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Hemyock Castle
Ancient Heart of the Blackdowns
Our Virtual Heritage Open Days 11–20 September 2020
COVID-19 Coronavirus: Sorry, Hemyock Castle is closed to physical visitors
Online Virtual Events: Instead of our usual physical open day for this hugely popular celebration of culture and heritage, we provided free-to-attend online events. These included a special "playlist" of new YouTube videos – which can be viewed using a PC / Mac, tablet, smartphone, modern TV, etc. – and two special Facebook Live events so that visitors could ask questions. These will remain online for later replays. We hope you enjoy our online events. Click this for how to watch our YouTube videos on a modern TV
See the RichardSheppard1 YouTube Channel as well as our @HemyockCastle Facebook page
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Note. Hemyock Castle will NOT be open for any physical visits during 2020.
Two Special Online events for Heritage Open Days, 11–20th September 2020:
- Special online YouTube videos tours from 10am BST on 11 Sep 2020: Free-to-view on demand via the Internet using PC, smartphone, tablet or smart TV. No need to book or log in, except to ask questions. "Subscribe" (free) to the RichardSheppard1 YouTube channel for reminders etc.
- Facebook Live event, 13 Sep 2020 at 5 to 6pm BST: For questions about Hemyock Castle, its history, and our displays. "Follow" (free) our Hemyock Castle Facebook page for reminders etc.
- Facebook Live event, 20 Sep 2020 at 5 to 6pm BST: For questions about Hemyock Castle, its history, and our displays. "Follow" (free) our Hemyock Castle Facebook page for reminders etc.
The Facebook Live events were opportunities to ask questions about Hemyock Castle, its history, and our displays; as well as technical problems with our videos. They were run from the Hemyock Castle Facebook page There is a special QR code shown above. These session were run single-handedly; a challenge.
Hemyock Castle is set in the now tranquil Culm Valley within the beautiful Blackdown Hills in Devon, just a few miles from the M5 Motorway and Taunton. The rare surviving ruins of Hemyock's moated medieval castle are a scheduled Ancient Monument. The remaining gatehouse archway, towers & curtain-walls surround the older manor house. Although situated in the heart of Hemyock village, the castle site is screened by trees and walls, so surprisingly little can be seen from the road.
Normally, visitors can follow the trail around the moated Medieval castle ruins and view displays illustrating 700 years of the site's history. Because of Covid-19, for 2020 we are instead providing special online YouTube video tours and a special Facebook Live event where visitors can ask questions.
In 1380, King Richard II granted a licence to crenellate the older fortified manor house; effectively giving "planning permission" for the castle. During the English Civil War the castle was garrisoned for Parliament against King Charles I. There were after two brutal sieges. Royalist captives were imprisoned until either they changed sides or were ransomed by their friends. Therefore, when King Charles II was restored to the throne he ordered the castle be "slighted" – its walls and towers were breached so that it could never again be held against the King. Later, the old manor house became a farm house, the old castle buildings were adapted, and the ruins were "quarried" for stone. For the next 300 years until the early 1970s, Hemyock Castle was Castle Farm.
Most of the ruins were not "restored" by later owners, so they date from the original castle defences. A large part of the Eastern gatehouse archway remains, together with parts of some towers, curtain-walls & moat. Visitors also see the Interpretation Centre & other displays. The manor house and some other buildings are private homes, so are not open to visitors.
Online YouTube Videos – Released at 10am BST on 11 Sep 2020
Our special HODs 2020 YouTube “playlist” contains several new online videos, which can be viewed individually or together. These videos will remain available online. They are on the RichardSheppard1 YouTube channel This channel also has the YouTube ID: richard2s
Click this for our special HODs2020 YouTube playlist or type the shortened link: bit.ly/234hhhh or use the special QR code shown above.
Tip: Click YouTube's "Play All" option, to avoid being diverted by YouTube.
- Towers, Walls & Moat See much of the castle site, remains of the gatehouse, towers, walls & moat, including aspects not open to visitors (18:38)
- Displays & Interpretation Centre with its life-sized tableau & stories (16:32)
- Historic Manor House Rarely seen historic features, including medieval ceilings & roof-beams (16:54)
- Hidden Nature – Flora & Fauna of Hemyock Castle through the year: Hidden Nature of this "oasis" in the heart of Hemyock (29:02)
- Castle Farm Cider Making including the large 19C wooden apple-mill & 18C cider-press (8:51)
These online videos are delivered over the Internet using the free YouTube service. The videos & replays can be viewed without needing any special software, a YouTube account, or having to log in; except for questions. They can be viewed using a PC / Mac, tablet, smartphone, or modern TV etc. However, "subscribing" (free) to our YouTube channel will bring automatic notifications and also make our videos easier to find in the YouTube app on a modern TV.
Asking questions directly, does require a free YouTube account (you do NOT need to upload any videos to this account).
Note. Use the free "YouTube app" NOT the paid "YouTube TV app" which is for viewing commercial programs.
Caution: Please take the usual care when using the Internet:
- We make no charge for watching these videos; so you should not see any demand for payment, your personal information, or credit card details. There are no geographic restrictions on viewing these videos.
- YouTube may offer its paid option to remove all adverts from your account. This is completely optional: The offer screen can be closed or skipped. Hemyock Castle is not involved in this in any way. Currently, we do not place any adverts.
- If you do see other demands for payment or personal information, it is likely that you are viewing the wrong link: Please disconnect and re-check the link. Also, check that your web browser and equipment have not become infected.
- Mobile operators will make the usual charges for using their mobile data services. So it is better to use broadband or WiFi.
Tips for watching our YouTube videos on a modern TV:
These videos can be viewed using most PCs, Macs, tablets, smartphones, modern TVs etc. YouTube has been chosen so that visitors do not need to download special software or log into an account. Here are some tips for viewing these videos using a modern TV which is connected to the Internet – But written by someone who does not have access to a modern TV! – Different TVs may work slightly differently.
Most modern TVs provide a YouTube app, which can be reached either by a dedicated button or via the Internet apps (normally reached by a button marked with a globe). For these to work, the TV must be connected to an Internet broadband router, either by WiFi or an Ethernet cable. The TV's instructions should explain.
The YouTube app probably provides the best experience, but its on-screen keyboard makes searching difficult.
The video playing buttons on the TV's remote control should control replay of YouTube videos, including providing a way to fast-forward.
Alternatively, it should be possible to view YouTube videos using the TV's Internet app: Its web browser. This has a better on-screen keyboard and may also work with a external keyboard connected to the TV's USB socket.
Alternative Ways to View YouTube Videos on a TV:
- Add to your "watch list": Locate the videos using another device such as a smartphone of PC / Mac, then add the videos to your YouTube account's "Watch List." If your TV uses the same YouTube account, your watch list should show in the TV's YouTube app.
- "Cast" to a TV: Some TVs allow the user to find a YouTube video using their PC or smartphone, then "cast" this to appear on the TV.
- Control the TV using a smartphone app: Some TVs can be controlled using a special app on a smartphone.
- Search using the TV's YouTube app: Annoyingly, the YouTube app's on-screen keyboard seems to lack a "/" character, making it hard to enter a URL. Note that numbers can usually be entered directly using the number buttons on the TV's remote control. To locate the correct YouTube channel try one of these methods:
- Search either for hemyock castle or for richard2s, then in the search results look for the (bearded) Richard Sheppard with about 250 subscribers & about 80 videos. Selecting this should show the correct channel. Look for the special playlist for Heritage Open Days 2020 (not the ordinary Hemyock Castle playlist).
- Search using the TV's Internet app. This has a better on-screen keyboard which makes it easier to type a URL. An ordinary USB wired or wireless keyboard plugged into the TV's USB port may also work with this app. (If necessary, use a short USB extension cable to make the wireless dongle visible.) Typing our special shortened link bit.ly/234hhhh should lead direct to our YouTube playlist.
- Our YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn0QIXeXyqNEsYuVFEcRC0K-ZgTyhBfBp&ref=0
- Special shortened URL of our YouTube playlist: bit.ly/234hhhh
- RichardSheppard1 YouTube Channel
- Hemyock Castle Facebook page
- @HemyockCastle Twitter account
- More tips: https://www.techwalla.com/articles/how-to-connect-a-keyboard-to-a-tv
Heritage Open Days are part of European Heritage Days, a Council of Europe initiative. They are co-ordinated by The National Trust with funding by players of People's Postcode Lottery. Heritage Open Days activities will take place throughout Britain over two weekends in September: 11-13 & 18-20 September 2020, with different events on the different days.
Hemyock Castle receives no funding, and makes no charge for entry or events during our Heritage Open Days. We welcome donations to The Blackdown Support Group & Musgrove Leukaemic Group Somerset.
Similar Events:
- Doors Open Days in Scotland
- Open Doors Days in Wales – Online for 2020
- European Heritage Open Days in Northern Ireland – Virtual for 2020
- Open House London
- European Heritage Days
- Postcode of Hemyock Castle: EX15 3RJ
- Travelling to Hemyock
- Tour of Hemyock Castle
- A Glimpse of the Interpretation Centre
- Hemyock Village Trail
- Return to Hemyock Castle
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Hemyock Castle, Hemyock, CULLOMPTON, Devon, EX15 3RJ, UK.
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