The Castles of England

15/08/2026

Trebuchet Tournaments are the BEST! 🏰

15/08/2026

11/08/2026

💥 ROARING MEG — THE GUN THAT BROUGHT DOWN GOODRICH CASTLE 💥

Inside the courtyard of Goodrich Castle is one of the most incredible survivors of the English Civil War 🏰 Roaring Meg!

Cast in June 1646 on the orders of Parliamentarian Colonel John Birch, this enormous mortar was reputedly made by a local blacksmith at a forge near Goodrich. It was built specifically for the siege of the castle and could fire a huge hollow iron shell weighing around 85kg (200lb for you Americans).

And this isn't a reproduction!

This is the original Roaring Meg that was used during the siege of Goodrich Castle in 1646. 🔥

Its enormous shells were fired into the castle's defences, causing devastating damage, particularly to the north west, or Lady Tower. The Royalist garrison eventually surrendered on 31 July 1646.

Look closely at the inscription and you're reminded that this isn't just an old piece of artillery, it actually took part in the siege you're standing in the middle of.

Roaring Meg is also the only surviving mortar from the English Civil Wars, making it an extraordinary piece of 17th century artillery.

It was later used against Raglan Castle before eventually returning to Goodrich, where it can now be seen in the castle courtyard.

Goodrich is already one of the finest medieval castles in the country, but Roaring Meg is one of those details that makes a visit even more special.

Next time you're at Goodrich Castle, don't just walk past her… stop and imagine the roar. 💥

📍 Goodrich Castle, Herefordshire
🏰 English Heritage

08/08/2026

Over 1,000 years of history!

Tamworth Castle, England 🏰🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

I visited Tamworth Castle today. Beautiful gardens around the castle and the staff were fantastic. Plenty to see at the castle, i even had the pleasure of seeing some Saxon artefacts from Staffordshire Hoard. This alone is worth a visit. It was also great to see the most significant restoration of Tamworth Castle in a generation happening. The castle was placed on the Heritage at Risk Register in December 2023, with serious underlying issues being revealed. So If you've not visited I'd definitely recommend this place. Your support is much appreciated

Let me know in the comments if you've visited or you plan on visiting 🫈

07/08/2026

Love this! Do we need trebuchet tournaments in the UK? 😂🏰

06/08/2026

How accurate were trebuchets? 🎯🏰

Despite their enormous size, trebuchets weren't precision weapons. At long range they could be wildly unpredictable, with wind, sling length, counterweight, and the shape of the projectile all affecting where it landed. Their real strength wasn't hitting a single target, it was repeatedly battering the same section of a castle wall until it finally gave way.

Skilled crews could improve their accuracy by carefully adjusting the sling and counterweight, but even then, every shot was slightly different. During long sieges, they would often "walk" their shots onto a target, making small adjustments after each launch until they found the range.

Imagine standing on a castle wall... knowing every incoming stone was getting closer than the last.