Castle Studies Events
Upcoming Events
- 15-18 Apr 2027
- Whites Hotel Wexford, Ireland
We welcome you to Wexford, the Model County, in the sunny southeast of Ireland (that’s really a thing!) The Anglo-Normans...
- 25 Nov 2026
- Zoom talks
- David Mercer
Histories of archaeology are now a well-established sub-discipline of archaeology; yet too often we see these histories reflect our current...
- 28 Oct 2026
- Zoom talks
- Brian Kerr
As a new graduate I directed the excavation of this towerhouse site in the south side of Glasgow in 1980–81....
- 30 Sep 2026
- Zoom talks
- Katharine Keats-Rohan
In this talk Katharine Keats-Rohan gives an overview of the history of the castle from its foundation to the civil...
- 24 Jun 2026
- Zoom talks
- Emma Fearon
Searching for queer stories within heritage sites is often a challenging task, due to a history of persecution towards the...
- 27 May 2026
- Zoom talks
- Przemysław Nocuń
An overview of Siedlęcin Tower in Poland
...- 29 Apr 2026
- Zoom talks
- Richard Nevell
Richard Nevell gives an overview of the history and archaeology of Knepp Castle. The 2025 excavation was funded by the...
- 25 Mar 2026
- Zoom talks
- Nic Morton
Our 2026 series of online talks gets underway on Wednesday when we will be joined by Dr. Nic Morton of...
- 28 Oct 2025
- Zoom talks
- Duncan Wright
The perception of an eleventh-century ‘castral revolution’ is, to a large extent, the product of modern historiography but one that...
- 26 Nov 2025
- Zoom Talks
- Aleks Pluskowski
The Teutonic Order became the most prolific castle builder in the eastern Baltic following the crusades against native pagan societies....
- 28 Jul 2025
- Zoom talks
- Coleen Zori
The medieval occupation of the San Giuliano plateau, located about 75 km northwest of Rome in the province of Lazio,...
- 25 Jun 2025
- Zoom Talks
- Thomas Barrows and Holly Conway
Barrows: Conway: “The Men of Harlech Had Triumphed Indeed”: The Castles of Edward I and the Eisteddfod of Wales The...
- 28 May 2025
- Zoom talks
- Nancy de Jong
The Counts of Holland maintained meticulous records of the maintenance of their possessions starting around 1300. New research into these...
- 26 Mar 2025
- 26 Feb 2025
- Zoom talks
- Arthur Redmond
Ever wondered how a medieval castle shaped the lives of those around it? Join us tomorrow for a fascinating talk...
- 29 Jan 2025
- Zoom talks
- Mark Bamford
Not much remains above ground on the site of Sleaford Castle. However, before it was gradually taken down to provide...
- April 20-23, 2023
- Location of the Event
There are a number of one-off informal study day site visits proposed this year, led by a knowledgeable CSG member...
- October 20-22, 2023
- Chateau de Bellecroix, Chagny, Saone-et-Loire
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- April 18-21, 2024
- Castles of Nottingham
We are pleased to announce that the Castle Studies Group Conference for 2024 will be based in Nottingham and tour...
The CSG Annual Conference
The annual CSG field-based Conference is held in April, the dates depending on the academic year timetable. Normally the venue is somewhere within the British Isles and the areas are selected between two to three years in advance. The duration is usually four days, starting on a Thursday evening, and finishing on Sunday afternoon.
Our next conference will take place in Co. Wexford, Ireland, 15 April – 18 April 2027. The itinerary include Coolhull Castle, Sigginstown Castle, Ballymoon Castle, Ballyloughan Castle and Clonmore Castle.
Further information about the itinerary can be found here. The booking form can be found here.
Please click here to read the Statement of Access.
Annual Conferences since 1987
- 1987 - Gregynog, Powys, Mid Wales
- 1988 - Castles of Yorkshire, Leeds
- 1989 - Castles of Western Scotland, Glasgow
- 1990 - Castles of Ulster, Belfast
- 1991 - Castles of South-west England, Exeter
- 1992 - Castles of South-east Ireland, Kilkenny
- 1993 - Castles of Cheshire and North Wales, Chester
- 1994 - Castles of Northumberland, Ford Castle
- 1995 - Castles of Norfolk & Suffolk, Norwich
- 1996 - Castles of the East Midlands, Nottingham
- 1997 - Castles of North-East Scotland, Aberdeen
- 1998 - Castles of Leinster, Maynooth, Dublin, Eire
- 1999 - Castles of West Wales, Lampeter
- 2000 - Castles of Kent and East Sussex, Canterbury
- 2001 - Castles of Belgium, Namur
- 2002 - Castles of The West March of Scotland, Dumfries
- 2003 - Castles of the West Midlands, Newport, Shropshire
- 2004 - Castles of North-West Ireland, Sligo
- 2005 - Castles of West Sussex, Worthing
- 2006 - Castles of Galway, Galway City
- 2008 - Castles of Monmouthshire and Brecon, Abergavenny
- 2009 - Castles of South-West Ireland - Limerick
- 2010 - Castles of West Wessex - Somerset & Dorset, Taunton
- 2011 - Castles of Essex and Suffolk, Colchester
- 2012 - Castles of Co. Durham, Durham
- 2013 - Castles and Palaces around Stirling
- 2014 - Castles in Northern Ireland
- 2015 - Castles in North-east Wales
- 2016 - Castles along the Welsh Marches
- 2017 - Castles of North Yorkshire
- 2018 - Castles of South Munster
- 2019 - Castles of The Thames Valley & Northants/Lincolnshire
- 2020 - Castles of Ayrshire - See Virtual conference here
- N/A 2021 - Postponed
- 2022 - Castles of Carmarthen & Pembrokeshire
- 2023 - Castles of Northumberland
- 2024 - Castles of the East Midlands
- 2025 - Castles of North Wales
- 2026 - Castles of the Scottish Borders
Conference Sites Visited since 1987 & Conference Organisers
- 1987 - Gregynog, Powys, Mid Wales. Bob Higham Dolforwyn, Montgomery.
- 1988 - Castles of Yorkshire, Leeds - Lawrence Butler Pontefract, Kippax (ringwork), Sandal.
- 1989 - Castles of Western Scotland, Glasgow - Geoffrey Stell & Denys Pringle Kilchurn, Dunstaffnage, Dunollie, Oban, Inveraray, Stirling, Doune.
- 1990 - Castles of Ulster, Belfast - Tom Mc Neill . Greencastle, Dundrum, Clough, Rathmullen, Kilc lief, English Mount (Downpatrick), Carrickfergus, Kinbane, Dunluce, Castle Carra
- 1991 - Castles of South-west England, Exeter - Bob Higham. Okehampton, Lydford, Launceston, Winkleigh, Totnes, Compton, Plympton, Loddiswell
- 1992 - Castles of South-east Ireland, Kilkenny - David Johnson, Con Manning & David Sweetman. Klkenny, & Town Walls, Ballybur, Callan Motte, Caher, Knockgraffon Motte, Cashel, Fethard Town Walls, Knockkelly, Roscrea, Dunamase, Clara, Castlewarren Moated Site, Ballymoon, Ferns, Kells Priory, Ballaghmore, Ballyragget, Foulksrath.
- 1993 - Castles of Cheshire and North Wales, Chester - Tony Burt Beeston, Peckforton, Holt, Aldford, Ewloe, Chester, Caergwrle, Rhuddlan, Conwy & town wall.
- 1994 - Castles of Northumberland, Ford Castle - Pamela Marshall Newcastle Great Tower, Ford, Etal, Norham, Bamburgh, Preston Tower, Hepburn Bastle, Edlingham, Alnwick, Warkworth, Mitford, Belsay, Aydon, Prudhoe.
- 1995 - Castles of Norfolk & Suffolk, Norwich - David Sherlock. Bungay, Orford, Framlingham, Eye, Norwich & city walls, Cow tower, New Buckenham, Thetford, Mileham, Castle Acre, Castle Rising, King's Lynn - south gate.
- 1996 - Castles of the East Midlands, Nottingham - Sarah Speight Tickhill, Conisbrough, Bolsover, Wingfield, Newark, Boothby Pagnell, Castle Bytham, Oakham, Kirby Muxloe, Ashby de la Zouche, Codnor, Horston.
- 1997 - Castles of North-East Scotland, Aberdeen - Nick Bogdan Huntly, Balvenie, Wardhouse, Dunideer, Tolquhon, Kildrummy, Glenbuchat, Corgarff, Doune of Invernochty, Peel of Fichlie, Fetternear House & Bishop's Palace, Bass of Inverurie, Barra Castle.
- 1998 - Castles of Leinster, Maynooth, Dublin, Eire - David Sweetman Dublin, Maynooth, Cloncurry Motte, Carbury, Lea, Dunamase, Carlow, Rathmore Motte, Swords, Carlingford Town, King John's Castle, Castleroche, Roodstown, Trim.
- 1999 - Castles of West Wales, Lampeter - David Austin & Penny Dransart Stephen's Castle (Lampeter), Newcastle Emlyn, Nevern, Newport, Cilgerran, Laugharne, Manorbier, Carew, Wiston, Llawhaden, Carreg Cennen, Dinefwr, Dryslwyn, Carmarthen.
- 2000 - Castles of Kent and East Sussex, Canterbury - Richard Eales West Gate Canterbury, Westenhanger, Saltwood, St Leonard's Tower, Allington, Cooling, Lympe, Winchelsea Town Gates & Walls, Ypres Tower (Rye), Tonbridge, Rochester, Upnor, Deal.
- 2001 - Castles of Belgium, Namur - Johnny de Meulemeester Sugny, Bouillon, Buzenol-Montauban, Koerich, Gravensteen (The Count's Castle), Erpe Motte, Binch Town walls & castle, Corroy-le-Chateau, Falnuee, Villeret, Montaigle, Poilvache, Namur.
- 2002 - Castles of The West March of Scotland, Dumfries - Geoffrey Stell Threave, Castle Dykes, Mac Lellan's Castle, Orchardton Tower, Motte of Urr, Morton, Amisfield, Lochmaben, Repentance Tower, Hoddom, Caerlaverock, Old Caerlaverock, Carlisle.
- 2003 - Castles of the West Midlands, Shshire - Malcolm Hislop. Dudley, Shrewsbury, Caus, Whittington, Moreton Corbet, Tamworth, Maxstoke, Kenilworth, Warwick, Stafford, Chartley, Alton, Tutbury.
- 2004 - Castles of North-West Ireland, Mullaghmore, Sligo - Kieran O'Conor. Manorhamilton, Monea, Tully, Portora, Donegal, Roscommon, Ballintober, Ballymote, Templehouse, Rindown, Cloonfree.
- 2005 - Castles of West Sussex, Worthing - Bill Woodburn. Arundel, Chichester, St Ann's(Midhurst), Cowdray House, Pulborough motte, Pevensey Castle, Battle Abbey Gatehouse, Herstmonceux, Mic helham Priory Gatehouse, Lewes, Sedgewick, Bramber.
- 2006 - Castles of Galway - Eamonn O'Donoghue. Kiltartan, Kilmac duagh, Lemaneagh, Ballyportry, Ballinalacken, Newtown, Athenry, Pallas, Portumna, Derryhivenny, Creggmulgrany, Claregalway, Aughanure, Castle Kirk, Annaghkyne, Shrule, Annaghdown, Galway City.
- 2007 - Castles of Lothian - Geoffrey Stell Borthwick, Crichton, Craigmillar, Dirleton, Dunbar, Edinburgh, Elphinstone, Fa'side, Hailes, Preston Tower, Roslin, Tantallon.
- 2008 - Castles of Monmouthshire and Brecon - John R Kenyon. White, Skenfrith, Grosmont, Crickhowell, Tretower, Raglan, Usk, Llangibby, Caldicot Caerwent Roman Town and motte, Chepstow, Newport.
- 2009 - Castles of South-west Ireland - Brian Hodkinson & Kevin O'Brien. King John's Castle Limerick, Beal Boru, Nenagh, Lisbunny Hall-House, Ballingary, Lackeen, Ardcrony, Carrigogunnell, Askeaton, Clonshire, Adare, Desmond Castle - Newcastle West, Shanid, Quin Friary & Castle, Bunratty.
- 2010 - Castles of West Wessex - Dorset & Somerset - Beryl Coe and David Bartlett. Taunton, Mere, Old Wardour, Farleigh Hungerford, Nunney, Bishop's Castle - Wells, Corfe, Old Sherborne, Montacute, Castle Neroche, Over Stowey, Nether Stowey, Stogursey, Dunster.
- 2011 - Castles of Essex & South Suffolk - Peter Purton, Jeremy Cunnington and Charle Hollwey. Colchester, Hedingham, Tower of London, Orford, Framlingham, Bungay Pleshey, Rayleigh, Hadleigh, Little Wenham, Mettingham.
- 2012 - Castles of Co. Durham - Pamela Marshall. Durham, Raby, Barnard, Bishop Auckland Palace, Witton-le-Wear, Brancepeth, Brough, Bowes, Lumley, Hylton, Tynemouth Castle & Priory.
- 2013 - Stirling, Scotland. Norman Hall, Ivan & Muriel Draper. Alan Welsh, John Wright: Balgonie Castle, Linlithgow Palace, Falkland Palace, St. Andrews, Plean (Plane) Castle, Blackness Castle, Doune Castle, Castle Campbell, Stirling Castle, Lochleven Castle, Argyll's Lodging, Ravenscraig Castle, Alloa Tower.
- 2014 - Castles of N. Ireland. Tom Mc Neill & Gillian Eadie. Carrickfergus, Dromore, Clough, Dundrum, Downpatrick, Audley's Tower House, Strangford Tower House, Kilc lief Tower House, Killyglen, Carncastle, Ballygally, Red Bay motte & Tower House, Castle Carra, Dunluce, Donegal, Tully, Castle Balfour, Castle Caulfield.
- 2015 - Castles of North-East Wales. John Kenyon & Chris Jones-Jenkins Caergwrle/Hope, Hawarden Old Castle, Ewloe, Flint, Rhuddlan, Denbigh, Tomen y Rhodwydd, Holt, Ruthin, Dinas Bran (+ Chirk).
- 2016 - Castles along the Welsh Borders. Peter Purton, Jeremy Cunnington & Charle Hollwey. Goodrich; Longtown; Snodhill; Hay; Clifford, Richard's Castle, Wigmore, Clun Brampton Bryan, Lyonshall, Stokesay, Ludlow.
- 2017 - Castles of North Yorkshire. Peter Burton & Philip Davis. Skipton, Middleham Bolton, Richmond, Sheriff Hutton, Helmsley, Cropton, Pickering, Markenfield Hall Harewood.
- 2018 - Castles of South Munster. Dan Tietzsch-Tyler & Brian Hodkinson Blarney, Castlemartyr, Gallows Hill Motte, Dungarvan, Inchiquin, Ightermurragh, Barryscourt, Glanworth, Mallow, Kanturk, Kilbolane, Liscarroll, Buttevant, Mashanaglass, Carrigadrohid
- 2019 - Castles of the Thames Valley & East Northants. Neil Guy, Brian Giggins, James Petre Richard Ley. Berkhamsted, Farthingstone, Bampton, Wallingford, Oxford &Town walls Deddington, Rockingham, Barnwell, Woodcroft, Newark onTrent, South Kyme Tattershall, Bolingbroke.
- 2020 - Cancelled.
- 2022 - Castles of Carmarthen & Pembrokeshire - John Kenyon and Chris Jones- Jenkins. Carmarthen, Wiston, Haverfordwest, Newport (Pembs.), Nevern, Upton, Cresswell, Carew, Picton, Narberth, Penrice
- 2023 - Castles of Northumberland - Jeremy Cunnington, Gillian Scott and Pamela Marshall; Potential Sites (subject to change) are: Aydon, Belsay, Dunstanburgh, Edlingham, Etal, Harbottle, Elsdon, Newcastle upon Tyne, Norham, Prudhoe, Warkworth castle and borough and Langley.
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