Scarborough Castle   (Yorkshire)

Situated on a fine promontory, with the two great bays of the resort of Scarborough on both sides, this impressive (but gauntly ruined) castle was started by William Le Gros, one of the great Norman warlords in the early 1100's. But the site itself had been important in the Iron Age and in Roman times. There was a Roman signal station, foundations of which still remain, on the edge of the cliff, where later the Saxons built a chapel; in medieval times the castle chapels were located here. There were several major sieges of this castle, because of its strategic location. It was an important Royalist stronghold during the Civil War, after which Cromwell had it 'slighted' in his usual vindictive manner.

This is, for all its totally ruined state in its interior (only half of the keep and some foundations of the other buildings survive, along with the landward curtain wall), one of the most impressive 'promontory' castles in England. There are spectacular views of the North Sea and the Yorkshire coast. Two interesting points: In the 18th Century this was a military base built after the Bonnie Prince Charlie rebellion -- brick barracks on the site of the great hall, and ammunition dumps. The German navy bombarded and destroyed the barracks in World War I under the mistaken impression that they were still in use. (I had been told that Zeppelins were also used in the bombardment, but was apparently mislead.)

An elaborate Barbican with gatehouse, two drawbridges, and an outwork was constructed in the 14th Century, and is one of the best examples in Britain. A natural ravine separated the promontory from the mainland, and served as the castle ditch; this barbican entrance was built at the upper end of it, providing flanking cover to the southern curtain wall (shown above). There would have been no trees then, but now there is a nice garden in the ravine and on the northwest slopes overlooking North Bay.

The picture below shows the intact part of the keep, which was once over 100 feet tall and is still a fine example of Norman military architecture of the Henry II period (1130's). Cromwell's Parliament had the western part of the keep (facing North Bay) blown up, as can be seen in the top photograph.