Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

       

 

 

THIS PAGE IS A TEST PAGE FOR A SERIES OF PAGES BEING RESTRUCTURED FROM EARLIER WORKINGS.
THEY ARE DERIVED FROM MY FIRST WEB SITE WHEN I WAS PROMOTING THE TOWN AND LOCAL SOCIETIES AND CHARITIES AS MAYOR.
THE SERIES OF PAGES WERE: TOWN HERITAGE, GRAHAM GREENE  BIRTHPLACE HERITAGE , THE CANAL WALK AND ASHRIDGE.
Peter Such
Having lived in the town for nearly three-quarters of a century and having twice served as its mayor, it is possible I have some knowledge that may be worth sharing. I invite you on an idiosyncratic ramble. If interested, you can learn more about me at www.petersuch.com/www.petersuch.org.		 Peter Such at Home

Great Berkhamsted
HERTFORDSHIRE  ENGLAND
A few months after the Battle of Hastings in 1066, it was outside the wooden Saxon fort of Great Berkhampstead (one of 52 ways of spelling the name) that William the Conqueror was formally offered the crown of England. Since then, princes, kings, poets, writers musicians, engineers, soldiers and scientists have whiled their time here, being famous or becoming famous. Find more on the castle.
Berkhamsted viewed over Kitchener's Field
Berkhamsted, viewed across Kitchener's field, where Lord Kitchener assembled local volunteers during the First World War. Behind the camera are Cooper's fields. Further up the hill behind the camera is the farm (now Castle Village) and mansion that was originally Sir William Cooper's residence. Both originally were the research station to Cooper, McDougall & Robertson Ltd. The company made Berkhamsted a world centre for sheep dip and major veterinary products. Behind the trees to the left is the outer moat to the ruins of the Norman built motte and bailey castle of Berkhamsted, at one time the second royal residence to Windsor. The castle has been home to Thomas Becket when Chancellor of England. It became the residence of the Black Prince as part of the then newly created Duchy of Cornwall. Geoffrey Chaucer was appointed Clerk to the Works. The castle has been owned by the Duchy of Cornwall since 1337 and is currently under the care of English Heritage.

For a detailed history.
a view of Berkhamsted castle ruins the keep close up
A view of Berkamsted castle from the inner moat towards the keep. The mound supporting the castle keep.
keep from middle motte keep and inner moat
View towards the castle keep looking across the middle motte. The innermost of the three mottes, this one surrounding the keep mound completely.
looking towards the town and parish church from the keep towards teh parish church
Views across town towards the parish church from the keep. Views across town towards the parish church from the keep.
castle and station insidethe castle viwed from the keep
Berkhamsted station from the remains of the inner wall, the outer wall and motte being lost to the canal and then the railway, when they were respectively built. A panoramic view of the castle courtyard.
© Peter Such 1985—2013, except quotations cited, which are assumed to be the copyright of the authors stated, or their estates
and which are quoted in the belief that such quotation meets the requirements of fair presentation, critique or discussion.