1930s The Mystery Castle, located in Phoenix's South Mountain Park, certainly matches that description. A castle in the desert may seem improbable in current times, but Boyce Luther Gulley erected this one in the 1930s for his daughter, Mary Lou Gulley. She never lived in it, but she did help her father design it after he saw drawings of castles in books. The family money came from cattle ranching, and probably building this place was Boyce Luther Gulley's way of showing off his wealth.
It's a small stone structure with turrets and towers, set on its own little island in the middle of a lake. There are also guesthouses and other buildings on the property that aren't as tall as the main house but still fit the theme of the place.
The story goes that when Mary Lou turned 16, her father sent her an check for $100,000 with the instructions to build herself a real live castle. Of course, she didn't have any experience with construction so she hired people to do it for her.
However, Mary Lou did find time to invite some friends over for dinner once inside the walls of the castle. They ate steak and drank champagne while listening to jazz music played by someone who worked for her as a cook. After they left, Mary Lou went outside and painted flowers on the wall in the hope that more people would visit the castle.
The earliest castle would have resembled the depiction of a motte and bailey fortress below. There was a motte, which was a mound or hill with a wooden watchtower on top. On top of the hills of the Belvoir Ridge, with views stretching for miles across the Nottinghamshire countryside, this is an ideal location for a castle. The term "motte" comes from the Old English word mōd, which means "hill."
The earliest evidence of human settlement at Langar dates back to around 730 AD when the area was inhabited by Celtic tribes. In the year 1022, William the Conqueror ordered that a castle be built within the boundaries of present-day Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to control rising tides of crime throughout his kingdom. The original timber castle was replaced in stone about 15 years later. This is the same time as similar castles were being constructed across England by Edward I and Edward II.
Langar Castle was initially designed as a prison, but it also served as a place of refuge for other people in need. The bailiff of the castle made sure that anyone requesting sanctuary was given safe conduct until peace was restored. If they were a danger to others once they had been pardoned, then they could be returned to prison.
Early records show that there were almost 50 prisoners held at Langar Castle at one time or another between 1066 and 1547, including two kings: Henry III and Charles VI of France.
Castles were erected in strategic locations, and natural fortifications like as hills, rocky outcrops, and rivers were used whenever feasible. A hill is the ideal location for a castle. The higher a castle is located, the greater its defensive advantage. But a castle cannot exist without a well. Otherwise, the adversary might contaminate your water source. So the best place to build a castle is near a body of water.
Castle building was an expensive undertaking. The king or other lord would have a team of builders who would do all the work involved in constructing the fortress. After the first line of defense, the castle walls, there were usually additional defenses, such as towers, gates, and cross-bars. These additions made the castle more defensible and able to with stand a prolonged siege.
In conclusion, the best place to build a castle is near a body of water. Additional defenses like towers, gates, and cross-bars help make the castle stronger and better able to withstand a prolonged siege.
Castle of Mystery It lay empty for 30 years because Rex refused to take phone calls from potential purchasers. With its primarily obscure history, the castle became known as Castle Farm. In 2003, the Martin heirs sold the property. The new owner intended to transform it into a bed and breakfast known as Castle Post. However, the plan was not pursued due to the onset of the economic downturn.
Today, the castle remains unoccupied but is being preserved by the local government as a museum site. It is open daily except on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
The castle's dark interior has been restored with period furniture and equipment. Exhibits include an art gallery, a dungeon, and a living room with a working fireplace.
Near the castle are two other attractions: Fort Henry State Park and Old Fort Nelson. Both are free to visit.
Fort Henry was built by the British in 1756 to protect the entrance to the Ohio River. After the American Revolution began, it became known as "Castle Clinton" because it was home to many loyal Americans. Today, the fort houses an exhibition on the history of Kentucky.
Old Fort Nelson is a reconstructed military post that served as a prison for Indian fighters in the early days of Kentucky territory. The fort is located within its own park near downtown Louisville.
Concentric castle construction began in the mid-1200s, with the greatest examples constructed in the 1290s and early 1300s. Caerphilly Castle in Wales was the earliest example of this architecture, completed in 1270. Llywelyn's Palace, located in present-day Pennsylvania, was built around 1280 by Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffudd.
Concentric castles were used as military strongholds or royal residences. They were also used to protect trade routes and serve as jails. The most famous concentric castle is Chillon in Switzerland. Built between 1276 and 1316, it is a world-class museum today. However, its original purpose was to imprison members of the nobility who opposed King Charles IV.
Concentric castles are unique because the inner wall is shorter than the outer one. This created more open space inside the castle for soldiers and prisoners. The absence of an outer wall also made these castles vulnerable to attacks from outside sources. For example, when French troops attacked Llywelyn's palace they simply destroyed the outer wall and went home. No concentric castle has ever been rebuilt since its initial construction.
The beginning of the end for concentric castles came when English forces under Edward I invaded France in 1303. To protect their capital city of Paris, French royalty imprisoned over 100 people in Chillon prison at one time.
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