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Caernarfon Castle

Episode 3 of 15

Dr Jonathan Foyle scales Britain's most iconic structures to reveal the buildings' secrets. Next up is Caernarfon Castle, built in 1283.

Dr Jonathan Foyle, architectural historian and novice climber, scales Britain's most iconic structures, from the Normans to the present day, to reveal the buildings' secrets and tell the story of how our architecture and construction have developed over 1,000 years.

The next step of Jonathan's journey takes him to Caernarfon Castle, built in 1283 and one of the most magnificent examples of medieval castle building in Britain.

Jonathan, aided by top British climber Lucy Creamer, tests his climbing skills to reveal the secrets of this monster of a castle's construction and what it would have been like for anyone foolhardy enough to attack it. On his climbs, he scales over 100 feet up the majestic Eagle Tower to investigate how the architect behind Caernarfon revolutionised castle building in Britain; he discovers how the castle's design and decoration were inspired by the ancient Roman town of Constantinople; and he tests the limits of his courage zip-wiring high above the castle before abseiling down the King's Gate to investigate the fortified main entrance, which housed an innovation so lethal that it's been dubbed a medieval machine gun.

Available now

29 minutes

Audio described

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jonathan Foyle
Participant Lucy Creamer
Camera Operator Ian Burton
Director Kasia Uscinska
Series Producer Adam Barry
Executive Producer Emma Read

Broadcasts

  • Wed 8 Sep 2010 18:30
  • Fri 1 Oct 2010 18:30
  • Tue 7 Dec 2010 18:00
  • Mon 24 Jan 2011 03:00
  • Tue 25 Jan 2011 13:45
  • Tue 25 Jan 2011 14:30
  • Wed 23 Feb 2011 18:00
  • Fri 12 Aug 2011 18:00
  • Sat 13 Aug 2011 19:00
  • Fri 9 Sep 2011 18:30
  • Wed 14 Sep 2011 18:30
  • Thu 5 Jan 2012 19:30
  • Mon 9 Jul 2012 13:00
  • Mon 18 Aug 2014 12:30
  • Wed 30 Aug 2023 19:30