Uncovering the SECRETS of Chepstow Castle
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- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2023
- Walking through my first castle and it's AMAZING
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Can we just all take a moment for Mrs. Shad, who gets to spend her vacation filming her husband while he works. Thanks you, Mrs. Shad, we appreciate you!
Well said.
thank you Mrs. Brooks
What makes you think she isn't just as happy filming her husband live out his dreams and see how happy he his. I don't think it's a chore for her.
@@swampliger8770 Then we can still appreciate her! :-)
@@swampliger8770That's why I appreciate the phrase "who gets to" in the comment. If she genuinely enjoys it, whether "it" is her husband's enthusiasm, filming, the subject itself, or any combination thereof, then she gets to enjoy the vacation with him. If she doesn't, then she deserves credit for being such a loving and patient spouse as to let her S.O. have his dream come true. If it is the latter, then Shad had better reciprocate sooner than later. But I suspect that it's the former, and she's having as much fun as he is. 😊
Shad should be invited to castles all over Europe, travel expenses paid for
I'd love to see that. Make an official show with his team exploring them, analysing them and visiting museums that can talk further into them. Kind of like secrets of the castle.
screw legacy media. get a kickstarter or whatever for shad and crew to explore castles and museums.
How about a crowdfunding for that idea?
Why? For what?
History Channel, read this please.
i love how giddy Shad gets over these things, im glad he can finally get to see all these things he loves
Agreed!! I'm smiling from watching his enthusiasm and explanations because you can really see the genuine passion for medieval architecture and many other aspects of medieval culture, really.
Makes me feel a bit bad. My town has a castle and multiple ruins about half a mile from my house. but I've not visited in years cos it's just always Been part of the landscape. Seeing it on school trips as a child it's just like seeing any other building. Now seeing how much non local appreciate these things is humbling
Me too@@KamalAdnanTheFirst
Love this castle exploration series!
Shad on his tourguide arc is the best content I have seen in a while.
The sheer glee and excitement Shad shows through this whole series of videos is so heartwarming.
What really hit me, when you were talking about people 700 years ago sitting in that same spot, was the thought that it wasn't just one person, it was likely *generations* of people. Just thinking about how someone could have sat there and mused to themselves "Grandpa likely sat here just like me, when he was my age", is honestly a bit awe inspiring and is a surprisingly stark reminder of just how many people came before us...
If Shad wants an interesting Castle, he should Visit Portchester Castle in Hampshire. The outer curtain wall is Roman and the most complete Roman defenses in Europe. And you have a Norman Keep and castle courtyard in the North West corner. Henry V stayed at Portchester before leaving for France to go on Campaign and win his greatest battle at Agincourt
It also contains the church of an Augustinian priory.
He did. But you're right, fantastic castle and 'my local' so I'm not biased at all haha. Its really cool when looking around the inner bailey, you can see the marks of the original roof heights before buildings were extended and raised as the castle went through a lot of development.
And the uh, poop chutes of the old priory on the outer walls too 😂 so much to see, so much to talk about.
I was missing this kind of content, just Shad rambling about a medieval thing he likes a lot.
Shad's enthusiasm powering him through this castle analysis...
As someone who knows people with fatigue considerations I pray for you to not be too knackered physically and mentally after such a great day.
Lovely to see you finally stepping through history; UK is spoilt for great examples of castles and fortifications!
Lord Shad continues his documentary series of medieval castles in the UK and it is a must see.
I was just watching chadiversity on podcast of lotus eaters
Same
oh shoot! I'll have to check that out!
You got a loicense for that sword? Pretty cool of them to allow you guys guys to film the place.
He probably just waggled his sword at them and shouted in his funny accent and they retreated to cower as they do allowing him and his crew to enter.
@@VidelxSpopovich Monmouthshire police force are easily startled, but they will soon be back. And in greater numbers.
I'm pretty sure he does have an Australian loicense because its part of his job. Maybe that works in England and Wales.
@@keepitsteel1993 😂😂
Larp sword, so all legal, no licence needed
The simple act of sitting in an alcove brought a beaming smile to this man's face. That's passion. Great video Shad.
Just White people things
Shad you are the Steve Irwin of castles... I swear you're so knowledgeable and enthusiastic. It's great.
Came because shad in the thumbnail looked like he was challenging me. I accept.
Talking of old gates. I had a holiday to Rhodes, Greece. In our travels I came across a semi dilapidated small crusader castle. Like so much history around Greece, it was just sitting there and not a tourist attraction. What looked like the remains of the original gate was off its hinges leaning up against the wall. You could tell the castle itself was being used as a goat pen at times, but it was an amazing place to just wander round and not have a plastic tourist shop trying to sell you tat.
Definitely not missing fake gucci to go with the castle
Back in the day (the 90's) you could find lots of ancient greek ruins just laying around, no fence or anything. I have pictures of me clambering on the giant archway of the unfinished temple of Apollo on Naxos. Increased tourism means there's a rope barrier around it now, understandable but it was fun at the time.
Your sense of enthusiasm is infectious Shad, but even so your good lady wife must have the patience of an angel. 😀
Keep your head up Shad
Yo if you have the addon that shows downvotes, Matt Easton videos are getting railed.
@@DocJerky What exactly is going on? I'm out of the loop and can only seem to find response videos rather than explanations.
EDIT: From what I gather, Matt is cutting himself off from Shad because of differing political opinions?
@@joe5922Matt Easton chose to disassociate with Shad in every way including content collaboration because Shad has different political and Religious views which Shad only ever discussed on his second channel the Knights Watch. Matt hypocritical snowflake, thus I unsubscribed from his channel even though I had been subbed to him since 2015 and before Shad. Shad never mentioned those views on this channel, so Matt is in the wrong here in my opinion.
@@bacon81 That's such a shame. I've enjoyed Matt's videos for years, but I'm not sure I can continue to do so knowing he's intolerant of different beliefs.
@@joe5922 I completely agree with you. I will miss his sword videos but not his way of treating a friend.
Shad's enthusiasm is contagious! And when he sat in the alcove and said it was romantic, I though he would invite his wife to sit with him!
I really couldn't careless about castles, yet the enthusiasm of this guy is infectious...
All these years never bothered going to any of them, but here I am watching a detailed analysis of a castle... 🤔
I agree. One of my favorite things about Shad is that he has so much enthusiasm over the things he loves it makes me want to listen. He makes a great teacher for that reason.
@@reaganjanaerichard5009 kids should learn from people with this kind of affinity for their chosen subject. Shad seem to be like a kid in a candy shop, he just can't get enough...
Shad is a treasure
Can you imagine how giddy he’d be if these places still had working stairs and floors?
Shad, I love your enthusiasm and genuine excitement. As a German, I'm pretty used to seeing older and newer castles, fortresses and ruins. Still, there's always that kind of chill running down your back when you step into places where people have lived, fought and died over centuries (even millenia in some places). Add to that the many old civil towns, monastaries, churches, mills, etc. It kind of connects you with history. I'm glad, you're able to experience that in the lands of your forefathers.
The enthusiasm is contagious. The tourism board should be giving you a kickback.
To be honest I was a little dubious about this 47 minute long video. But Shad’s authentic enthusiasm about the castle just makes the whole thing brilliant!
I could watch another hour
Bro this is my hometown! I can't believe this haha! You should see caldicot castle! 🏰
I think this might be peak Shad content. The enthusiasm, the knowledge, the topic, all of it was top notch.
This castle series is awesome. You are making what could be boring content, very entertaining.
I remember many years ago watching videos of Shad where he was discussing castle builds using digital 3D models. To see him living his dream and actually visiting them in person is fantastic! I love his enthusiasm in this video.
The way Shad speaks of castles is fantastic, make it feel very alive.
The way he says as he's sitting by the window is really special.
@@Emppu_T. Yes it's true that it looks romantic
I love seeing these castles on how you give a cpncept of how the everyday people of the time would use this castle as a home and a stronghold.
It always amazes me how our ancestors over thousands of years ago could imagine such designs and bring them to life, we then discover them as they left them behind for us to umderstand the purpose behind them. Its a reminder of how far humanity can go with the right mind and the people alongside them.
It's a joy to watch an enthusiast discuss their passion, even more so when you grew up around castles, and although they are awesome, familiarity makes you take them for granted
Shad frolicking in his natural habitat.
for the next castle, bring a tape measure. you can measure several rows of brick and count out the rest to get a decent estimate of size. I do that with renovations frequently and it works well enough to order materials for a job.
38:47 the thing you missed here is the giant hole at each end of the room, there's an even bigger beam that runs underneath the cross beams of the main floor.
A tree of the like that doesn't exist today made that beam, absolutely flabbergastingly big when you think about it.
Absolutely love the passion you are demonstrating, having lived around the area you are for most of my life, it's wonderful to see.
Glad you're enjoying yourself.
That’s kind of a big assumption tho, common to take 4 beams and join into 1 with metal support slats to make a true main boss beam.
Trees were not some magical things in the past. We have the same type and size tree, we just protect them.
Thanks for taking us along for the ride!
My mum would regularly take my sister and me around Scottish castles when we were kids. This was such a nostalgia trip for me! I love your enthusiasm and appreciation for the history of such magnificent structures :)
Making a family vacation a Business expense and earnings opportunity. Chad Shad move!
I've watched Shad for a few years and I believe this is my favourite of all his videos, just on first viewing. I'm so glad that someone with such passion and knowledge, as well as the ability to bring this content to us, has had this opportunity. I have had an interest in British castles and history since the age of 7, when my nan brought back a Tower of London tour guide booklet and gave it to me. If I never get to Britain to see castles, at least I've seen this video. Thanks Shad, keep doing what you're doing
Loved seeing Chepstow Castle again! I had a marvelous day roaming all over it back 40 years ago now.
Chepstow a great castle great to see you I'm my great country 🏴🏴 I suggest carreg cennen castle it fab a true fortress, Goodrich is amazing as well
Pembroke is also a brilliant castle imo. Cardiff castle is overrated tho because most of the exterior walls are fake.
@@Sonof_DRN2004 yeah you need to go into the sticks for proper good ones
You have too many to recomend just those two. There are some smaller ones that are good for showing more unnusual kinds, ogmore is a ringwork and baily and you could visit coity, which is the same type but twice the size on the same day, so when we read about castles we are lucky to find out that ringowrks existed alongside motte and baileys, but sometimes they mixed them up a bit and you dont find that out till you visit them. With coity they filled in the inner moat that connect to the ringwork, so its weird how it doesnt conform to how that type of castle is meant to look.
@@reubendorman yeah I have probably seen most of the castles I south wales. A lot of them are in bad shape tho. Swansea castle is basically built into a laser quest.
@@Sonof_DRN2004 yeah most were slated after the civil war so they couldn't be used against parliament again, but there are still some that are quite good like dinefwr,
Shad sitting in the alcove, looking like a blend of a giddy boy getting to go to Disneyland for the first time and a scholar hit with the awe-inspiring weight of 700 years of history is precisely how I imagined he would react. So happy for you to get to experience this.
6:45 The stairs are only bad if you are defending with a sword or other short weapon. If you had a spear, then the stairs are a great place to make a last stand.
True but I think the overall point does still stand. Once you've fallen back to the tower stairs, the castles defensive power is lost and the opposing army now controls all the surrounding territory.
At that point they can wait out the lingering defenders with a smaller force to keep control of the outer defences, keeping the defenders in until their resolve or supply of food fails them should the attacker wish to claim the castle for themselves.
@@MediumRareOpinions I completely agree. An "last stand" made in a stairwell is done in total desperation and would almost certainly lead to death. BUT... if your goal at that point it to defend your wife and children and kill as many enemies as humanly possible, then a final stand in the stairwell with a spear would be the way to go.
@@IHateThisHandleSystem I think its very much in human nature to fight right up to your back being against the wall so I can absolutely see that happening.
I certainly wouldn't want to be the first man to go up the stairs against a determined defender.
Um... how would you wield a spear in that kind of space? :)
@@Outside85 By holding it over your head and stabbing down at a steep angle. While gripping the spear your right arm would be held all the way up and behind you. Your left would be closer to your chest area. The narrowness of the stairwell prevents the enemy from dodging and you have the added leverage for xtra power. The bend of the stairwell is irrelevant to the long spear because its length is primarily vertical. More than enough room for a spear.
13:30 Toilets open to the outside like that must have been quite an experience in cold during the winter. 🥶
sometimes life comes at you fast😂
I'd like to say that thehistorysquad did a video about Chepstow castle a year ago that was also good. It has a few points that Shad didn't talk about, while Shad talked about things they didn't.
As someone how grew up in the area I think both are well worth watching.
Getting to watch someone share their passion and knowledge is such a gift and joy to watch.
Making history both engaging and entertaining is a real talent Shad has, his passion, knowledge and his enthusiasm are what make these videos so damn good.
Might be a bit personal but I wonder if Shad’s old man is still alive. Wouldn’t it be nice to know you’re son has been so successful that he could fulfill his dreams like this? I think that’s every father’s dream isn’t it? To be proud of their sons and daughters, to see them succeed and achieve everything they’d always hoped for.
He's been on "The Shadlands" videos, and recently started his own channel, "Granddad Jack." Shad's dad is a legendary jack of all trades. 😁
@@paulherman5822 Yeah, I thought I remembered something like that but I couldn’t remember and didn’t want to assume in case I was wrong.
@@VidelxSpopovich Man does good work.😁
Two of his sons are successful RUclipsrs.
@@paulherman5822 yeah, little brother Jazza is fun and talented too!
Yeah I'm sure his parents are very proud ❤❤
*Thank you* Mrs. Shadiversity. Without your filming & helping out, we just wouldn’t get all these wonderful videos. (Both) your hard work is really appreciated, cheer!
Was never really interested in castles until finding this channel and Shad. His enthusiasm and genuine love for this subject is contagious. He makes the history easy to understand and so intriguing!
Surprised by how casually Shad introduced the... MACHICOLATIONS !!!
Shad - "There's a dove"
Dirty Bastard Feral Pidgeon - "ooh you charmer you"
Impressive. Very nice.
Let's see Paul Allen's castle.
Shad's glee of sitting in the window seat near the arrow loop hit my soul. I would react the same way!
Just imagine, if Shad lived in the UK we'd more than likely get a video like this for every castle in the country.
Love the attention to the vaulted ceiling. One of the things that really bugs me in video games is flat stone ceilings, like, with masonry blocks just hanging there somehow!
I’d love to see a digital recreation of that castle in its prime.
If I remember correctly from when I visited. (Quite a while ago) There is a scale model of that shows how the castle would look in comparison to how it would be with Chepstow town being as it is today. How the walls would line up and stand where houses and other structures would be etc.
Stand tall, shad!
It always warms my heart seeing someone be this passionate about something
It's really refreshing to be shown these details about castles by someone who's enthusiastic about them. A lot of times tour guides and academics have lost that spark and all you can hear from their voice is a deep boredom of the topic.
Cheptow is one of my favorite castles. It's a shame you didn't get to talk about the seige of Cheptow, I would have liked to have heard your take on why it fell and the improvements they made to the defenses afterwards. The postern gate can be seen from the rear bailey if you look for it, another important access route and one that features in many sieges, but there is so much to see that I guess you can't cover everything in the one video. I love the enthusiasm you bring to your presentations, most videos that deal with castles tend to be quite restrained but I find your videos refreshing, lively and informative. I do hope you get to visit Caerphilly Castle while you are in Wales, as I think you would enjoy that one very much. Although there are so many castles here you will be likely be spoilt for choice and short on time. I look forward to many more castle videos.
Shad's excitement is contagious! Love it.
Seeing the absolute joy in you while sitting in that alcove really warmed the heart. My wife is Australian too and one of my favourite things is seeing our kin return home and get to see history that also belongs to them. Enjoy the rest of your time here Shad.
I really love the style of these videos. Probably due to the way they're filmed, they just feel like you're part of a personal, enthusiastic conversation. It doesn't feel like any other guides or informational videos which are often overproduced and less enjoyable.
It's just nice, interesting, and joyous. I'm really glad that Shad's got the chance to experience this.
CHAPSTOW CASTLE IS INCREDIBLE!!! THANK YOU!!!💖💖💖💖💖
The enthusiasm and joy Shad displays in this is just awesome, I'm so happy you got to experience this, I hope one day I can too! Amazing and well-informed video!
Wish I’d known you were at chepstow mate, could have met up with you as I live just down the road from there 😢😢
26:40 I would say there was another room with the roof hanging over the battlements. That would be the best design and you had something like that in Honor Guard. Then the roof is supported by 2 walls and could be a room all it's own.
I loved this moment, where he sit on the window seats and thought about the past people who lived there. These are the same thoughts I have, every time i visit a castle!
Love castles
21:28 I'm very happy to see you have such pride and respect and reverence for your heritage and your ancestors. That is something that our people have been by and large brainwashed out of.
Me being from Virginia and having the name Scott Douglas Smith I really enjoyed going to Ireland and England seeing all the history. The reason I watch these type of shows. It’s all a part of me. A part of my history (England, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. Every time I go to a castle it just blows my mind. Love it. Oh and the steps are intentionally done like that. They didn’t build the rest of the castle spot on and then decide to half as the steps just because the rock fit. Be being a contractor. Code calls for all steps be within a 1/4 in of each other. If not. It’s a trip hazard. Try running up the steps in a castle. Thanks for the videos. I Enjoy each and every one of them.
Loving your joy levels at finally being able to explore these great places many Brits take for granted Shad :)
Your excitement over vaulted ceilings shows you are a true gentleman and scholar
"The engineering genius of [vaulted ceilings] floors me" 😁
The way this was well-presented now makes me wonder if Shad was mistaken for a local British tour guide when he was touring castles xD
Shad, your enthusiasm is infectious. I just got back from tracing some of my ancestors in Denmark and experienced some of the same excitement you exhibited. I learned a lot from your video. Keep recording!!!
I wish I could just take a large rugs table and a chairs sit outside or in an old castle and talk for hours with you Shad about the wonders that were built in the past. But I’ll settle for hearing you go through them like a living museum tour!
The sheer Joy and passion in his voice makes me tear up. Congrats on fullfiling this dream Shad
Im so glad that you are back to making content like this man. I watch your Honorguard and your other castle 3D renders to this day.
So glad you loved Chepstow. It was the first castle I saw when I was young. It is still my favorite castle, especially the garderobe.
man this series of castle tours is so dang cool.... if y'all make it through this YT slump, we want more castle tours!! please
holy WOWZA!! That is BEAUTIFUL detail, thank you so much Shad for channeling your love of castles to us ♥
I am loving these videos!
So excited for you! So glad you were able to do this and bless us with a tour.
Vaulted ceilings are beautiful, I must agree.
Hey, you mentioned Chester! Pretty cool city.
Well, I'm posting here, so you know I'm a fan of this channel. :) This is my first post, so I want to personally thank our longsword medieval knight for his videos, and for posting these excellent documentary visits to castles.
I'm glad that was a nice day for you! :)
Chepstow looks like a fantastic castle, still in good nick and able to walk around a lot of it.
This is all mindblowing. So informative. One of the best videos I’ve seen on Shadiversity in years, and there are a whole lot of awesome videos, like that one of the city of castles.
Shad you should totally do another video on Chepstow castle where you show us a 3D model of the castle like those you used to do in the early days of the channel, and at the side of the 3D model you show us clips of this video, so we can know where in the castle you are!
Good to see Shad so excited. If a new Shadling arrives in June we will know why.
The grand dream of every fantasy novelist. To see the great castles of the world.
It is so lovely to see the joy. I grew up in a town with a castle (Kenilworth) and we didnt really appreciate as much as we should.
12:40
I can certainly imagine that the reason why the steps were built that way was, as you said, a matter of simply taking whatever stone they had and making it functional enough, but I can also see how the defensive aspect can still be there as a side effect of it. Certainly the Japanese katana's curve is mostly due to how the sword is constructed and it takes a bend during the quenching process, but the slight curve does still help with, say, quickdrawing the sword out of the scabbard with the way Japanese swordsmanship is trained around.
I love your thoughts while sitting in the window seat. My family as well fled the British Isles. My ancestors fled to keep their heads. My paternal line was the last family to live in the castle on the Isle of Man. There was a war, of course. The Lord of the Castle was taken and imprisoned off the battlefield, his wife knew that there was laws in place to protect anyone of status. So she knew he was alive and captured. He was imprisoned in Warwick castle with another gentleman by the last name of Disney, my ancestors last name is Stanley. I’m certain they had days to speak to each other. I know letters were written and my ancestor insisted that his grandsons leave to the Americas. The Americas were the only chance for his offspring to have a chance to own land and not have it taken away, not have you beheaded for disagreements with royals, or to be killed because your family was in the way of a usurping family. He carved his name in the wall of Warwick castle along with the date just before he was executed, drawn and quartered. That gave his family the urgency of the situation. The royals had broken the agreements of war. Two brothers left the British Isles in the early 1600’s long before the civil war. They changed the spelling of their last name, a “D” was inserted. This was a way to show they had been disinherited in some way. I found out this was fairly common, to insert a D or a B into a family name. So the spelling was Standley. I know they resided in the colonies of the north east. I believe Philadelphia……. My mothers family/ancestors were in a very similar situation and one of her ancestors was on the Mayflower. So I did my DNA because I was curious of how much of my genetic make up came form Great Britain……. Well let’s just say my DNA is just from that area. A very small amount of people who came a Viking and raiding and settle there. I do know that some distant relations went to Australia for the same reasons some went to North America……. Staying alive and being able to make a living are important factors. Thanks for all your fun and informative videos! ❤️
Can you imagine how beautiful and crazy cool this must have been back in the day
This is super interesting! love seeing you walk through the castle explaining everything! Deffinitely hope you do this with lots of other castles!!! Also rly hope you get to visit Caernarfon, Conwy, Beaumaris and Harlech castles in north wales as they are all super close to each other and some of the most impressive in Europe!
Castell y Bere is my choice a perfect location when the bluebells are out and on a misty day the cormorants nesting on Craig Aderyn look like Pteradactyls looming overhead
How I would love to see Shad traveling all around the Europe to see all those different castles. At lest to France and Germany. But to be honest, If I could choose only one castle for Shad to visit, it would be Malbork Castle.
They should consider restoring all these historic castles in a High Quality 3D render and make them available to traverse in some VR setting.
It was probably a beautiful castle in it's heyday. I imagine that over time when shifting owners, people kept adjusting it and adding to it to satisfy their own ideas of what makes it a good, defensive castle. The varying styles of stonework in the same place, with inconsistent features makes it seem like people with very different design preferences owned the place. That wall with different kinds of bricking entirely in one wall makes me wonder if some of the men in charge of the castle actually renovated older sections to some extent, or maybe it was badly damaged at certain points due to impact or natural wear-down, so there may have been repairs and replacements done on pieces of it with newer stone from varying sources.
You are truly a castle connoisseur. Loved this. Murder holes was my favorite part
It's like a virtual tour with the best guide in the world.
This is just amazing!
Shad should conquer this castle and claim it for his family.
Given that the rest of the castle is made with a high degree of precision, I would bet that the uneven stairs were intentional. The vaulted ceilings and intricate door speak to the craftsmanship that went into a castle, these features were carefully and precisely made, so I doubt they were like "screw it, just use any ol' rocks to make the stairs"
My thought is that couldn’t it just be from wear and settling from 700 years of use? I am not intensely familiar with castle stairs so maybe I am dead wrong but that is just my gut reaction
Stairs were made uneven to thwart enemies
I would sort of agree but don't forget how expensive castles were to build. It is more than possible that when certain aspects were worked or replaced that a poorer noble was in charge or one they didn't pay for best of the best as it were. I can more than imagine there were a lot of craftsmen's below the standard as it were. It all depends on who was in power at the time and how much they were willing to fork over when a certain part was constructed or reconstructed. I can't imagine a noble wanted to wait for weeks for the perfect staircase. I doubt they were the most patient of people. Why don't you use that rock there? Would be something I could imagine hearing. A lot of nobles would be far more interested in showing off their wealth through the outside of their homes, castles and what not.
If you wear down the step, maybe you would change a block every now and then
I highly doubt the uneven stairs were purposefully done for defense. It is more likely a result of centuries of maintenance. The first thing to consider is that yes castles were fortifications but they were also the homes of wealthy people and the chance of the castle being attacked was very small. Also consider, as Shad pointed out, if the enemy is inside the castle you're already screwed. Uneven steps would be more of a hindrance to the defenders during an attack as they would be the ones running about in a hurry or even a panic. Primarily a castle, especially this one, was a projection of power. While it was built to withstand attack its main purpose was to deter any enemy from even thinking about it.