Dover Castle - Tod's, for two days a year!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 มี.ค. 2022
- Dover Castle is amazing! It has continuously been a military base for approximately 2500 years until very recently, but it also has a place in my heart for other reasons beyond this, because for two days a year it is mine.....
13 years ago English Heritage and Dover Castle decided to fill some of the rooms with artefacts and decoration that would or could have been around when it was built in 1188. The idea is that it will help visitors see what a royal household and castle may have looked like rather than the sterile stone walls most castles have now.
I had a large part in making artefacts for this project and so every year since, I come back to clean and renovate my work, but the best bit is that I am on my own in the entire Great Keep for two days. What a privilege.
Many thanks to Dover Castle and English Heritage for letting me film here.
www.english-heritage.org.uk/v...
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Todd is living the life that we want, without us even knowing that we wanted it.
Sir Todd
So true
He worked for it, and deserves it. Good to see :)
I always wanted a life-sized castle to play in as a kid. Damn, Tod has all the best toys.
Can you do some tests, showing the range of various weapons from the battlements?
lol all the best toys, yeah love it
Lets shoot the Castle with the Trebuchet!
I'm getting too old and infirm to ever visit the Northern Hemisphere again in my lifetime, so it's fantastic to be able to see videos like this on one of my favourite channels! (From a septuagenarian Arms collector in South Australia)
Hope you can come up and visit again after the plague is over :)
I have visited Dover castle about 12-13 years ago, so probably just after the restoration.
It left a lasting impression, especially the geometry of the keep, so different from how a typical German castle is built.
I never knew that you were part of that huge restoration and upkeep effort, but now that I have watched a lot of your videos, I am not completely surprised.
A bit of reenactment history: The bomb shelters mentioned on the left are casemates. These were used as our base for The Order of the Black Prince (group) throughout the late 80s and into the '90s. I lived for short periods in the keep during events we held there. Ah, those heady days of early living history! We developed different ways to make items as close as possible to the original medieval finds. A chap called John used to make eating knives &c. very reminiscent of the Tod stuff of today. So along with The White Company, Wolfsbane, Company of St George, Kings Ordinance and so on, we helped the development of a more accurate era in reenactment and living history. Some of those groups are still going!
I missed those days, but there were 3 English medieval knife makers that as you said revived the whole craft and I started just as they were winding down or finishing. Bodger, Will Hutt and John.....I have sadly forgotten his name, but somebody out there will remember. Of the three I only ever knew Bodger.
@@tods_workshop John Buttifint (still have some of his first knifes!), he sadly passed a while ago. And I remember good ol Bodger! They were great days, and I know John would be well chuffed with what you produce :) Glad you carry the banner.
Was half expecting that war dart to actually be thrown over the battlements.
Me too! Might of hit some hapless tourist....though if they were French........:)
@@johncartwright8154
Or their father smelled of Elderberries...
@@johncartwright8154 A story I was told many years ago when touring HMS Victory. There is a plaque on the quarterdeck that says "Here Nelson fell". Supposedly a tour group including French students was on board one day, and on being shown the plaque one of the French students stood on it, raised his fist to the sky and shouted "Vive la France!". The tour guide, ex Royal Navy, punched the student, knocking him to the deck. Complaints were made, apologies were given and the tour guide was invited for an interview without tea and biscuits where a severe bollocking was administered. Apparently said tour guide didn't have to pay for a pint in Pompey for several years afterwards.
I love how well (and actually how subtly) you demonstrate the scale of the crenellations, just by standing there. So often, they are depicted and envisioned as protrusions of a foot or two, but the comparison to your own height and width shows just how large they were, and rightfully so, it's there to keep your archers and crossbowmen safe between volleys, so of course they're huge. It is something I find that set designers in particular get wrong for historical and fantasy castles alike, and it's great to have this kind of content disproving those designs.
I couple of people have already mentioned this, but some testing videos would be fantastic if there is a way to do so. So often people underestimate and overestimate the power of defending a castle, and things like range tests on longbows, comparing range on and off a wall, scaling walls, and testing the feasibility of boiling liquids like pitch and water as a defensive mechanism would be fascinating, although I don't know how much they would let you do, considering it is a heritage site.
Phenomenal video as always. Cheers.
The conclusion is obviously that Tod has secretly been two feet tall this whole time.
@@jacobnestle3805 the implications that Matt Easton would also be two feet tall tho
Overhang crenelations were a 13th-14th century addition, though there have been some in the 12th century .
Nah, it's the scale is completely unclear. Didn't use a banana. 1/10, wouldn't scale that wall.
How do you expect a dwarf to kick down ladders full of orcs if the battlements are over his head? Haha. This always bugged me too.
I first noticed it in the beginning of one of the sieges in LOTR, Gimli couldnt see over the castle walls so Legolas poked some fun and gave him a box to stand on. Towards the middle of the battle, Gimli is running around kicking down ladders over these little tiny 1 foot crenellations. I guess it could be a different part of the castle and not totally implausible, but still caught my eye and gave me a chuckle. Oh, hollywood..
EDIT: Shit, it might have been Aragorn kicking the ladders.. maybe both of them? Either way, even a man would have trouble kicking ladders off of real battlements, let alone a dwarf. I think my point still has a leg to stand on... Time to go rewatch LOTR, and i can't just watch one.. xD
Well, there goes my sunday. Hey, at least i have an excuse to order pizza and a 6 pack!
Some experiments from up top would be interesting Tod. How far can a longbow reach from such an elevation? A war arrow? How accurate? Etc…cool video though.
Don't know if he CAN. He doesn't actually own the place, he's there to do some work. How much time he can spare and what he can get permission to do are both factors.
@@timschommer8548 I think the bigger issue is that there's not so much empty area around that, I don't think he wants to shoot in sea, at historical buildings or at people.
@@yajurka That was supposed to be included in whether he could get permission to do it.
@@yajurka But if a Russian tanker sails past, it's fair game!
I grew up in Dover and the castle is one of my fondest memories. I think it's criminally underrated as a place people know about, it has just endless history.
The tunnels beneath the castle are an incredible experience in the way they've been recreated, and the scale of the place is huge.
What blows my mind is that from the top of Dover castle you can see the Roman Pharos, and then the remaining WW2 radar towers. Thousands of years of navigation technology tied together by the location of those Dover hills.
Also crazy impressive is the Western Heights on the other side of the valley, a huge great fortification built during napeolonic era, but it's a sort of buried star fort and is almost hidden from view despite its gargantuan scale.
Thanks and I didn't know about the star fort, that's one to visit next time around
@@tods_workshop I'm Dover born and bred, and would like to add that Dover doesn't have anything called a star fort, what we do have though, is the Western Heights which has the Drop Redoubt fort which I think Huwbacca has mistaken for a star fort.
You can walk around the Redoubt moat but they have stopped any entry by the general public to the inside of the Redoubt itself as well as restricting entry to the Citadel moats as they are quite dangerous and unstable, which is a shame as the workmanship on the fortifications is incredible to the point they even have 2 counterweight drawbridges on the inside of the moat walls which lead to a flight of stairs that take you up to the top of the fortifications so you could rain down hell on the enemy if they ever got that close.
@@jimdigriz2923 the Drop Redoubt has open days during the year. Well worth going along to. I went a couple of years ago, it's very impressive inside. It's sealed up the rest of the time to prevent vandalism.
@@jimdigriz2923 indeed it's not a star fort. But "a buried sort of star fort" is more accessible than a redoubt, especially given the purpose and era are basically the same.
Hi, I'm Tod Cutler and I have a trebuchet, and now a castle...
Oh hey, I was there 10 or so years ago, very beautiful and it's nice to know it's stayed that way in part because of Tod!
Tod's favourite fact in the entire world: You can shoot downwards with a crossbow if you just put your thumb on the bolt.
Wont you drive a splint into your thumb though?
That is amazing. 2500 years and so much of it preserved.
Just imagine what artefacts must be buried in the ground around that area.
I suspect that there's been so much constant excavation there that there really aren't that many "hidden treasures" waiting to be dug up.
@@QuantumHistorian it depends. Open areas next to historic sites are definitely ploughed to death, but some areas get less attention and a historic building can cover even older artefacts...
@@TW7S95 Yup.
@@TW7S95 Yes, there has been some kind of fortification on the site for two and a half millennia.
@@TW7S95 Portchester castle sits at the top of Portsmouth harbour, what you see on the site is a Norman construction built in the late 11th century. It was built on the site of a Roman fort established in the third century. My point being that English history goes back a long way. Dover castle as we know it dates back to the same period, the 11th century, but there is evidence for the original settlement predating Roman times. 2,500 years may be pushing it, but 2,000+ years seems reasonable.
Lucky you. Thanks for making time to make video's and share it with us. Thanks to English Heritage as well.
Fortune has certainly fallen with grace upon you, my friend!
What an episode and wizzzerd arse opportunity to have such an amazing castle to yourself gladly cleaning and camping in it for a couple of days!
Thank you , Tod .
🐺
I worked with one of the Blacksmiths tasked with the restoration work on Dover, incredible contributions from craftsmen across the country went into it.
This is awesome, I've visited Dover Castle several times (if I lived over on that side of the pond instead of in Canada I would have visited many more times because it's such a great castle), and it's really cool to know that some of the pieces I've seen there were made by you! I'm super excited to see more Dover Castle videos here...
Side note on the whole thing about things being damaged by visitors breathing on them and whatnot: the last time I was there I visited with my family, including my elderly parents. There was a group of teenagers wandering around the inside of the keep at the same time we were, and they were actually smoking inside there, which can't be good when all the floors are wooden and there are all kinds of easily damaged textiles and furniture around. Before I really had a chance to even figure out where the smell of cigarette smoke was coming from, my elderly mother had stormed over to the smoking teens and started berating them for it. The little shits never stood a chance against her! It was pretty hilarious to see them get put in their place and watch them slink off out of the keep...
She sounds like the kind of person to put sunflower seeds in someone's pockets!
I'd say you're a lucky man, but honestly that's selling short your hard work and skill! Keep it up and I can't wait for more videos!
Saw Dover Castle on my 18th birthday, over 30 years ago. An amazing place, thanks for bringing back some great memories.
I'm lucky to have family living in Folkestone, so Dover castle is always a good place to hang out when I'm visiting. Also Dover museum has a fantastic bronze age boat exhibit, that is a must if you're in town.
Us local Dovorians are spoilt by having the coolest piece of history on our door step
It is such a wonderful place. So glad to see it again this way.
Having only visited smaller castles that got Cromwell'ed, going to Dover left a big impression, especially inside the keep.
The war dart's interesting in a siege, because there's no way you could throw that back with any force. Arrows and cross bow bolts could be shot back at you, if they survive the first flight.
Unless by some inscrutable stroke of ill luck, the besiegers have... siege weapons. =p
@@Meevious Even then you won't be firing those darts out of whatever type of machine you have.
Love Dover Castle, good to know you're having a hand in it as well! 👍
I went to Dover as a 19yo American on his first trip to Europe, and the castle absolutely blew my mind. The only other castle that compared in my experience (and it was a very different experience) was the keep at Rochester. I’m looking forward to seeing Todd’s tour of the Dover keep.
What a great site; thank you. I was a bit disappointed that we did see the cardboard hoard attacking and you throwing the war dart at them!
I had no idea that was your stuff I saw while I was there. Beautiful work as always. There is something magical about having a historical site all to oneself.
that's awesome. Not only using the opportunity to show us those amazing things but also helping to preserve the history
Thanks - appreciated
What a wonderful opportunity. Of course, I mean for Dover Castle as well!
Living the dream there Sir. Missed Dover on our trip to the U.K. a few years ago, once the world settles down, we will return again.
Did a tour of castles in Northern Wales around 40 years ago. Caenarfon, Conwy, Beaumaris, Harlec, maybe more I don't remember. The castle that struck me most was Conwy. Caenarfon is certainly imposing, but I always remember thinking that one would have had to have been out of one's mind to attack Conwy.
Those castles are amazing and built at the pinnacle of medieval castle building, - fabulous
@@tods_workshop At the time I was aware that people in Northern Wales were a little prickly about Welsh identity, and I did tried to be as respectful as possible, doing my best to use Welsh pronunciation on place names, etc. Being polite as a guest. I'm glad both myself and my hosts were ignorant of my Norman ancestry at the time. :)
What a treat, Todd in my home town talking about the best part of Dover, the Castle.
A little known fact about the roman lighthouse (Pharos) is that there are remains of the second one over at the Drop Redoubt fort on the large hill opposite the castle.
Mate, I could watch a series of 50 min specials of you walking around talking about this place
Luck you Todd! You deserve it and I think it’s in good hands.
What a fantastic backdrop for your video. Thanks for posting. Love your channel.
Soon Todd will come up with his own 7000 people army to test out things 💪😅
Fantastic. Thank you.
In the 18th century, wealthy British landowners hired ornamental hermits to live in their gardens.
if thats true, thats cool
Beautiful!
Can't wait to see the rest of the series.
Great video Todd! Can't wait to see more of the castle
I saw Dover castle only once, from afar, when I went on a south-england cycling trour in the early nineties, looks like I should go back and take a tour .. hopefully with some of Tod's videos to stimulate my phantasy!
I visited Dover castle back in 1987. All I knew about the tunnels was one stretch at the "front" (the wall facing the flat field area to the west) directly under the wall that connected the corner sections. No idea that there was an extra *4 miles* under there... Love to go back and explore more.
I hope someday English Heritage will full-on sponsor you for the great work you do. I'm definitely going to contact them when I someday get to visit the UK and hopefully get their help in finding some places to visit that matter for my family history.
(Specifically I mean sponsor your videos)
That would be nice, but then they would have an agenda for me to follow
@@tods_workshop Fair enough!
Tod, first and foremost, you are a good man. Giving more than you ask for. If everyone was like you the world would be a paradise.
Those darn visitors and their BREATHING 😁
That's so lovely! Can't wait to see more about the place, it's like a living time-lapse.
What a joy for you, thank you for sharing
Oh, that sounds like a super fun mini series!
A very cool piece of history!
excited for the coming films
Waaaa! 😭😭 too short! Great stuff Tod! 👍
Really great, thank you!
great new series Tod ! cant wait to see more
Yesterday he got a trebuchet, today he's got a castle, tomorrow the world? I for one welcome our new Tod from Tod's Workshop benevolent overlord.
To be fair, I am a bit fussy about some things; prawns and labradors would become illegal, but otherwise I think I would be kind and fair.
Really looking forward to this Dover castle series
Thanks and first of 4
Very nice. Now I want to visit there.
That’s amazing. Thanks for sharing this.
It would be great if they let you roast a hind quarter of beef or a whole stag in the hearth.
OMG, you are so lucky to get to play there!
Very cool to see
That was awesome!
This looks to become a wonderful little series.
Wow, that's really cool.
Thank you..
Very very cool
Awesome video.
Looking forward for the rest of the videos.
Wish I could be there to lend a hand.... :)
Thank you Tod
This was really really cool man
amazing mr tod
I'd like to see this castle at its full glory with lime-washed walls.
Great place to visit, I go a couple of times a year with the youngling
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing your access to the castle, and your enthusiasm.
Now that's a game of darts I would love to play!!!
Waaay too short! Can’t wait for more.
Terrific!! Can you share what you mean by upkeep? The repairs you do while there.
Very interesting! Pretty crazy the history that place has. I’m from the usa and spent a few years in Germany, which I very much enjoyed. The history really struck me though, because we don’t have that here, not like other parts of the world has.
That’s amazing Tod ! I thought Castles were mostly falling to bits piles of rock. Dover is fantastic. Miles of tunnels as well ? Marvelous ! Would you please show us some ? Thank you for making this happen !
Far from it, there are plenty of European castles standing intact.
Some publically owned and on display as museums, some privately owned and either lived in as a private home, on display as a private museum, run as a buisness conference center/art gallery or any mix of the above.
Where are you from?
@@TheMrcassina CHEERS FROM CALIFORNIA !
A lot of English castles where slighted after the civil war, whole walls where blown apart, building touched an so on, so they could not be used again.
A lot of the English civil war was parliament going around an sieging castles off the king.
Not only do we have the tunnels under Dover castle, but on the opposing hill are the Western Heights which include the Napoleonic Drop Redoubt fort, the grand shaft triple spiral staircase and the moat system that runs westward looping back on itself with the Citadel in the center, the moat system covers around 3km all told.
Duke Tod of Cutler!
Well, this should be fun!
Wow nice castle
Video idea 💡
‘Castle defense projectiles.’ What was used and how did it work? Like you mentioned: Rocks, missiles, boiling water etc. How effective was it? Would love to hear your thoughts on this subject Tod!
It is something I have been thinking of and thanks for the idea, but I need somewhere suitably high to test from
Looking forward to the next installment.
Your demonstration of longbow vs crossbow on a crenelated battlement is really instructive. Add to that, though, the time spent exposed to enemy fire for each weapon. Every second spent trying to maneuver a bow into the crenelle is a second you could get shot yourself. With a crossbow, you can be out, fire, and duck back behind full cover to reload in a second or two.
All very true and I would say almost impossible to shoot a longbow from those battlements wanting to hit close targets
The ultimate castle defense device: the bowling ball.
Any chance you're going to ever gonna film shooting/throwing some stuff at targets from the top of the castle wall? It would be interesting to see how the great height impacts the range and accuracy of the weapons.
I wonder if crenels were often equipped with stools, for archers to hop upon.
I am afraid that would simply not be possible, but there are a few private castles in the UK, so if I ever get an invite (hint) I would love to do this film
No trebuchet vs Dover castle, aww. 😉
@@Deipnosophist_the_Gastronomer Bring out the W A R W O L F !
"As we are losing light we have to stop at the moment..." Tod. from workshop.
You should move your filming to midsummers eve :)
Wow! so cool!!
Very cool. Thank you. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the inside and whatever else you are able to show there. God bless and stay safe.
3 Piles co-joined in base is easily my favourite heraldic charge, so this video gets a like just for the intro.
the original purpose of the castle never dictates it's use.
You should test the Trebouchet there!! HAHAHAHA
Beautiful place full of history. Waiting for the vids!!
Thats amazing! Now i am really looking forward for more footage of that castle. Have a good time exploring!
Tod Castle has a good ring to it! And as always, the depth you bring to any subject is amazing.
Thank you
Great job! You should really get in touch with Kevin Hicks from thehistorysquad, older professional bowman with great story's to tell and experience to share.
Looking forward to more for this castle. Thanks Tod.
Man, this is soo awesome! Soo much hype!
Cheers! ❤️
As I was introduced to medieval castles through Shad at Shadiversity, I find it odd that Dover Castle keep has no machicolations to fire downwards on siege attackers, the way other castles do. Is this a product of it's original design (Roman) or because the wooden hoardings were meant to fill that roll?
It is a little earlier than they hey day of medieval castles, and yes a hoarding certainly fulfils large parts of that function
Knew I couldn't be the only one in this exact same situation.
This is so cool !!!
Well,.. bring in the trebuchet and seen how well the castle holds up to it. You can fix the damage the next day!