Beeston Castle, England

The Beeston Castle is a medieval castle located on a 500 foot high cliff of red sandstone in Beeston, Cheshire, England. The construction of the castle began in 1225 by Ranulph de Blondeville, 4th Earl of Chester on his return from the Crusades but he died in 1232 before the construction was completed.

After the early death of his successor John without a male heir in 1237 the Beeston Castle passed to the crown. In 1254 King Henry III (1207 - 1272) gave the castle to his son Prince Edward who also assumed the title Earl of Chester. After Prince Edward became King of England in 1272 the castle was neglect until 16th century when it was considered of no further use by the crown and sold to Sir Hugh Beeston of Beeston.

After the outbreak of the English Civil War (from 1642 to 1651) was the Beeston Castle quickly repaired and held by the royalist forces but the castle was captured by the parliamentary forces and demolished in 1646 after 12-month siege. By the 19th century when the Beeston Castle became a place of interest the castle declined and is today a ruin although it still reflects its original design inspired by Syrian castle and provides a clear picture how the castle once looked.