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Sylwester Drechny

@sylwester_castle

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All Saints' Church in Ripley, North Yorkshire, was built around 1395 by Sir Thomas Ingilby. It replaced an older 14th-century chapel located half a mile away, which was abandoned due to severe subsidence and famously known as the "Sinking Chapel".
Sir Thomas reused stones from the original structure to build the new church directly opposite All Saints' Church. In 1567, the tower was heightened, adding a distinctive external staircase turret.
The church is deeply tied to British history; during the English Civil War in 1644, Oliver Cromwell’s soldiers executed Royalist prisoners against the churchyard wall, where bullet holes remain visible today. It also features a rare medieval "Weeping Cross" used by penitents.

#uk
#NorthYorkshire
#HistoricChurches
#EnglishHeritage
#BeautifulYorkshire taken in All Saints' Church, Ripley by @sylwester_castle

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21 hours ago

Bolingbroke Castle was founded in the 1220s by Ranulf de Blundeville, the Earl of Chester and Lincoln, shortly after his return from the Crusades. Built from local Spilsby greenstone, this unique enclosure fortress featured a hexagonal layout guarded by a wide, water-filled moat and five thick circular towers.

Through marriage, the estate passed into the wealthy House of Lancaster. Its ultimate historical claim to fame occurred in 1367, when it became the birthplace of Henry Bolingbroke, who later seized the English throne to become King Henry IV.

Centuries later, during the English Civil War, the castle served as a strategic Royalist garrison. In 1643, Parliamentary forces successfully besieged the castle. Fearing its future military use, Parliament ordered the fortress to be slighted in 1652, leaving behind the atmospheric ruins seen today.

#bolingbrokecastle
#castle
#castlesofengland
#castlesofinstagram
#history taken in Bolingbroke Castle by @sylwester_castle

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3 days ago

How Hill Tower stands on a prominent hill within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Studley Royal Park. The site originally housed the 13th-century Chapel of Saint Michael de Monte, built on land gifted to nearby Fountains Abbey. This medieval chapel was reconstructed around 1500 by Abbot Marmaduke Huby but fell into ruin after the Dissolution of the Monasteries. In 1719, politician John Aislabie commissioned the current two-storey square folly tower as a striking landscape feature, incorporating remnants of the historic chapel. It briefly served as a gaming house in the 1730s before the surrounding ruins were adapted into farm outbuildings. Today, this unique monument remains a captivating testament to Yorkshire's monastic and Georgian heritage.

#TravelGoals
#BeautifulDestinations
#PhotosOfBritain
#UKTravel
#HiddenGems taken in Studley Royal Deer Park by @sylwester_castle

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4 days ago

Unearth the mysteries of the ancient world at the Druid's Temple!
Nestled deep within the breathtaking Yorkshire landscape, this hidden gem isn’t actually a prehistoric ruin, but a brilliant 19th-century folly built by William Danby.

Walking among these towering stones feels like stepping directly into an ancient legend. The atmosphere is heavy with magic, surrounded by whispering pine forests and moss-covered paths. Whether you are seeking a peaceful escape into nature, a touch of historical intrigue, or simply the perfect, atmospheric photo spot, this place never fails to inspire wonder.

#druidstemple
#yorkshirephotography
#hiddengemsuk
#mysticalplaces
#yorkshire taken in Druids Temple by @sylwester_castle

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7 days ago

Built around 1366 by Sir William de Aldeburgh, the majestic Harewood Castle stands as an extraordinary example of a 14th-century stone tower house. Designed to balance robust fortification with the luxurious prestige of a high-status medieval residence, it served as a powerful symbol of noble authority for centuries.

Though it survived generations under prominent families, the political turmoil of the English Civil War in the 1640s ultimately led to its abandonment.

Today, this Grade I listed ruin on the Harewood Estate is a meticulously preserved monument of European heritage. Its striking masonry offers a masterclass in medieval engineering and timeless historical significance.

#travel
#history
#architecture
#photography
#england taken in Harewood Castle by @sylwester_castle

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8 days ago

Bolton Priory in Yorkshire was founded in 1154 by Augustinian canons on land gifted by Alice de Rumilly. The monks drained the marshes, farmed sheep, and built a magnificent church alongside monastic buildings. For nearly four centuries, the priory functioned as a thriving religious and community hub.
However, its prosperity ended during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. In 1539, King Henry VIII ordered its closure, and much of the complex was dismantled or left to ruin.
Fortunately, the priory’s nave survived because it served as the local parish church. Today, the atmospheric ruins of the choir and transepts blend beautifully into the Wharfe Valley landscape, remaining a deeply historic and popular destination for visitors.

#history
#travel
#architecture
#yorkshire
#heritage taken in Bolton Priory by @sylwester_castle

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9 days ago

Barden Tower is a ruined medieval fortified house in Wharfedale, North Yorkshire, England. Originally established as one of six hunting lodges within the Forest of Barden, it served as an administrative base for the vast hunting grounds.
In the late 15th century, Henry Clifford, famously known as the "Shepherd Lord," extensively rebuilt the lodge into a grand, fortified tower house. It became his preferred residence, where he pursued his passions for astronomy and alchemy.
The building fell into disrepair but was magnificently restored in 1659 by Lady Anne Clifford, a fierce protector of her family's estates. She added a nearby chapel and a farmhouse. However, by the late 18th century, the roof was removed, and the tower became a ruin. Today, it stands as a captivating historical monument.

#traveltok
#historicalplaces
#yorkshire
#exploreengland
#medievalarchitecture taken in Barden Tower by @sylwester_castle

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10 days ago

St John the Baptist's Church in Barnack is one of England’s most significant Anglo-Saxon architectural treasures.
The lower sections of the distinctive tower date back to around 1000 AD, showcasing original Saxon long-and-short stone masonry and a rare, beautifully preserved triangular-headed doorway. Following the Norman Conquest, a spire was added to the tower around 1200, making it one of the oldest surviving spires in the country.
The church expanded significantly during the 13th and 14th centuries with the addition of the nave, aisles, and the beautiful Lady Chapel. Barnack’s unique history is deeply tied to its famous local limestone quarries, which supplied the high-quality stone used to construct this church, as well as nearby medieval masterpieces like Peterborough and Ely Cathedrals.

#churchphotography
#historicengland
#anglosaxon
#discoverengland
#cambridgeshire taken in St John the Baptist's Church, Barnack by @sylwester_castle

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14 days ago

Neath Castle (Castell Nedd) is a historic Norman fortress in South Wales. The first timber castle was built west of the River Nedd between 1114 and 1130 by the Normans, strategically positioned near the old Roman fort of Nidum. This initial structure was later abandoned and its materials repurposed to construct Neath Abbey.

A second castle was erected on the east bank during the mid-12th century. As a vital Norman stronghold, it faced relentless Welsh assaults and was burned by Llywelyn the Great in 1231. It was subsequently rebuilt in stone, but rebels heavily damaged it again in 1321 during the Despenser War. The prominent, twin-towered gatehouse ruins visible today stem from 14th-century refortifications. The castle fell into disuse by the 16th century.

#wales
#castlesofwales
#castle
#history
#visitwales taken in Neath Castle by @sylwester_castle

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15 days ago

Morlais Castle was founded around 1288 by Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, within an older Iron Age hillfort. Built on the northernmost edge of his lordship near Merthyr Tydfil, its construction provoked a fierce border dispute with his powerful neighbour, Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford.

This private Marcher war escalated into the Battle of Maesvaynor in 1291. Infuriated by their defiance, King Edward I personally intervened, imprisoned both earls in the Tower of London, and confiscated their lands to reassert royal authority.

Before the fortress could be fully completed, Welsh rebels under Madog ap Llywelyn captured it during the 1294 revolt. Left remote and unfinished, the castle was permanently abandoned. Today, only its spectacular underground vaulted crypt remains intact.

#wales
#visitwales
#castle
#castles
#southwales taken in Morlais Castle by @sylwester_castle

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18 days ago

Narberth Castle originated in Welsh mythology as the legendary court of Pwyll in the Mabinogion. Its recorded history began in 1116 as a Norman timber motte-and-bailey fortress. Positioned on the turbulent Anglo-Welsh border, the early wooden stronghold was repeatedly attacked, burned, and destroyed by Welsh forces in 1116, 1215, and 1220.

In the late 13th century, the influential Mortimer and de Braose families rebuilt the fortress in stone, constructing a rectangular enclosure defended by a gatehouse and four corner drum towers. It successfully withstood the Glyndŵr Rising in the early 1400s but was ultimately ruined and slighted by Oliver Cromwell’s forces during the English Civil War. Pembrokeshire County Council renovated the site, reopening it to the public in 2006.

#narberthcastle
#castellarberth
#pembrokeshirecastles
#welshcastles
#visitwales taken in Narberth Castle by @sylwester_castle

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22 days ago

Tenby is a charming, historic coastal town located in Pembrokeshire, southwest Wales. Famous for its picturesque harbor, it is widely considered one of the prettiest seaside resorts in the United Kingdom.

The town is instantly recognizable by its rows of beautiful, pastel-colored Georgian houses overlooking the water. Enclosed by remarkably well-preserved 13th-century medieval stone walls, Tenby features a maze of narrow, cobblestone streets packed with independent shops, cozy cafes, and traditional pubs.

Visitors are drawn to its four magnificent sandy beaches—North, South, Castle, and Harbour beach—which are perfect for swimming and relaxation. From the scenic harbor, people can also take relaxing boat trips to the nearby Caldey Island, home to a historic Cistercian monastery.

#Tenby
#Pembrokeshire
#Wales
#VisitWales
#UKTravel taken in Tenby, Pembrokeshire by @sylwester_castle

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23 days ago