As 15th century political structures strengthened within the crown and parliament, David demonstrated why fortified residences became somewhat less necessary since the monarchs had their own army – and so there was a limited need for lords to have their own private armies. Castles had begun life by and large as the product of a feudal society, and thus had once been the epicentres where land and people were governed by the lords who owned them meaning that by the very nature of their existence, had been military targets and required major defences. “The true destroyer of castles was not gunpowder, but central government” David explained – since this period heralded a decline in castle-building, restoration and repair. “I’ve always been interested in power structures – how they form, how they gain momentum and how they sustain themselves.” David reasoned as the opener to his fascinating study on how power structures, by the 15th century, had begun to move towards heightened political control by the monarchy – with these changes in society made notable by the architecture which remains to this day. Hailing from Canada, David now lives and works in Edinburgh as a writer, presenter, and digital content creator – as well as having the enviable position of travelling around investigating castles from Scotland’s epic history! On 12th August, we were delighted to welcome David C. Weinczok as the invited speaker for our latest Online Talks Series. Contemporary photos of Ardrossan Castle and Crookston Castle
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