Castles: Britain's Fortified History - Series 1

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Instruments of Invasion

1 - Instruments of Invasion

Air Date: December 4, 2014

Sam Willis shows how the castle arrived as an instrument of invasion with the Normans but became a weapon with which unruly barons challenged the Crown.

Kingdom of Conquest

2 - Kingdom of Conquest

Air Date: December 11, 2014

Sam Willis tells the story of the English ruler who left the most indelible mark on the castle, Edward I, as he turned it into an instrument of colonisation.

Defence of the Realm

3 - Defence of the Realm

Air Date: December 18, 2014

Sam Willis looks at how castles survived into the Tudor era. But these strategic seats of power had to become palaces to impress monarchs such as Elizabeth I.