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今天学校组织外出活动，先后去了Chepstow Castle 和 Cardiff (卡迪夫，威尔士的省会）。 |
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Culture Background 文化背景 Castles Castles were brought to Britain by William the Conqueror, when he invaded England from France in 1066 and became King William I. To control his new kingdom, which included England, Scotland and Wales he built castles throughout the land. At first, he ordered the construction of very simple motte and bailey castles. They consisted of a hill, called a motte, topped by a tower (originally built of wood). The bailey was a large area of land next to the motte where the main castle activities took place, while the tower was used as the load's residence and as an observation post. These early castles were not very secure, because the wood would rot fairly quickly and was easy for an enemy to bury. So William ordered the construction of stone castles, which were more able to invaders, and later kings ordered elaborate castles to be built, first with stone enclosures and later with an outer wall as well to provide an extra barrier of defence. Many of these later "concentric circle" castles, in fact, were granted by a king to his most loyal knights or barons who fought in battle and supported him. The king gave these knights vast estates and permission to build castles, and in return he expected these men (most of whom were given the titles of earl or lord) to control their land as the king's representative, and to force the local population to work and pay rent to the lord (who then gave it to the king). The first knights and barons built castles all over Britain, and hundreds of them still survive today. Chepstow Castle The ruins of Chepstow Castle have a spectacular setting on cliffs over the Rive Wye. This powerful defensive position can best be seen from seferal points on the English side of the river. Entered by the Gateway at the lower end of town, its long shape, hugging the cliff edge, shows clearly its several stages of development from its early Norman beginnings. Building commenced the year after the Battle of Hastings in 1067, in stone - an indication of the Castle's importance, as most other Norman fortresses of this time were of Motte and Bailey form and constructed from earth and wood. William Fitzosbern used his Castle to subdue the Welsh of Gwent. His son and successor, Roger, lost the Castle to, the king after an unsuccessful rebellion in 1075. During the 12th Century the Castle was massively fortified. In the 13th Century most building was of a domestic character but further fortifications were added to prepare the Castle for the Welsh wars, in which, however it played no part. In the 14th Century, it changed hands many times, and its importance declined. It was re-garrisioned in 1403 and its strength prevented it being attacked by Owain Glyndwr. In the 16th Century the buildings were adapted for a more comfortable occupation, and came to resemble more a Great House than a Castle. Yet in the first Civil War, it was held by the Royalists, who surrendered in 1645. During the second Civil War the Castle, once more held for the King, was besieged using guns which breached the walls. The castle was taken and its commander, Sir Nicholas Kemeys, killed. It was repaired by the Parliamentarians. During the Civil War and afterwards it was used as a prison - famous "guests" were the Royalist Bishop Jeremy Taylor, and Henry Marten, whose name is now applied to the Tower where he spent 12 years in comfortable captivity until his death in 1680. The garrison and guns left in 1690 and the Castle's defences were "dismantled". The Castle was allowed to decay and areas of it used for small industries. It was eventually passed over the care of the State in 1953. |
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