Helmsley castle, one of my favourite place, is now owned and managed by the English Heritage.
Among the building archaeology sector, there has been two major different approaches to the purpose of erecting a castle. Some believe that castles were built for military defend, while others tend to view castles as some symbolic architectures to demonstrate the power of its owners and the king. Helmsley Castle, has been one of the most significant evidences to support the symbolic approach. Due to its location at the centre of an important market town and exaggerated design, it would be impossible for people in the Helmsley to ignore the existence of such a gigantic building. The castle, then, became a symbol which reminded people of the sovereignty of the royal.
Later in 15 and 16th century, the castle was converted into a luxury Tudor mansion, and was besieged during the Civil War in 1644 before gradually became ruinous. It's interesting that the facade being sieged was the side that facing the town instead of the one that facing inward, and such a way of destruction, unsurprisingly, has been referenced by the archeologists for symbolism.
Heritage will not stand by itself. It is the research, discussions and debates that has made heritage interesting and meaningful. Let me know what you think about the castle, perhaps?
