If the Game of Thrones has given you a love of medieval fantasy, there are plenty of historic castles to visit locally. We can’t promise you any dragons and knights, but you may hear tales of witches and ghosts.
Clitheroe has been dominated by its landmark castle for centuries and is said to have been built in 1186 by Robert de Lacey.
From its vantage point the top of Castle Hill you can see the beautiful Ribble Valley, Pendle Hill and much further afield. The Castle is surrounded by 16 acres of parkland and Clitheroe Castle Museum has a host of interactive permanent exhibitions and a packed schedule of evenst all year round.
It is thought that Lancaster Castle is built on the site of an old Roman fort, although the structure we see today was dates from around the 11th century.
The Castle served was famously the setting for the Lancashire Witch trials in 1612, were ten people were found guilty of witchcraft and sentenced to death.
The modern day castle pays tribute to its dark past with daily tours that take in the old prison cells and the Shire Hall that houses a splendid display of over 650 shields with Royal coats of arms.
Not quite a castle, but Hoghton Tower is still one of Lancashire’s most famous buildings and said to one of the most haunted houses in Britain.
The guided tours take in the magnificent Banqueting Hall, underground passages and the dungeons, you can also visit the permanent Dolls’ House Collection, stroll around the walled gardens, courtyards and along the ramparts.
Hoghton Tower also hosts a wide range of events including a monthly farmers’ market, open air music and theatre and Crafty Vintage Weekends.
The original stone Pele tower, which was built around 1420 but it was later transformed into a fine Tudor house of such opulence that the owners had to sell it to pay the builders. In 1835 it was bought by a mill owner, who restored it and added a ‘mock tudor’ extension and also built follies in the nine acres of woodland gardens.
The Tower opens in late March to October Wednesday to Sunday and the grounds and children’s play area are open throughout the year
5. Hornby Castle
Hornby castle has the look of a classic medieval castle with its imposing tower and ramparts, it sits on a hill just outside the village of Hornby with dramatic views overlooking the Lune Valley and Ingleborough.
Although the building remains a private residence it is open to the public on a handful of occasions a year.
This article was taken from a feature originally published in
Read the full article and more at Lancashirelife.co.uk
For more ideas on things to do this summer read our online Summer Guide to Lancashire
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