Not that you would think it, but there's a castle hidden behind the facade of Dalkeith Palace. Find out how much survives and why, read below.

On the outside Dalkeith Palace is a C17 building, but beneath the exterior, as is often the case with great houses, something far older is revealed as Dr Christian Clarkson, Heritage Consultant at Simpson and Brown discovered when preparing a conservation plan castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2025/09...

A mere 5 days to go! Send in your proposals!

When we saw the results of the dig and geophysical survey of Pembroke Castle, we assumed that there were no other structures in the outer ward except for the winged hall house. But was it? Find out the latest thinking here:

In 2016 and 2018 we funded the first ever geophys survey and dig at Pembroke Castle. These revealed the likely birth place of Henry VII, but equally importantly it spurred on further study. To find out the latest findings you can read Neil Ludlow's new blog: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2025/09...

The grant we received from the Castle Studies Trust has opened up so many opportunities for our community—from new research and volunteers to schools events. We’d highly recommend other groups apply, it’s a fantastic way to unlock fresh discoveries and bring people closer to their heritage.

We are now open to receive grant applications. Closing date is 3 months today, 1 December. Remember to send 2 completed references and when writing it think what questions you are trying to answer and whether methods proposed will help do that.

Amazing to be part of the geophysical survey with @crookston.bsky.social, the first full study of the site, supported by @castlestudies.bsky.social Exciting to think we might be uncovering some of the city's history hidden deep beneath the soil. @archscot.bsky.social @digitscotland.bsky.social

Just back from the amazing Friends @crookston.bsky.social Castle fun day at the castle As you can see the crowds were amazing, queuing to get in with nearly 1000 people attending, twice the expected number. Part of 3 days of community engagement, including the geophysical survey of the castle

The fourth of our projects gets underway at Crookston in Glasgow. See below to find out more.

You can also read more in the @glasgowtimes.bsky.social article too: www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/2541481...

On Friday, the Friends of @crookston.bsky.social Castle will start the first of three days of community led geophysical survey of the castle with the support of the Historic Environment Scotland survey team. Find out what they hope to find and achieve: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2025/08...

Originally put on the market last year for £9.5mn, if it carries on being reduced at this rate our chair of trustees will be searching for cash down the back of the sofa & raiding his piggy bank: www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/2538811...

Anyone up for another great set of castles papers at Leeds next year? Send your best proposals for papers on time, castles, and everything in between. #CfP #castles Please share! @imc-leeds.bsky.social @castlestudies.bsky.social 🏰 🏯🏰🏯🏰🏯

At the conclusion of his post for us Dr Andrew Blackler says of the work we funded: "This is the sort of international research that the ‘seed capital’ provided by the Castle Studies Trust has spawned over the last three years." To find out about what and how see our latest blog below.

In 2022, we funded our 1st ever project in Greece, to try & understand the origins of the medieval towers Chalkida. we could not have imagined how transformative the project was and what it has led to in terms of more research. To find out what see read here: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2025/07...

The building survey we funded of Leybourne, revealed that the castle was likely commissioned by a woman. She wasn't alone as @racheldelman.bsky.social explores in this blog from 2020 on Mary of Guelders and her commissioning of buildings including castles: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2020/10...

Some excellent @castlestudies.bsky.social action @imc-leeds.bsky.social this afternoon! Organised by @willwyeth.bsky.social, 'Arguing About Castles' featured papers from @swallowtailarch.bsky.social, Christian Clarkson (Simpson & Brown), and Ryan Prescott (Leeds).

Is Leybourne Castle, Kent, a key castle in the transition from basic twin towered gatehouses to more sophisticated ones seen in Edward I’s castles? We funded Neil Ludlow & @henebtwa.bsky.social to find out, which they did so & more with a surprising discovery: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2025/07...

Is Leybourne Castle, Kent, a key castle in the transition from basic twin towered gatehouses to more sophisticated ones seen in Edward I’s castles? We funded Neil Ludlow & @henebtwa.bsky.social to find out, which they did so & more with a surprising discovery: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2025/07...

We're showing off our visualisation of Canterbury Castle today as part of Canterbury's Medieval Pageant. @katiemcgown.bsky.social @lvhicks.bsky.social @castlestudies.bsky.social

I'm actually talking about digital assets for teaching castles, but the digital model of Canterbury keep will get a mention. I hope we can test it on the incoming second years in the autumn. Anyway, this is what else I'm doing today - putting together this paper, too.

With the @imc-leeds.bsky.social a week away we look at papers on castles there. Many have close ties to us. Papers from trustee @kateweikert.bsky.social & assessor @swallowtailarch.bsky.social & incl papers on projects we have funded. To learn more read here: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2025/06...

Passing #Clavering #Castle where the @castlestudies.bsky.social are completing an excavation, I made a flying visit. The castle earthworks are believed to date from C12th, but a reference in the Anglo Saxon Chronicle for 1052, is suggestive of a pre Norman Conquest defensive structure on the site.

As the excavation at Clavering Castle comes to a close, Dig Director Simon Coxall looks at what they have found - is there evidence of a pre-conquest castle - and what happens next to confirm or otherwise what they have found: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2025/06...

A blog from me about... Digging Clavering Castle benspalimpsest.blogspot.com/2025/06/digg... @castlestudies.bsky.social

Really excited to be participating in #ScotlandDigs2025 Our @castlestudies.bsky.social funded project will explore hidden history to find answers to some key questions. Find out more here www.digitscotland.com/events/echoe...

Jeremy, chair of @castlestudies.bsky.social is getting getting in thick of action at Clavering Castle and helping out excavating the track way with finds already appearing...

As we head in to the last week of the Clavering Castle excavation, find out where the excavators are at after two weeks of digging: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2025/06...

Here's the latest news from the Clavering Castle excavation as they continue to dig deeper: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2025/06...

While the first excavation we are funding this year, at Clavering is underway, here's an update from project lead @richardnevell.bsky.social on the second one we are funding at Knepp in West Sussex: www.youtube.com/shorts/mTL2Z...

We're lucky enough to have a bonus dig diary today, looking at what happened yesterday (Friday): castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2025/06...

The excavations at Clavering Castle are well underway, find out how they are going here: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2025/06...

I’m still on the lookout for a paper on new work in castle studies for the session I have organised at Leeds next month. Get in touch if you have Qs! Please share, too!

Dig diary with the latest news appearing on our blog castlestudiestrust.org/blog/ tonight or tomorrow...

Clavering Castle saw six centuries of high status occupation, including some of the most important people in their day so find out what Simon and team hope to find out in the next 3 weeks of digging...

Is Clavering Castle one of the rare examples of a pre-Norman Conquest castle in the UK? This, amongst other questions, is what Simon Coxall and team hope to be finding out over the next three weeks in a dig starting on 2 June. To see what else read here: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2025/06...

This is an interesting and fun project to be involved in. Things I have learned so far. I am far more comfortable with plans and architectural drawings than 3D models and touchscreens (kept walking into walls). The castle specialists might have gone full nerd last week. #medievalsky #castles

Last week another project we are funding, the visualisation of the Norman keep of Canterbury Castle. Led by @katiemcgown.bsky.social of Canterbury Christchurch Uni, the team, using gaming technology are reimagining how it might have been in its early period: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2025/05...

The CST is delighted to announce that for our next round of grants, which will open in September, we will be increasing the maximum grant award by 40% to £14,000. Applications open on 1 Sept & closes on 1 Dec 2025. For more info you can go here: castlestudiestrust.org/Grants.html

We kicked off our first co-design workshop for the @castlestudies.bsky.social funded Visualising Canterbury Castle Project yesterday, bringing together Castle experts, game designers, medievalists, educators and heritage professionals to develop a digital model of the building.

In our latest blog we have a guest post from @swallowtailarch.bsky.social talking about her latest fascinating research looking at Eleanor of Castile's (Edward I's wife) impact on the building of one of Wales's great castles, Caernarfon: castlestudiestrust.org/blog/2025/05...

News from the Richmond Castle excavation we co-funded nearly four years after the dig - William I pax penny found by a first time digger, while @profaliceroberts.bsky.social and digging for Britain were present, goes on display at Richmond Castle: www.itv.com/watch/news/s...

On way home from talk by the project lead for Clavering dig, Simon Coxall to Clavering history group. Fantastic turnout, X2 the normal meeting. Lots of excitement building for dig taking place in June. Keep eyes on our website for regular updates on how it's going www.castlestudiestrust.org

A reconstruction of the incomplete timber castle at Howden Motte (c.1305-10) near Selkirk (NT 4584 2686). It depicts the castle of Alexander Baliol of Cavers, one-time Chamberlain of Scotland and the uncle of King John Baliol, r.1292 – 1296.

For all those interested in Kent history you should sign up to this blog, which includes a lovely write up of our work: blogs.canterbury.ac.uk/kenthistory/...

We are off to our 1st visit of the year to look at the results of the survey of the unique gatehouse of the privately owned Leybourne Castle. To get our eye in, 1st up a look at the freestanding Norman St Leonard's Tower in West Malling. Sadly locked so can't see interior but a great eg of its type

#MedievalMonday - Pembroke Castle. Founded as a Motte and Bailey c.1093 AD. Much of its present form is due to William Marshall c.1189AD. @henebtwa.bsky.social have done lots of work at the castle including this geophys survey with Neil Ludlow in 2016 funded by the @castlestudies.bsky.social

An interesting project - it is great to see funding of this type of research

What did many of our key castles and fortifications in southern England look like in C17. With help from us and @englishheritage.bsky.social Dr Esther van Raamsdonk of @utrechtuniversity.bsky.social with the first ever transcription and translation of a survey by a Dutch engineer. Learn more here: