelter and was captured prior to his execution by Sir Guy de Beauchamp and others. Today, a Masonic Lodge cares for the chapel which is now used as a Masonic Temple.

"Windsor Castle was built by William the Conqueror when he was establishing a line of defensive fortifications around London shortly after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The site for Windsor Castle was located within an easy 20 mile march from the London and conveniently positioned on the River Thames, which at the time, was a main medieval route through England. The castle was also located near Windsor Forest which had been a royal hunting preserve used by the previous Saxon kings. The first building constructed on the site was a wooden structure known as a keep, which is a fortified tower built within a castle, set on the top of a man-made mound and protected by an outer wall. A second structure was later built to the east forming what is known as the Upper Ward and several years later a third structure was built to the west, known as the Lower Ward, thereby enclosing the entire castle. The first royal resident to use Windsor Castle was King Henry I (reign 1100-1135). During his time, the mound on which the original keep was built had begun to collapse and it was reinforced with timber supports and stone, also a low protective wall was added. Later, King Henry II (reign 1154-1189) ordered an extensive refurbishment of Windsor Castle. The original wooden keep was completely replaced with a stone structure and the mound was again reinforced with a new massive stone foundation. The wooden walls surrounding the Upper Ward where replaced with a stone walls and the King’s Gate was built. The interior castle buildings were also completely reconstructed in stone. Then, during the reign of King John (1199-1216) Windsor Castle was besieged, meaning armed forces surround the castle, in 1214 during the time known as the revolt of the English Barons. From Windsor Castle, King John held negotiations to settle the disagreements before he eventually signed the Magna Carta in nearby Runnymede in 1215. A year later, the castle was again under attack by the baronial troops which were then aided by the French, Windsor Castle held and the outside forces were defeated. But, during the second siege, the castle was severely damaged and extensive repairs were required to strengthen its defenses, the construction lasted from 1216 to 1221. At that time, the stone walls of the Lower Ward were rebuilt and three new towers were constructed; the Curfew, the Garter and the Salisbury towers. The Middle Ward was also heavily reinforced and an additional stone wall was built with the Edward II tower at one end and the Henry III tower on the other end. King Henry III (reign 1216-1272) built a lavish palace in the Upper Ward in the years from 1240 to 1263 and Windsor Castle eventually became his favorite residence. New buildings were built in the Lower Ward which included the Lady Chapel, a large 70 foot long chapel built on the south side, and repairs were done to the Great Hall with a new kitchen; but unfortunately the Great Hall was destroyed by a fire in 1296. With these new changes made to Windsor Castle there became a distinct division between the Upper Ward which became an area that was part of the royal family private residence and the Lower Ward which provided a public space for royal ceremonies and other events. During the reign of King Edward III (1327–1377) he established the Order of the Garter in 1348. Since Windsor Castle would be the headquarters of this new order, the King planned to have the castle completely renovated to reflect a more lavish style. Between 1350 and 1377, an exorbitant amount of money was spent on the construction of the new castle and on the interior design with expensive furnishings and other decorations. In addition, three new buildings were built; the Little Cloister, King’s Cloister and a Kitchen Court in the Upper Ward. In the front of the main portion of the castle; the St. George’s Hall, the Great Chamber and the Rose Tower was constructed and designed for the king’s private use at the west end of the castle. In the Lower Ward the Lady’s Chapel was enlarged and renovated. St. George’s Chapel, which had begun construction in 1461, was finally completed during the reign of King Henry VII (1485-1509). St. George’s Chapel was built in a Gothic style of architecture in the Lower Ward. St. George’s Chapel is dedicated to the patron saint of the Order of the Carter, which was an organization that had become inactive during the previous century but had recently been revived. The Order is the oldest British order of chivalry and St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle is where the traditional Garter ceremony takes place; today the ceremony is still performed every June." - theenchantedmanor.com

King Edward II, son of Edward "Longshanks," died on September 21, 1327, while imprisoned at Berkeley Castle in the very room pictured here. Various accounts of his death, with some suggesting he was murdered, possibly by a red-hot poker, continue to be debated among historians. The best perception of the death of Edward II comes from Mortimer descendant, Dr. Ian Mortimer, whose detail of the probable causes are effectively researched.
Dr. Ian Mortimer on the death of EdwardII

Eltham Palace was the most important country residence of King Edward IV. After 1475, he began to rebuild much of the house. Queen Elizabeth Woodville gave birth to a daughter there in 1479. Edward adored the residence so much that he moved his treasured library there, and both he and Elizabeth found they could stay together at Eltham and take separate residences for recreation or business, as required. As far as palaces go, Eltham was both relaxing and comfortable, displaying magnificent gardens throughout which are still enjoyed by tourists today. (photo ctsy. of LondonxLondon)

"In 1189, the great-great-grandson of William the Conqueror, Richard the Lionheart, son of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine, ruled a kingdom stretching from the Pyrenees to the Scottish borders and encompassing England, Normandy, Aquitaine, Poitiers, Maine and Anjou. In just two years (1196-1198) Richard had a castle built overlooking the right bank of the Seine valley at Les Andelys, the great Château Gaillard. Considering the defensive military architecture of its day, Château Gaillard symbolised great power over Normandy.(photo ctsy. of Bargain Travel Europe)

Arundel Castle was built in the 11th Century by the Normans after the invasion of William the Conqueror. The earthworks and the initial structure were completed by 1070. William d’Aubiny, the first Earl of Arundel, inherited the castle in 1138. The FitzAlan family entered the castle in the 13th century, undertaking major renovation. It was in the 16th century when Arundel Castle came into the possession of the Howard family when Mary FitzAlan married Thomas Howard, the 4th Duke of Norfolk.(photo ctsy. of KnightsTemplar.com)

Edward the Black Prince was born Edward of Woodstock in 1330. He was a notable English military leader during the Hundred Years' War, and is famous for his victories at the Battles of Crécy and Poitiers. The eldest son of King Edward III, he is often remembered for his prowess in battle and his extravagant lifestyle. "William the Conqueror received the submission of the English at Berkhamsted Castle after the Battle of Hastings. His half-brother, Robert of Mortain, built a timber castle there in about 1070. It was in the classic Norman motte-and-bailey form, with a defensive conical mound and oval bailey below. The castle stayed in royal hands, and in 1155 Thomas Becket was granted the honour of Berkhamsted by King Henry II. As chancellor, Becket was the king’s right hand man and enjoyed great favour. He rebuilt the castle to befit his new status and house his large staff. Becket's buildings probably included the huge stone curtain wall. Later in 1164, during his quarrel with the king, Becket was accused of embezzlement. He was disgraced and deprived of the honour of Berkhamsted. Berkhamsted, in Herefordshire, was designed as a fortress, with impressive earthwork defences, high motte and stone curtain wall. The water-filled ditches prevented tunnelling under the wall, and the motte could protect the bailey as well as defend attacks from the north. The Black Prince, as Duke of Cornwall, was bequeathed Berkhamsted, and it became a "favourite residence." He "repaired the castle buildings and ordered a new timber palisade around the park to keep the deer from escaping. He married Joan, ‘the Fair Maid of Kent’, in 1361 and the couple spent their first Christmas at the castle." - english-heritage.org.uk