Every time I travel by train to and from London, I pass the beautiful castle at Berkhamsted. It is managed by English Heritage - but entry is free. The castle is open from 10am all year round (except for Christmas Day and News Year Day - until 6pm in the summer and 4pm in the winter.
It's a very relaxing place to visit - and apart from the trains passing nearby (the West Coast Main Line - served by the fast Virgin trains and London Midland) is peaceful. This was not always the case. After the English surrender. William's half-brother, Robert of Mortain, was quick to put up a fortified castle at this strategic point. Thomas Becket rebuild the castle - which was granted to him by his then friend, Henry II - but taken from him in 1164.
In 1216 Prince Louis of France laid siege to the Castle. He had been invited to take lead the barons who had declared war on King John after he had reneged on the Magna Carta.
While now a romantic ruin - the evidence of its history can still be seen. It lies at the point at which two dry valleys meet. The wells which drew water from the underground streams to the top of the Motte and within the Bailey can still be seen. Much of the outer ditch still exists - as does the inner ditch. When I visited in April, this inner ditch had water in it.
A print by Edward Ashdown shows what the castle would have looked like at the height of its powers.
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