Pitkin presents the fascinating and engaging story of everyday life in and around castles - from 1066 to the 1400s.
Alongside the Church, the stone castle was one of the enduring symbols of medieval life. To the poor, its intimidating walls represented the preordained social order. To many, the castle represented business, and the heights of ambition. And to the rich it represented fun and frivolity in the form of
feasting, chivalry and games.
The guide uncovers the complexities of life in and around such settlements: the family, the workers, the food, the wars and the entertainment.
Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British history, heritage and travel, particularly the other books in the 'Life in' series: Medieval England, Tudor England, Stuart England, Georgian England and Victorian Britain.
The Normans built the first stone castles in Britain in the 11th century (though the Romans had built fortresses in stone a thousand years before them), and more than 1,500 were built during the Middle Ages. This fascinating guide looks at how castles wre built and run, how people lived in them in times of peace and war, and how castles's use, design and decoration changed over the centuries. this guide revisits a vanished age when minstrels sang, people ate with knife and fingers, and relaxations included hunting, hawking and archery. Includes a list of places to visit.
