The largest trebuchet in Europe, this is a monster device that we arrived to see do a test firing. It was pretty impressive. This is it before it is loaded.
The trebuchet armed and ready to fire. The wheels had visiting students in them trudging about to pull down the arm and raise the counterweight. It took about 20 minutes of trudging by four teams of students to achieve this.
The trebuchet just after it has fired. I tried to catch them firing the test boulder, but my camera was just not fast enough.
The oldest part of the castle is this 11th century motte and bailey. The castle wall atop is 13th century, but the hill itself was built from spoil from the old moat around the castle in 1086 under orders of William the Conqueror to protect a crossing on the River Avon.
Looking up the motte and bailey from the bottom. Its pretty steep, but you can climb up to the top and walk along the wall if you wish.
A door on a lower path leading to the castle. It is interesting and partially hidden, which is what made it cool. I wish I knew what was on the other side.
On the way into the castle. An archer does exhibitions outside in this recreated 15th century military encampment.
More of the main entrance to the castle. Much of what we see was recreated by one of the owners in 1604 after the castle had lain in ruins for several decades.
An entrance to a wonderful exhibit on the castle during the year 1471 when the Richard Nevill,e the 16th Earl of Warwick, known as the "Warwick the Kingmaker," was killed. Previously, he had helped overthrow the English king Henry VI and put King Edward IV on the throne of England during the War of the Roses. See...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Neville%2C_16th_Earl_of_Warwick
if you want a brief overview of his life.
Looking up at the main part of the interior of the castle.
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