Stokesay Castle

One of the surviving thirteenth century fortified manor houses, Stokesay Castle exhibits all of the features of Early English work. The hall, adjacent to the keep, provided a communal living area. An important feature of the new domestic version of the castle was the inclusion of a proper kitchen in the plan. It was placed at the far end and was separated from the hall by storerooms. This arrangement of the lord's apartments at the high end of the hall, and the service at the lower, became the pattern for domestic planning in successive periods.