Peckforton Castle, near Tarporley, damaged by arson after wedding

100 fire fighters and 20 appliances spent most of Sunday tackling the "major" blaze at the landmark  Peckforton Castle, near Tarporley, Cheshire.   Up to 100 staff and guests, many of whom were attending a wedding, were evacuated just before 5am, after the fire broke out in a drawing room in a wing of the 19th Century gothic castle.

 Such was the severity of the fire, appliances were called in from four different counties amid fears the blaze would completely destroy the Grade I-listed property. It has been claimed that the fire damage could top £1million. The fire started just hours after the groom became embroiled in a dispute with management over the event’s bill.  While police declined to confirm the claims, it is believed the groom, who has not been named, was arrested on suspicion of arson.

Castle for sale in France

a 15th century listed castle and its listed chapel in the Poitou region is for sale. In the heart of the Poitou region, 380 km (238 miles) south of Paris (330/206 of which are on the A10 motorway), and a little less than 50 km (31 miles) from Poitiers-Briard airport with direct flights to London, Edinburgh and other European capitals.
Close to a small medieval town with a good tourist trade and all amenities, the property nestles in an authentic hamlet situated in the Gatine area

Stirling Castle skeleton revealed as knight Sir John de Stricheley

A medieval knight whose skeleton was discovered at Stirling Castle has been identified. This Thursday, BBC Two’s History Cold Case series will attempt to discover the identity of the warrior who may have been killed during Scotland’s Wars of Independence with England in the late 13th and 14th centuries. The castle changed hands several times and scientific tests have been used to work out whether he might have been a Scot, an Englishman or even French. The programme focuses on two of 10 skeletons excavated from the site of a lost royal chapel at the castle. he was almost certainly at the centre of efforts to repel sieges of the castle when Scots were trying to reclaim it in the 14th century. Forensic experts, archaeologists and historians have joined forces on a project that has unearthed a likely name for the warrior – Sir John De Stricheley – after records showed an English knight of that name died in the castle in October 1341. The remains were found with nine other skeletons under a paved floor in a lost royal chapel in 1997, but their identities were shrouded in mystery until recently, when new scientific tests were carried out.
This work will be carried out by Dr Jo Buckberry of the University of Bradford and archaeological scientists Dr Janet Montgomery (University of Bradford) and Professor Julia Lee-Thorp (University of Oxford).

Braveheart statue goes back to sculptor

The Braveheart statue at the Wallace Monument has been returned to sculptor Tom Church. Historians were up in arms about it because of its remarkable resemblance to the film's star Mel Gibson. That was taking historical inaccuracies to a whole new level. The 13 foot statue was 12 tonnes and carved out of gold sandstone . A new visitor centre is being built where it stood in the car park at the foot of the Monument.Church said he had been inspired to create the statue, which took him five months to carve, after watching the 1997 film.

He said: "I know the purists didn't think too much of it but the tourists absolutely loved it.

"I believe it's rightful home is at the Wallace Monument. It was the ideal place for it.

"I think they were maybe a bit angry that some people just wanted their picture taken with the statue and didn't bother going into the monument."

Stirling Castle pictures

Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s most impressive castles due to its imposing position and impressive architecture. Our new free castle pictures gallery features a number of Scottish castles . Stirling Castle features a Homecoming 2009 event this month – Homecoming events .
From Stirling Castle’s ramparts, visitors can take in views of the Forth Valley and Ben Lomond , as well as two of Scotland’s most important battle sites – Stirling Bridge (1297) and Bannockburn (1314). The castle is at the head of Stirling’s historic old town.Like Edinburgh Castle , Stirling sits on a volcanic rock dominating the city skyline .
The Renaissance pomp and pageantry of the Royal Court of Mary Queen of Scots returns to Stirling Castle next month when the queen and her entourage come home to Scotland for ‘A Royal Summer Holiday’.

Castle visitors can become courtiers at this family event from Saturday 1st to Monday 3rd August and join the 16th-century VIP visitors as they have some fun. Skittles, quoits, and firing a crossbow are on offer .
Costumed players throughout the castle will be leading special children’s tours of the castle and sharing all of the latest gossip about the lords and ladies in attendance. And kids will also have an opportunity to join the royal guard to help protect the royal party as they take a break from governing the country.
Historic Scotland Interpretation Manager Sheena Garden said: “Stirling Castle is not only one of Scotland’s grandest and most imposing castles, it was also a real favourite with Scotland’s kings and queens. And their investment in it demonstrated just how much they loved to use it, as well as their desire to ensure it both impressed all who visited it, and represented a statement of their power and wealth. James IV created the Great Hall, the largest medieval banqueting hall ever built in Scotland, and James V’s Royal Palace, with its lavishly decorated Renaissance façades, was a masterpiece of the period.

Stirling Castle pictures

Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s most impressive castles due to its imposing position and impressive architecture. The Great Hall was fully refurbished a few years ago and it is a very impressive building .
Our new free castle pictures gallery features a number of Scottish castles . Stirling Castle features a Homecoming 2009 event this month – Homecoming events .
From Stirling Castle’s ramparts, visitors can take in views of the Forth Valley and Ben Lomond , as well as two of Scotland’s most important battle sites – Stirling Bridge (1297) and Bannockburn (1314). The castle is at the head of Stirling’s historic old town.Like Edinburgh Castle , Stirling sits on a volcanic rock dominating the city skyline .
The Renaissance pomp and pageantry of the Royal Court of Mary Queen of Scots returns to Stirling Castle next month when the queen and her entourage come home to Scotland for ‘A Royal Summer Holiday’.

Dunnottar Castle

Dunnottar Castle has the most impressive location you will ever see for a castle . It is on a huge rock with sheer cliffs on each side . If the castle was under siege it looks as if there is no way into it . The castle is 2 miles from Stonehaven on the east coast of Scotland . If you are taking pictures of the castle you will need a wide angle lens because of the sheer size of it