Historical Places

Castles, Cathedrals, Churches, Abbeys, etc.
6.5k Pins
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Sarah Morris on Instagram: "The images above are of Hedingham Castle, a remarkably well-preserved example of Norman architecture, and the latest destination in my on-location podcast: The Tudor History & Travel Show. 

The Castle’s imposing stone keep dates back to the early twelfth century and was built by Aubrey de Vere, a prominent Norman baron and the first Earl of Oxford. The de Vere family, one of the most powerful noble houses in medieval England, maintained ownership of the castle for over 500 years. Today, the castle is privately owned by descendants of the de Vere family, Jason and Demetra Lindsay.

Hedingham Castle was built on a Norman military design, with massive stone walls approximately 12 feet thick at the base. The keep retains many original features, including arched win
Sarah Morris on Instagram: "The images above are of Hedingham Castle, a remarkably well-preserved example of Norman architecture, and the latest destination in my on-location podcast: The Tudor History & Travel Show. The Castle’s imposing stone keep dates back to the early twelfth century and was built by Aubrey de Vere, a prominent Norman baron and the first Earl of Oxford. The de Vere family, one of the most powerful noble houses in medieval England, maintained ownership of the castle for over 500 years. Today, the castle is privately owned by descendants of the de Vere family, Jason and Demetra Lindsay. Hedingham Castle was built on a Norman military design, with massive stone walls approximately 12 feet thick at the base. The keep retains many original features, including arched win
Dave Sweeting on Instagram: "Tewkesbury Abbey in the north of Gloucestershire, South West England. Also a few shots from around the town. 

The abbey is mostly 12th century apart from the fancy east end parts which are 14th century with surviving medieval stained glass.

The abbey was founded by nobleman Robert FitzHamon in 1087 although it was 15 years before building commenced properly for the Benedictine Monks. In 1540 the abbey was affected by the dissolution; many parts of the abbey such as the cloister and here, the Lady Chapel were quarried for their material. Like many other abbeys within towns and cities, the abbey church survived due to being sold to the parishioners (for £453).

#history #architecture #gothic #medievaltimes #heritage #gothicarchitecture #gothicchurch #romanesque
Dave Sweeting on Instagram: "Tewkesbury Abbey in the north of Gloucestershire, South West England. Also a few shots from around the town. The abbey is mostly 12th century apart from the fancy east end parts which are 14th century with surviving medieval stained glass. The abbey was founded by nobleman Robert FitzHamon in 1087 although it was 15 years before building commenced properly for the Benedictine Monks. In 1540 the abbey was affected by the dissolution; many parts of the abbey such as the cloister and here, the Lady Chapel were quarried for their material. Like many other abbeys within towns and cities, the abbey church survived due to being sold to the parishioners (for £453). #history #architecture #gothic #medievaltimes #heritage #gothicarchitecture #gothicchurch #romanesque
(20) Tracy Hogan on X: "Discover 9000 years of ancient Irish history in one valley. The Boyne Valley is rich in history of Irelands distant past. By Faitz Ireland. https://t.co/nKd2FBILfQ" / X
(20) Tracy Hogan on X: "Discover 9000 years of ancient Irish history in one valley. The Boyne Valley is rich in history of Irelands distant past. By Faitz Ireland. https://t.co/nKd2FBILfQ" / X
an aerial view of some old buildings in the countryside
Iconic Palace on Instagram: "Château d’Olhain is a picturesque medieval fortress located in northern France, near the town of Fresnicourt-le-Dolmen in the Pas-de-Calais region. Dating back to the 13th century, the castle is one of the best-preserved examples of feudal architecture in northern France. Surrounded by a tranquil moat, the castle's stone walls rise majestically from the water, creating a reflection that enhances its fairytale-like appearance. Originally built as a defensive structure during a period of political instability, Château d’Olhain was later transformed into a more comfortable residence by its various owners over the centuries. The château is an exceptional blend of military and residential styles, with its round towers, crenellations, and arrow slits, as well as its
an old stone building with a clock on it's face and two windows in the front
English Heritage on Instagram: "Cleeve Abbey is a haven of peace and tranquillity, said to contain the finest cloister buildings in England.🕊️ Although the abbey church was destroyed by Henry VIII during 1536. The cloister buildings including the gatehouse, 15th century refectory with its glorious angel roof and 13th century heraldic tiles have survived remarkably intact. 📸 Photos by @RosieMeddon (via X/Twitter) 📌 Somerset"
an old church with two towers against a blue sky
Beth Reid on Instagram: "Have you ever heard of Paisley Abbey? It’s a very underappreciated historic site but is full of incredible gems from Scottish history. Paisley Abbey’s origins go back to 1163, when a Cluniac Priory was founded by Walter Fitzalan, High Steward of Scotland. The priory became an abbey in 1219, and although most of the abbey was constructed across the 12th and 13th centuries, it sustained severe fire damage at the hands of the forces of Edward I of England and required reconstruction. Shout out to Edward I for wrecking Scotland’s heritage 🫡 Parts of the original building still linger - see the slides for the doorway! The abbey is strongly associated with the Stewarts - all six High Stewards were buried here, alongside Robert III of Scotland. However, the most impor
the inside of an old cathedral with vaulted ceilings
Dave Sweeting on Instagram: "Gloucester Cathedral. The Abbey of St Peter (original name) was built from 1089 to 1122 for Abbot Serlo. Further additions and rebuilding continued into the late 15th century with even later restorations. After the dissolution of the monastery the church was refounded in 1541 as a secular cathedral. King Edward II’s tomb can be found here but the cloister is very famous due to featuring in lots of films over the years (Harry Potter etc). #history #architecture #gothic #medievaltimes #heritage #gothicarchitecture #gothicchurch #romanesque #medieval #gloucester #gloucestershire #cathedral #church #monks #gloucestercathedral #historic #Exchequergate #towers #medievalhistory #europe #normanarchitecture #stonemason #stonecarvings #masonry #travel"
an old stone castle with a clock on it's face and the sky in the background
MyInstaScotland on Instagram: "Balvenie Castle, Dufftown. The original castle was built in the second half of the 1200s, making it one of Scotland’s oldest stone castles. Balvenie was most likely built for Alexander Comyn, 2nd Earl of Buchan. The vast territory ruled over by the Comyns stretched from the Moray Firth to what is now Fort William. The Comyns were allied with John Balliol, who was deposed by Edward I of England in 1296. The dynasty lost power after arch-rival Robert I seized the throne in 1306. Bruce granted the lordship – but not the earldom – to his friend, the Good Sir James Douglas. His family, the Black Douglases, became as mighty as the Comyns, with a power base in southern Scotland. Their downfall came in 1455. James II mistrusted the Douglases’ power and eventuall
an aerial view of a castle on the water
THE CASTLES OF ENGLAND on Instagram: "Bodiam Castle, located in East Sussex, England 🏰 👻 This castle is not only a picturesque medieval fortress but also the setting for eerie legends. One of the spookiest tales involves the ghost of a former soldier who is said to wander the ruins at night, seeking redemption for his betrayal. Legend has it that this soldier opened the gates to enemy forces during an attack, leading to the castle's downfall. His restless spirit is rumored to roam the castle grounds, especially near the battlements, where visitors have reported hearing the clank of ghostly armor and seeing fleeting shadows in the moonlight. 🎥 Amazing Shot By @go.argus ⚔️ Check him out #Castle #Castles #CastleLife #CastleLovers #Photography #Historic #Medieval #Ancient #Fairytale #Ca
the words, english cathedrals on instagramm'stunning is it the prettiest cathedral?
English Cathedrals on Instagram: "Stunning! Is it the prettiest cathedral? 📷 @travelsofsamwise Inside Britain’s Prettiest Cathedral As I mentioned yesterday, Im obsessed with Wells Cathedral, so much so that I’ve got another post to talk about the fabulous interiors It’s one of the great Gothic masterpieces in England, perched on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills, near the border of Somerset & Wiltshire. The clock in picture 3 is particularly noteworthy. Assembled in the 14th century, it’s one of the oldest working clocks anywhere in the world. Even better, it works a bit like a cookoo clock, every hour, two knights whizz out of the clockface and have a little mechanical battle. Also interesting is the stained glass windows in pic 9. Stained glass was one of England’s great arti
an old castle with stone walls and windows
Terry Meyers on Instagram: "Carnasserie Castle, Scotland . . . . @historicscotland #scotland #scotlandsites #scotlandtravel #scotlandbeauty #scotlandexplore #scotlandtrip #scottish #scotland_greatshots #scotland_insta #scottishscenery #scottish #scottishcastle #scottishhistory"
the entrance to an old castle with a quote above it that says kagan castle is awesome example
Sarah Morris on Instagram: "This is the mighty Raglan Castle in Monmouthshire. 🤩 What makes this castle unusual is that, unlike the majority of castles, this one was not built during the early medieval period. Instead, it was constructed during the second half of the fifteenth century and was added to in the sixteenth century. This makes it a late medieval/Tudor castle. It is easy to see how impressive this palace-fortress was in its heyday. It was the powerful Herbert family’s primary home, whose fates were inextricably tied with the changing fortunes of the Houses of Lancaster and York through the latter half of the fifteenth century. It was here that a young Henry Tudor was ‘held’ after the fall of Pembroke Castle to Yorkist forces (where he had been living under the care of his gu
an old brick building with a stone arch
Dave Sweeting on Instagram: "Basingwerk Abbey in North Wales. A Cistercian abbey built in the 12th century and remodelled in the following century and later. As with all the monks they suffered by Henry VIII’s Dissolution Act in 1536 and were driven out. The abbey was left in a state of ruin and the stonework was continually plundered for the nearby mills in Greenfield valley. #northwales #wales #welshabbeys #cadw #12thcentury #ruins #medieval #ruin #abbey #church #history #architecture #abandonedplaces #middlesages #historicbuildings #medievalarchitecture #abandoned #gothic #romanesque #monks #cistercianmonks #historic #heritage #medievaltimes #medievalchurch #cistercian #travel #europe"
the inside of a church with pews and stained glass windows
Terry Meyers on Instagram: "St.Conan Kirk, Scotland . . . . #scotlandtrip #scotland #scotlandsites #scotlandtravel #scotlandbeauty #scotlandexplore #scottish #scotland_greatshots #scotland_insta #scottishscenery"
a painting on the side of a building with an image of a woman's face
Church Of The Day - Sophie on Instagram: "📍 Binham Priory Screen, Norfolk . 🖋 The famous rood screen at Binham is truly an exceptional survival. The faces of the medieval paintings peek out from behind the words of Cranmer’s Bible of 1539, which were overlaid in Black Letter script following the English Reformation. The figures depicted include: 1. St Michael the Archangel 2. A figure holding a gold Patriarchal Cross 3. St Helena of Constantinople with a cross 4. St Sebastian holding arrows in his right hand 5. King Henry VI 6. Possibly St Mary Magdalen with a jar in her right hand 7. St Zita holding golden keys in her right hand 8. St Roche with the angel (top left) bringing the tablet divinely written in gold to put under his head in prison The surviving parts of the screen have b