The Yorkshire countryside’s ancient earthwork castles, built in the time of the Norman Conquest, come to life in this beautiful guide—includes pictures! The Norman conquest of the British isle was a landmark event in England’s history, drawing a line between its misty Roman and Saxon origins and the grand empire it would eventually become. Largely built after 1071, the era’s castles were basic earth-and-timber structures situated on high mounds known as mottes. Though these ancient structures have largely been forgotten, neglected, or in some cases even destroyed, many still exist today—and have fascinating stories to tell. Drawing on the Yorkshire Archeological & Historical Society archives, this comprehensive and knowledgeable guide explores the fascinating history of these enduringstructures. Providing a guide to seventy-five castles in total, the book offers detailed information and anecdotal trivia about each site.

Celts, Romans, Saxons, Vikings . . . A sweeping history of this part of Northern England, and the many who have inhabited—and invaded—it over the centuries. This is a story about Yorkshire and its people, from the earliest period up to recent times. Foremost it is a story about invasion. Archaeological finds have shown that Yorkshire was occupied at a time when early hunters from continental Europe were not supposed to have ventured so far north. Growing populations on the European mainland made Yorkshire’s fertile land and receding woodland a prime landscape for these first European farmers, and over time they would be followed by waves of invaders intent on pillage and land grabbing. From the north and west came the Picts and the Scots, while the Romans, Angles and Vikings arrived via the River Humber. The Normans would be the last to invade and seek to dominate everything they saw. Each invasion would leave its stamp on Yorkshire’s culture and life, while battles would later be fought on Yorkshire soil during both the Wars of the Roses and the English Civil Wars. More than just a romp through the ages, this book reveals the key places where battles were fought and Yorkshire history was made.

Yorkshire is well known for its miners, pudding and cricket, but 'Yorkshire, A Very Peculiar History' scrapes beyond the surface and past the cliches. Featuring a host of characters from Yorkshire past and present, it's not all grit and grime! Tracing Yorkshire's history back through Roman and Viking rule, to the various tribes which populated the area in prehistoric times, this book covers the largest county in England from all angles. Featuring quirky tales of Yorkshire's crucial role in the industrial revolution, and detailed stories about the famed Wars of the Roses, it tells the astonishing tale of this large and historic county and its people and culture.

A journey across Yorkshire and through time, from 1850 to the present day, using images from the prestigious Historic England Archive.