Castles in my Family - Pevensey Castle and the Tower of London

William the Conqueror came to England and, among other things, established his presence by commandeering, building, and repairing many previously existing castle sites. The famous Tower of London is the site of one of his first fortifications.

Pevensey Castle was in ruins when William came across it. He made a few repairs and used it as a temporary shelter.

For more on William's castles, see https://www.tripsavvy.com/castles-of-william-the-conqueror-4051210.

My genealogical link to William the Conqueror

King William's and Queen Matilda's 4th son Henry, also known as Henry (BEAUCLERC) 1, was successor to the crown of England after his brother.

Castles in my Family - Brus Castle

Robert de Brus (the 6th great-grandfather of the famous king of Scotland Robert 1 the Bruce), built the castle of Brus (now Brix) in the Cherbourg Peninsula. The Brus family occupied the castle for generations.

 

Robert fought with William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings, and was rewarded with lands in France (located between Cherbourg and Valognes).

 

 

The castle was eventually destroyed by the order of King Saint Louis, after hearing that Richard the Lionheart and John with Land had stayed there. Some stones of the castle were used to rebuild the local church and village houses. The Bruce family also had lands in England, living there and giving up its lands in France.

 

Today, you can see ruins of the original castle, such as the foundation and the remains of a spiral staircase.

Genealogy of the Bruce Family

http://www.brucefamily.com/lineage.htm