The Castle Studies Trust

Applications are now open for our next round of grants. We can award grants of up to £15,000 (incl VAT) but are happy to have applications for smaller amounts. Closing date is eod Tuesday 1 December. Our grant giving criteria and application form can be found here: castlestudiestrust.org/Grants.html

In the late C12, Alexander Neckam’s list of a castle essentials included 'cataractae' (waterfalls). Today we know them as portcullises (from the Old French, porte coleice, literally ‘sliding door’) & we too find them synonymous with castles. To find out why read our latest blog from Edward Impey.

When one thinks of castles, one of the first features one thinks of are portcullises. In the late C12 century Alexander Neckam listed them as one of the castle essentials. To learn more about them read our latest blog by Edward Impey: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/10... @livunipress.bsky.social

We're delighted to have received funding from @tnlcommunityfund.org.uk It will help us invest in our volunteers, welcome new people, develop skills and build a stronger, more sustainable group. A huge thank you to National Lottery players m& to everyone who has helped us get this far.

I was browsing Google Earth and found that the @castlestudies.bsky.social funded excavation at Knepp Castle back in April was caught on camera.

Find out how we have helped a local group learn more about their important, former royal castle at Ellesmere, Shropshire. Henry III spent huge sums there (£250k in today's money) yet nothing remains above ground. Below ground is different. Learn more here: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/09...

2 of the best bits about our grants is funding local communities to learn more about their castle and transforming our understanding of castles. This geophys survey of Ellesmere Castle by @henebtwa.bsky.social does both in style. You can see how here: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/09...

Here it is! Please share with all your castle-studying pals, colleagues, students. We’re a friendly bunch! 🏰 🏰 🏰 @imc-leeds.bsky.social @castlestudies.bsky.social ℹ️ 👉 padlet.com/universityof...

I only ever emailed Jean Mesqui as a researcher once, but he was patient and helpful. I also thought that his academic work was accessibly written, which is a great skill to have.

We're saddened to hear of the death of the great castellologist Jean Mesqui. Trained as a civil engineer outside his "day jobs" he published extensively, & his 2 vol Châteaux et enceintes de la France médiévale essential for anyone studying French castles. Our condolences to his family & friends.

Three-in-one for #ADoorAbleThursday: the gate leaves (and wicket) of the outer set of gates in De Ireby’s, or the outer, Gatehouse at Carlisle Castle. The building is late C14, the gates poss C15.

If it wasn't for Robert Curthose, citizens of the city on the Tyne would have been from Monkchester & supporters of Monkchester Utd. Learn more about how we are co-funding the publication of the old excavations of Newcastle Castle, much of which was lost to modern development but revealed by digs.

Bringing excavations to publication is such an important step because the same trenches wouldn't produce the same results if they were re-dug. It's fantastic that the Newcastle work will be published because of the CST's support.

Travel through Newcastle by train & you'll see the remains of what gave the city it's name. There's much more to Newcastle Castle than remains today. Unpublished excavations revealed much. We are co-funding the publication of the dig findings. Learn more here: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/07...

Following the improbable success of the First Crusade in 1099, the Crusaders continued to expand the area they controlled in the next 2 decades to create the Crusader States. That stopped in the 1120s. Why? In our latest post @nicmorton.bsky.social explains castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/06...

Fyvie Castle has changed enormously over its history from a motte & bailey castle to an enclosure one, to a royal palace and then an 18th century mansion. Find out how National Trust Scotland funded by us plan to bring that transformation to life for visitors: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/06...

Fyvie Castle is the ideal Scottish fairytale castle. Yet it wasn't always like this with it changing massively over the last 8 centuries. We are funding @nationaltrust.org.uk Scotland & Jan Dunbar to produce 6 images of Fyvie in key phases. Learn more here: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/06...

Interesting piece on Lincoln Castle here:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1ey6le4vz9o Back in 2020 we funded a reconstruction drawing of how the castle may have look around 150 years before

🗣️ Medievalists! 🏰 Check out this page, we’ve done a reconstruction the medieval chapel at Chester Castle! www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places... Please share widely! There’s loads of info and *lovely* images from the repertoire of medieval art - and also more reconstructions!

The totlalslighting of Sudeley Castle during the English Civil War seems now to have been either some wishful thinking or some people not being completely honest....

As so often is the case, what happened on the ground with slighting didn't always match the orders #CastleSlighting

Following 2 sieges of Sudeley Castle in the Civil War it was ordered to be slighted. Depositions by 5 craftsmen, signed off by 2 judges, stated that it had been destroyed. New tree ring analysis, carried out by GHBG & funded by us, says differently. Learn more: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/06...

For all castle fans in and around the Chester area and even for those further afield this event on Saturday 20 June looks an absolute must, with a great line up of speakers: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chester-ca...

We are increasing the max grant award to £15,000. We fund : site-based survey work; scientific tests on objects/materials from a castle; pieces of work which would help public understanding of castles. Applications close on 1 Dec 2026. For more info go here: castlestudiestrust.org/Grants.html

Here is a short blog about our Ellesmere Castle, geophysical survey by the team from @henebtwa.bsky.social who did the surveying: heneb.org.uk/exploring-el...

We have a Tower House problem, or so says Dr Sarah Kerr of @ucc.ie and one of our expert grant assessor says in a guest article for our latest blog. To find out what she means and thoughts on solving it read here: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/05...

"So you would like to extend the amount of accommodation in the inner ward my Lord? May I suggest building over the existing moat?" Find out the latest discoveries from the building survey of Cockermouth Castle that we're funding: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/05...

In his latest piece for our blog, project lead Tom Addyman explains what they learnt from their 2nd visit to survey Cockermouth Castle & importance of archival research. The inner ward seems to have multiple phases dating to earlier than previously thought: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/05...

From the late C13 onwards, knights in royal service started being able to build castles, such as William de Felton who built Edlingham, Northumberland. Dug in the late 70s, rather than a traditional dig write up a new book looks at the life of its builder: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/05...

Our excavation at Knepp finished last week. Project Richard Nevell looks at what they discovered over their 10 dig: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/05...

Archaeology is really all about discovery. For example, I have discovered that I have a least favourite wheelbarrow. @castlestudies.bsky.social

Find out what the excavation team at Knepp Castle on the @kneppwilding.bsky.social .bsky.social estate have found so far at the end of the first week / day 7. @richardnevell.bsky.social explains: youtube.com/shorts/oKnU8...

Just on way back from lovely site visit to look at the excavation we are funding at Knepp open to regular donors only. @richardnevell.bsky.social was an excellent guide giving exclusive inside view. To find out how to support us see here: castlestudiestrust.org/Donate.html

Those lucky enough to study at or just visit @durham.ac.uk, based in Durham Castle, will have noticed this stunning Romanesque doorway. It has never been analysed or studied in any detail. We have funded a team from the uni who want to change it. Find out more: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/04...

Here's the update from the first day of the excavation of Knepp Castle, West Sussex which we are funding.

Digging gets underway at Knepp Castle on Monday. The project we've funded is exploring buried features identified by previous geophysical work. It has the potential to help us understand more about the castle's development and history. castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/04...

When we visited Crookston, we had someone who had excavated there 50 years ago and said they had found very little after 2 years of digging and presumed its remains had been robbed / landscaped out. Thus he was pleasantly surprised to see that a lot remained beneath the surface in the enclosure:

When we first decided to carry out a geophysical survey at Crookston Castle, none of us thought we’d be rewriting history. Watch our short flim to find out more youtu.be/B1Z2RZSvAfs?... @castlestudies.bsky.social @archscot.bsky.social @nts-archaeology.bsky.social @glasgowheritage.bsky.social

On 15 April, our latest project starts, the co-funding of an engineering survey of the great gatehouse of the Edwardian castle of Ruthin. A major castle now ruined and then had a C19 mansion and gardens built on it there's still medieval remains read more here: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/04...

We in the news in Ireland for our funding of the Kilkenny "Finding Flemingstown" geophyical survey by @discoveryprogramme.bsky.social. Development of castle and town in early Anglo-Norman colonisation were entwined so it's a further boost to Irish castle studies: www.independent.ie/life/archaeo...