Skipton Castle
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Main gate of Skipton Castle, took two
pictures to cover the front
(round tower was originally 1 level taller).
One opening to a firing point, stairs
down to dungeon, first level of tower
(exterior walls were 4 meters thick).
When the tower walls were rebuilt in the 1700's the area replaced was allowed to be only 2 meters thick.
Sink was half the width of window, stove
(3 holes had coal put in them and pots set on top), newer kitchen from early
1800s.
Great hall, older original kitchen with huge fireplace for cooking whole deer or cattle, typical latrine.
Waste just fell to the stream below from the kitchen and latrine.
View of court yard from stairs to the Great Hall.
Stairs to the Great Hall on the right of
the first picture,
exterior of the wall that has the original kitchen.
During the British Civil War in the
1600's, 300 men held off a siege for 3 years
before they were allowed to
surrender with "Honor" and with their weapons.
The siege wasn't constant bombardment
but had a crew of men constantly outside
the castle, this crew changed in size
as some were needed sometimes elsewhere.
The besiegers and the defenders were
neighbors. They would fight sometimes
in the morning, break for tea or lunch,
then exchange prisoners in the afternoon.
It seems a prisoner was expected to be paid the
same amount per day and be
fed and quartered as one of your own men were,
therefore, it was better
to have your own man then take care of an enemy. They say
this war and
siege and the way the business was conducted was well documented.