Conwy

 

Conwy Castle was built in the 13th century on order of Edward Longshanks to consolidate his rule over Wales.

The castle withstood a siege led by Madog ap Llywelyn in 1295.

A pedestrian, motor, and rail bridge span the Conwy River next to the castle.

Conwy is a market town, and its walls were built at the same time as the castle.

The town has a small port leading to the Irish Sea.

Conwy Castle was restored by Edward, the Black Prince, in 1343.

In the 14th century Richard II attempted to hide from the future Henry IV in the castle.

The forces of Welsh rebel Owain Glyndwr took the castle in 1401.

Charles I sold the castle to Edward Conway in 1627 for 100 pounds. The castle and town had cost Edward I 15000 pounds to construct.

The castle endured another siege during the English Civil War and fell in 1646.

After the war the castle was slighted and became a tourist attraction.

Conwy Castle is now a deserving UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Powys

 

Powys is a county in Wales named after the Kingdom of Powys.

We stayed in a small inn there surrounded by sheep.

English and Welsh breakfast are quite similar.

Lamb for dinner wasn't bad either.

We saved room for dessert.

The hills of Powys are full of sheep pastures.

Powys Castle was built by Welsh prince Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn.

Robert Clive of India's son married the owner of the castle, Henrietta Herbert, in 1784, and many of Clive's treasures taken/looted from India reside there. They won't let you take pictures of them either...

Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon is the birthplace of William Shakespeare.

Shakespeare's birthplace

Gotta get a picture with the GOAT.

The town is full of half-timbered Tudor houses.

Old Bank

The Guild Chapel has a painting depicting the 15th century poem Erthe upon Erthe

Spooky

William Shakespeare's father, John, was an important businessmen in Stratford.

William Shakespeare is buried in the Holy Trinity Church.

A crazy misericord

Shakespeare's tomb

They don't make mercy seats like they used to.

Warwick

 

Warwick is famous for its castle, founded by William the Conqueror in 1068. The town has a magical quality because it was largely unaffected by the industrial revolution.

He had important places to be.

Warwick Castle overlooks the River Avon and served as a strategic hold in the British midlands.

These days Warwick Castle is owned by a theme park company, which has done a pretty good job maintaining it.

Horrible Histories is still a popular series!

The Castle has many high quality historic exhibits, probably installed when the Tussauds Group owned it.

Nock! Loose! A seven year old soldier drills to shoot 12 arrows a minute.

The bear and ragged staff is the heraldry of the Earls of Warwick.

The castle has changed hands many times, and was home to Richard Neville, the Kingmaker during the War of the Roses.

Oliver Cromwell's death mask

Sumptuous

A narwhal horn, once thought to be a unicorn horn

Woe be to he who angers the Duncow!

The castle served as a country house for the Earls of Warwick from the 17th century until 1978, when it was sold to the Tussauds Group.

Even the fire hoses in the castle are classy.

Unfortunately the trebuchet has been out of operation for a while.

The last siege the castle withstood was in 1642.

In the 1900s the Earl of Warwick opened a ticket office charging tourists to visit the castle.

The trebuchet once flung a 30 pound rock 250 meters.

The Collegiate Church of St. Mary is also worth a visit.

The crypt

A medieval ducking stool

Thomas and Katherine Beauchamp, Earl and Countess of Warwick in the 14th century

The church was originally founded in 1123.

Richard Beauchamp's tomb

The ragged staff in the heraldic emblem represents a tree used to kill a giant.

Griffons!

The bear may represent Norman Urse d'Abetot, father in law to the Beauchamps.

Not a bad emblem for a medieval earl.

The swan crown is legit too.

Shelves used to distribute food to the poor at church.