Ranulf de Blundeville, probably the most potent of the palatine earls of Chester, commenced Beeston Castle in 1225. Prompted through the King's increasing expanding mistrust, he developed several sturdy castles to guard his territories. It really is possible that Beeston was intended being an remarkable new seat of administration away from the mercantile bustle of Chester. Being an experienced soldier and crusader Ranulf evidently appreciated castles built within the new idiom - with round flanking towers and no preserve - along with the great rock of Beeston offered an excellent circumstance for a single.

An Iron Age fort occupied this site, two miles south of Tarporley, but Beeston can be a merchandise of the time when castle constructing was approaching its zenith. It occupies a huge sandstone hill rising dramatically out of the Cheshire simple. The castle does not have a preserve as this kind of but its compact interior bailey occupies the highest corner from the rock, hence the Norman motte and bailey idea had not been completely forsaken.

The outer bailey follows the contours with the hill and is large sufficient to gave accommodated a vast retinue. A nineteenth century gatehouse kinds the entrance to the site, and several ascent is essential prior to the real outer gatehouse is arrived at. Over fifty percent in the outer curtain has disappeared but the prolonged section around the east facet in the hill has 7 towers, spaced intently collectively to deliver efficient flanking fire. These towers will be the semi-circular, open-backed variety frequently located on town walls of this time period.

A lengthy ascent by way of the outer bailey takes us to the summit. A rock-cut ditch of excellent width and depth, now spanned by a modern bridge, cuts off the interior bailey. A squat gatehouse, probably the earliest in England for being equipped with round-fronted flanking towers, guards the entrance. The web site instructions magnificent views.