During the late medieval period, castles were definitely out of fashion with the English nobility. Although some people stayed in them and updated them over time, this was not a period of castle building. Instead, those who could afford it built new luxury courtyard style houses with plenty of light and space.
This programme focuses on Raglan Castle in South Wales, which is an example of a castle that was extensively modernised in the 16th and 17th centuries. The old narrow windows were replaced by huge glazed windows to let in lots of light. The addition of a Long Gallery showed that the occupants had plenty of money, space and leisure time since it was used just for hanging paintings, taking a stroll and receiving guests.
We discover the fate of Raglan Castle during the 1640s, when it became one of the last stands of the royalists in the English Civil War. As Raglan was still a castle, with its old defences left intact, it made the perfect place for its owner, the Marquis of Worcester, and his family to shelter from parliamentary forces. For two months they remained in the castle, bombarded by gunshot and cannon, until the Marquis finally surrendered. After the Civil War, parliament decided to demolish all fortified castles so that any future rebels would have nowhere safe to hide. Raglan was smashed up, looted and partially demolished but most of the stonework is still there to see today.
Marc Morris takes us on a fascinating journey back to the 1600s, not only looking at the fate of castles during this period but also showing us developments in weapon technology. By talking with modern-day experts, Marc brings the history of Raglan Castle and the impact of the Civil War to life. As Marc himself comments, this period was 'the castle's last stand'.
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