Defence of the Realm
Sam Willis looks at how castles survived into the Tudor era. But these strategic seats of power had to become palaces to impress monarchs such as Elizabeth I.
Sam Willis explores how, by the Wars of the Roses, castles were under attack from a new threat - the cannon - but survived into the Tudor era only to find their whole purpose challenged. What had once been strategic seats of power now had to keep up with the fickle fashions of the court and become palaces to impress monarchs such as Elizabeth I.
Just as castles seemed to have lost their defensive function, the English Civil War erupted. The legacy of that tumultuous period resulted in castles no longer being associated with protection. Rather, their ruins took on a unique appeal, embodying a nostalgia for an age of chivalry that became a powerful part of the national psyche.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Next
You are at the last episode
Clips
-
![]()
How Bamburgh Castle was taken
Duration: 02:18
-
![]()
Firing the cannon
Duration: 02:10
-
![]()
Charles I and the great escape attempt
Duration: 02:51
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
-
![]()
00:49Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Andrew Davis
II. Vivace Non Troppo From Symphony No. 3 In A Minor, Op. 56 "Scottish"
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Sam Willis |
| Director | Matthew Thomas |
| Producer | Matthew Thomas |
| Series Producer | Ben Southwell |
| Executive Producer | Michael Poole |
Broadcasts
- Thu 18 Dec 2014 21:00
- Fri 19 Dec 2014 03:00
- Tue 23 Dec 2014 00:35
- Thu 11 Jun 2015 20:00
- Fri 12 Jun 2015 02:20
- Sat 16 Jan 2016 20:00
- Wed 26 Oct 2016 20:00
- Thu 13 Jul 2017 20:00
- Fri 14 Jul 2017 02:00
- Mon 4 Jun 2018 20:00
- Tue 5 Jun 2018 03:00
- Wed 13 Feb 2019 23:00
- Wed 23 Oct 2019 20:00
- Wed 21 Oct 2020 20:00
- Thu 22 Oct 2020 02:30
- Sat 12 Feb 2022 19:10
- Sun 13 Feb 2022 02:10
- Sat 22 Jun 2024 20:00
- Mon 24 Jun 2024 02:00