I only ever emailed Jean Mesqui as a researcher once, but he was patient and helpful. I also thought that his academic work was accessibly written, which is a great skill to have.

The Castle Studies Trust@castlestudies.bsky.social · yesterday

We're saddened to hear of the death of the great castellologist Jean Mesqui. Trained as a civil engineer outside his "day jobs" he published extensively, & his 2 vol Châteaux et enceintes de la France médiévale essential for anyone studying French castles. Our condolences to his family & friends.

We're saddened to hear of the death of the great castellologist Jean Mesqui. Trained as a civil engineer outside his "day jobs" he published extensively, & his 2 vol Châteaux et enceintes de la France médiévale essential for anyone studying French castles. Our condolences to his family & friends.

Three-in-one for #ADoorAbleThursday: the gate leaves (and wicket) of the outer set of gates in De Ireby’s, or the outer, Gatehouse at Carlisle Castle. The building is late C14, the gates poss C15.

If it wasn't for Robert Curthose, citizens of the city on the Tyne would have been from Monkchester & supporters of Monkchester Utd. Learn more about how we are co-funding the publication of the old excavations of Newcastle Castle, much of which was lost to modern development but revealed by digs.

The Castle Studies Trust@castlestudies.bsky.social · 3w ago

Travel through Newcastle by train & you'll see the remains of what gave the city it's name. There's much more to Newcastle Castle than remains today. Unpublished excavations revealed much. We are co-funding the publication of the dig findings. Learn more here: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/07...

Bringing excavations to publication is such an important step because the same trenches wouldn't produce the same results if they were re-dug. It's fantastic that the Newcastle work will be published because of the CST's support.

The Castle Studies Trust@castlestudies.bsky.social · 3w ago

Travel through Newcastle by train & you'll see the remains of what gave the city it's name. There's much more to Newcastle Castle than remains today. Unpublished excavations revealed much. We are co-funding the publication of the dig findings. Learn more here: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/07...

Travel through Newcastle by train & you'll see the remains of what gave the city it's name. There's much more to Newcastle Castle than remains today. Unpublished excavations revealed much. We are co-funding the publication of the dig findings. Learn more here: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/07...

Following the improbable success of the First Crusade in 1099, the Crusaders continued to expand the area they controlled in the next 2 decades to create the Crusader States. That stopped in the 1120s. Why? In our latest post @nicmorton.bsky.social explains castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/06...

Fyvie Castle has changed enormously over its history from a motte & bailey castle to an enclosure one, to a royal palace and then an 18th century mansion. Find out how National Trust Scotland funded by us plan to bring that transformation to life for visitors: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/06...

The Castle Studies Trust@castlestudies.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Fyvie Castle is the ideal Scottish fairytale castle. Yet it wasn't always like this with it changing massively over the last 8 centuries. We are funding @nationaltrust.org.uk Scotland & Jan Dunbar to produce 6 images of Fyvie in key phases. Learn more here: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/06...

Fyvie Castle is the ideal Scottish fairytale castle. Yet it wasn't always like this with it changing massively over the last 8 centuries. We are funding @nationaltrust.org.uk Scotland & Jan Dunbar to produce 6 images of Fyvie in key phases. Learn more here: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/06...

Interesting piece on Lincoln Castle here:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1ey6le4vz9o Back in 2020 we funded a reconstruction drawing of how the castle may have look around 150 years before

🗣️ Medievalists! 🏰 Check out this page, we’ve done a reconstruction the medieval chapel at Chester Castle! www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places... Please share widely! There’s loads of info and *lovely* images from the repertoire of medieval art - and also more reconstructions!

The Chester Castle Chapel Wall Paintings

The walls of the medieval chapel in the Agricola Tower at Chester Castle were richly painted around 1240 with scenes including miracles of the Virgin Mary and St Edward the Confessor. From the fragmen...

english-heritage.org.uk

The totlalslighting of Sudeley Castle during the English Civil War seems now to have been either some wishful thinking or some people not being completely honest....

The Castle Studies Trust@castlestudies.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Following 2 sieges of Sudeley Castle in the Civil War it was ordered to be slighted. Depositions by 5 craftsmen, signed off by 2 judges, stated that it had been destroyed. New tree ring analysis, carried out by GHBG & funded by us, says differently. Learn more: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/06...

As so often is the case, what happened on the ground with slighting didn't always match the orders #CastleSlighting

The Castle Studies Trust@castlestudies.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Following 2 sieges of Sudeley Castle in the Civil War it was ordered to be slighted. Depositions by 5 craftsmen, signed off by 2 judges, stated that it had been destroyed. New tree ring analysis, carried out by GHBG & funded by us, says differently. Learn more: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/06...

Following 2 sieges of Sudeley Castle in the Civil War it was ordered to be slighted. Depositions by 5 craftsmen, signed off by 2 judges, stated that it had been destroyed. New tree ring analysis, carried out by GHBG & funded by us, says differently. Learn more: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/06...

For all castle fans in and around the Chester area and even for those further afield this event on Saturday 20 June looks an absolute must, with a great line up of speakers: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chester-ca...

Chester Castle History Symposium: A New Rebirth

Join English Heritage for a landmark day of discovery as we celebrate a new era of interpretation at Chester Castle.

eventbrite.co.uk

We are increasing the max grant award to £15,000. We fund : site-based survey work; scientific tests on objects/materials from a castle; pieces of work which would help public understanding of castles. Applications close on 1 Dec 2026. For more info go here: castlestudiestrust.org/Grants.html

Here is a short blog about our Ellesmere Castle, geophysical survey by the team from @henebtwa.bsky.social who did the surveying: heneb.org.uk/exploring-el...

Exploring Ellesmere’s Castle - Heneb News

Building on a long‑running programme of successful work on medieval motte‑and‑bailey castles in the north‑east borderlands, the Clwyd Powys region has recently crossed the border to support a new proj...

heneb.org.uk

We have a Tower House problem, or so says Dr Sarah Kerr of @ucc.ie and one of our expert grant assessor says in a guest article for our latest blog. To find out what she means and thoughts on solving it read here: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/05...

"So you would like to extend the amount of accommodation in the inner ward my Lord? May I suggest building over the existing moat?" Find out the latest discoveries from the building survey of Cockermouth Castle that we're funding: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/05...

The Castle Studies Trust@castlestudies.bsky.social · 3mo ago

In his latest piece for our blog, project lead Tom Addyman explains what they learnt from their 2nd visit to survey Cockermouth Castle & importance of archival research. The inner ward seems to have multiple phases dating to earlier than previously thought: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/05...

In his latest piece for our blog, project lead Tom Addyman explains what they learnt from their 2nd visit to survey Cockermouth Castle & importance of archival research. The inner ward seems to have multiple phases dating to earlier than previously thought: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/05...

From the late C13 onwards, knights in royal service started being able to build castles, such as William de Felton who built Edlingham, Northumberland. Dug in the late 70s, rather than a traditional dig write up a new book looks at the life of its builder: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/05...

Our excavation at Knepp finished last week. Project Richard Nevell looks at what they discovered over their 10 dig: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/05...

Archaeology is really all about discovery. For example, I have discovered that I have a least favourite wheelbarrow. @castlestudies.bsky.social

Find out what the excavation team at Knepp Castle on the @kneppwilding.bsky.social .bsky.social estate have found so far at the end of the first week / day 7. @richardnevell.bsky.social explains: youtube.com/shorts/oKnU8...

Knepp Castle dig diary - day 6 #archaeology #castle #history

YouTube video by Castle Studies Trust

youtube.com

Just on way back from lovely site visit to look at the excavation we are funding at Knepp open to regular donors only. @richardnevell.bsky.social was an excellent guide giving exclusive inside view. To find out how to support us see here: castlestudiestrust.org/Donate.html

Those lucky enough to study at or just visit @durham.ac.uk, based in Durham Castle, will have noticed this stunning Romanesque doorway. It has never been analysed or studied in any detail. We have funded a team from the uni who want to change it. Find out more: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/04...

Here's the update from the first day of the excavation of Knepp Castle, West Sussex which we are funding.

Richard Nevell@richardnevell.bsky.social · 4mo ago

That's day 1 digging at Knepp Castle done and dusted. Nine more to see what lies beneath the surface. Thanks to the volunteers who did damn well with the dry clay underfoot and @castlestudies.bsky.social for funding the project. youtube.com/shorts/XfyYy... #archaeology #medieval #castles

Digging gets underway at Knepp Castle on Monday. The project we've funded is exploring buried features identified by previous geophysical work. It has the potential to help us understand more about the castle's development and history. castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/04...

When we visited Crookston, we had someone who had excavated there 50 years ago and said they had found very little after 2 years of digging and presumed its remains had been robbed / landscaped out. Thus he was pleasantly surprised to see that a lot remained beneath the surface in the enclosure:

The Castle Studies Trust@castlestudies.bsky.social · 4mo ago

In 2025 we awarded a grant to @crookston.bsky.social to carry out a community geophys survey of Crookston Castle supported by the geophys team of HES. We found not just some great archaeology but also a local area keen to learn more about "their" castle: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/04...

In 2025 we awarded a grant to @crookston.bsky.social to carry out a community geophys survey of Crookston Castle supported by the geophys team of HES. We found not just some great archaeology but also a local area keen to learn more about "their" castle: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2026/04...