Philip Dixon | University of Nottingham (original) (raw)
Papers by Philip Dixon
The Making of Britain, 1984
Britain is a small island at the extreme northwest of the continent of Europe, protected by a nar... more Britain is a small island at the extreme northwest of the continent of Europe, protected by a narrow channel from the mainland, and often insulated from the political and cultural upheavals that have disturbed Europe throughout its recorded history. At the dawn of this period, over two thousand years ago, three great empires stretched across Asia and Europe. The Chinese Empire survived until the twentieth century; the ancient kingdom of the Persians was absorbed by the Arabs in the seventh century AD; and the youngest, the Roman Empire, fell victim in the fourth and fifth centuries AD to internal pressure and barbarian invasions, which eventually brought to Britain settlers from North Germany and Scandinavia.
A collection of the most significant articles in castle studies, with contributions from scholars... more A collection of the most significant articles in castle studies, with contributions from scholars in history, archaeology, historic buildings and landscape archaeology. The castles of the late medieval period represent some of the finest medieval monuments in Britain, with an almost infinite capacity to fascinate and draw controversy. They are also a source of considerable academic debate. The contents of this volume represent key works in castle scholarship. Topics discussed include castle warfare, fortress customs, architectural design and symbolism, spatial planning and the depiction of castles in medieval romance. The contributions also serve to highlight the diversity of approaches to the medieval castle, ranging from the study of documentary and literary sources, analysis of fragmentary architectural remains and the recording of field archaeology. The result is a survey that offers an in-depth analysis of castle building from the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries, and plac...
Archaeological Journal, 1993
The Great Tower of Norham Castle has been considered to be a typical example of a two-cell rectan... more The Great Tower of Norham Castle has been considered to be a typical example of a two-cell rectangular donjon, divided unequally by a spine wall. Examination of the fabric shows that its history was much more complex, and that it was originally constructed in the early twelfth century as a single unit, two-storeyed building, perhaps as a ceremonial chamber above a vault. During the later twelfth century a second unit, containing private chambers and an upper room in a tower, was added against the original structure, and the present rectangular shape was achieved only as the result of further rebuilding during the fifteenth century. Parallels are suggested in the bishops' palaces of the twelfth century, and the significance of Norham for our appreciation of the complexity of design of great towers is emphasized.
Archaeological Journal, 1978
The Summer Meeting of the Institute in 1976 included a visit to Aydon Castle, and has provoked di... more The Summer Meeting of the Institute in 1976 included a visit to Aydon Castle, and has provoked discussion of this important and well-preserved building. Here it is shown that the house was in single ownership at the time of its construction, and the implications of its lay-out and the sequence of development are considered.
Archaeological Journal, 1989
Baguley Hall near Manchester has long been recognized as one of the finest surviving medieval hal... more Baguley Hall near Manchester has long been recognized as one of the finest surviving medieval halls in the north-west of England. As a part of an extensive English Heritage programme of repair to the standing structure, opportunity was taken to make a more detailed study of its timber-framing and also to excavate within and immediately outside the building. As a result, this paper seeks to modify the existing published accounts of the hall's timberwork, outline its likely structural sequence, and provide details of the aisled hall that preceded it.
Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 1993
The final two centuries of the Middle Ages are conventionally considered a period in which castle... more The final two centuries of the Middle Ages are conventionally considered a period in which castles and castle-building were in decline. 'The Decline of the Castle'and 'Decline 3 are the titles of chapters dealing with this period in books written by Allen Brown. 1 In each case the contrast with what went before is strongly emphasised: the previous chapters are named 'The Perfected Castle 3 and 'Apogee 3. 2 In the same vein, these final centuries after c. 1300 have been described as 'the period of decline in use but survival in fantasy 3 in a recent authoritative account, significantly entitled The Decline of the Castle. 3 Our view of this period is different. We consider that the castles of the later Middle Ages show a steady development, not a decline, and the main elements of that development can already be traced in buildings of the'Golden Age 3. 4 OUR THEMES, the symbols of the courtyard and the tower, are visible in the arrangements of 1283 at Caernarvon. 5 The King's Gate of this castle was a novel and complex affair placed to divide the interior of the castle into two halves. The entrance passageway beyond the central polygonal chamber directed traffic at right angles westwards into a lower courtyard. 6 This contained the principal hall and its services, and a series of accommodation lodges in mural towers. All this is a conventional arrangement: what is much odder is that this lower courtyard contained also the visual focus of the castle, the Eagle Tower, emphasised particularly from the outside by its greater size and by its termination in a triple crown of turrets, originally given additional importance by the placing of sculptures of eagles on its battlements. The purpose of this striking design is a strong statement of the fulfilment of the Dream of Macsen Wledig in the person of Edward I and his son, a statement whose propaganda must have been obvious to the defeated Welsh aristocrats. The symbolism of all this has been examined by Dr Arnold Taylor, 7 who further identified the Eagle Tower as the intended residence of the king's Justiciar of Wales and first constable of the castle, Edward's loyal supporter Otto de Grandson, and his conclusions seem now to be accepted. However, what has not been explained is why this significant element of the symbolism of the castle was placed in the lower ward, and not (where one might expect) in the inner bailey. While the Justiciar was provided for in the Eagle Tower, accommodation for the constable or his military deputy was arranged around the hall on the top floor of the King's Gate. 8 The two royal officials-keeper of Caernarvon and viceroy of the principality-were thus catered for at the main entrance and in the lower courtyard. The third household, to be accommodated in the unfinished ranges in the upper ward, must thus be that of the king himself. The arrangement closely resembles the bipartite design of Conway. 9 Here the hall and lodgings occupy the lower courtyard entered from the town, while the more remote eastern bailey formed a tiny courtyard house for the king and queen, with an external gate to the waterside similar to the placing of the Queen's Gate at Caernarvon. The additional element in this comparison is the placing of the Eagle Tower in the lower bailey at Caernarvon.
The Journal of Military History, 2001
... degree, and for her strength and reliability during the demands made by the preparation of th... more ... degree, and for her strength and reliability during the demands made by the preparation of this book, I reserve my deepest thanks for my wife, Eileen. ... A body of men led by Sir Edward Fitzharris is defeated by Captain Jephson and Lieutenant Downing near Doneraile, Co. Cork. ...
Post-Medieval Archaeology, 1975
AbstractRescue excavations on part of the site of Richmond Palace, Surrey (NGR, TQ174748), reveal... more AbstractRescue excavations on part of the site of Richmond Palace, Surrey (NGR, TQ174748), revealed a revetment wall, part of a large moat, and other structures; the finds indicate a construction date in the first half of the 17th century, during a rebuilding of the Palace outworks.
The Antiquaries Journal, 2002
The Making of Britain, 1984
Britain is a small island at the extreme northwest of the continent of Europe, protected by a nar... more Britain is a small island at the extreme northwest of the continent of Europe, protected by a narrow channel from the mainland, and often insulated from the political and cultural upheavals that have disturbed Europe throughout its recorded history. At the dawn of this period, over two thousand years ago, three great empires stretched across Asia and Europe. The Chinese Empire survived until the twentieth century; the ancient kingdom of the Persians was absorbed by the Arabs in the seventh century AD; and the youngest, the Roman Empire, fell victim in the fourth and fifth centuries AD to internal pressure and barbarian invasions, which eventually brought to Britain settlers from North Germany and Scandinavia.
A collection of the most significant articles in castle studies, with contributions from scholars... more A collection of the most significant articles in castle studies, with contributions from scholars in history, archaeology, historic buildings and landscape archaeology. The castles of the late medieval period represent some of the finest medieval monuments in Britain, with an almost infinite capacity to fascinate and draw controversy. They are also a source of considerable academic debate. The contents of this volume represent key works in castle scholarship. Topics discussed include castle warfare, fortress customs, architectural design and symbolism, spatial planning and the depiction of castles in medieval romance. The contributions also serve to highlight the diversity of approaches to the medieval castle, ranging from the study of documentary and literary sources, analysis of fragmentary architectural remains and the recording of field archaeology. The result is a survey that offers an in-depth analysis of castle building from the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries, and plac...
Archaeological Journal, 1993
The Great Tower of Norham Castle has been considered to be a typical example of a two-cell rectan... more The Great Tower of Norham Castle has been considered to be a typical example of a two-cell rectangular donjon, divided unequally by a spine wall. Examination of the fabric shows that its history was much more complex, and that it was originally constructed in the early twelfth century as a single unit, two-storeyed building, perhaps as a ceremonial chamber above a vault. During the later twelfth century a second unit, containing private chambers and an upper room in a tower, was added against the original structure, and the present rectangular shape was achieved only as the result of further rebuilding during the fifteenth century. Parallels are suggested in the bishops' palaces of the twelfth century, and the significance of Norham for our appreciation of the complexity of design of great towers is emphasized.
Archaeological Journal, 1978
The Summer Meeting of the Institute in 1976 included a visit to Aydon Castle, and has provoked di... more The Summer Meeting of the Institute in 1976 included a visit to Aydon Castle, and has provoked discussion of this important and well-preserved building. Here it is shown that the house was in single ownership at the time of its construction, and the implications of its lay-out and the sequence of development are considered.
Archaeological Journal, 1989
Baguley Hall near Manchester has long been recognized as one of the finest surviving medieval hal... more Baguley Hall near Manchester has long been recognized as one of the finest surviving medieval halls in the north-west of England. As a part of an extensive English Heritage programme of repair to the standing structure, opportunity was taken to make a more detailed study of its timber-framing and also to excavate within and immediately outside the building. As a result, this paper seeks to modify the existing published accounts of the hall's timberwork, outline its likely structural sequence, and provide details of the aisled hall that preceded it.
Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 1993
The final two centuries of the Middle Ages are conventionally considered a period in which castle... more The final two centuries of the Middle Ages are conventionally considered a period in which castles and castle-building were in decline. 'The Decline of the Castle'and 'Decline 3 are the titles of chapters dealing with this period in books written by Allen Brown. 1 In each case the contrast with what went before is strongly emphasised: the previous chapters are named 'The Perfected Castle 3 and 'Apogee 3. 2 In the same vein, these final centuries after c. 1300 have been described as 'the period of decline in use but survival in fantasy 3 in a recent authoritative account, significantly entitled The Decline of the Castle. 3 Our view of this period is different. We consider that the castles of the later Middle Ages show a steady development, not a decline, and the main elements of that development can already be traced in buildings of the'Golden Age 3. 4 OUR THEMES, the symbols of the courtyard and the tower, are visible in the arrangements of 1283 at Caernarvon. 5 The King's Gate of this castle was a novel and complex affair placed to divide the interior of the castle into two halves. The entrance passageway beyond the central polygonal chamber directed traffic at right angles westwards into a lower courtyard. 6 This contained the principal hall and its services, and a series of accommodation lodges in mural towers. All this is a conventional arrangement: what is much odder is that this lower courtyard contained also the visual focus of the castle, the Eagle Tower, emphasised particularly from the outside by its greater size and by its termination in a triple crown of turrets, originally given additional importance by the placing of sculptures of eagles on its battlements. The purpose of this striking design is a strong statement of the fulfilment of the Dream of Macsen Wledig in the person of Edward I and his son, a statement whose propaganda must have been obvious to the defeated Welsh aristocrats. The symbolism of all this has been examined by Dr Arnold Taylor, 7 who further identified the Eagle Tower as the intended residence of the king's Justiciar of Wales and first constable of the castle, Edward's loyal supporter Otto de Grandson, and his conclusions seem now to be accepted. However, what has not been explained is why this significant element of the symbolism of the castle was placed in the lower ward, and not (where one might expect) in the inner bailey. While the Justiciar was provided for in the Eagle Tower, accommodation for the constable or his military deputy was arranged around the hall on the top floor of the King's Gate. 8 The two royal officials-keeper of Caernarvon and viceroy of the principality-were thus catered for at the main entrance and in the lower courtyard. The third household, to be accommodated in the unfinished ranges in the upper ward, must thus be that of the king himself. The arrangement closely resembles the bipartite design of Conway. 9 Here the hall and lodgings occupy the lower courtyard entered from the town, while the more remote eastern bailey formed a tiny courtyard house for the king and queen, with an external gate to the waterside similar to the placing of the Queen's Gate at Caernarvon. The additional element in this comparison is the placing of the Eagle Tower in the lower bailey at Caernarvon.
The Journal of Military History, 2001
... degree, and for her strength and reliability during the demands made by the preparation of th... more ... degree, and for her strength and reliability during the demands made by the preparation of this book, I reserve my deepest thanks for my wife, Eileen. ... A body of men led by Sir Edward Fitzharris is defeated by Captain Jephson and Lieutenant Downing near Doneraile, Co. Cork. ...
Post-Medieval Archaeology, 1975
AbstractRescue excavations on part of the site of Richmond Palace, Surrey (NGR, TQ174748), reveal... more AbstractRescue excavations on part of the site of Richmond Palace, Surrey (NGR, TQ174748), revealed a revetment wall, part of a large moat, and other structures; the finds indicate a construction date in the first half of the 17th century, during a rebuilding of the Palace outworks.
The Antiquaries Journal, 2002