Dudley
Castle was built by the Normans. Providing protection since around 1071
the castle saw many changes over the centuries. The infamous John
Dudley rebuilt the castle in the Renaissance style only to be beheaded
by Queen Mary for trying to put Lady Jane Grey on the throne of
England.
The
civil war came and went with Dudley Castle having supported the
Royalist cause and surrendering in 1646 after the defeat of Charles I
at Naseby. In 1750 a fire all but destroyed the accommodation at Dudley
Castle.
The fire is said to have burned for three days. The huge
expense of restoration left the family with no choice but to move to
nearby Himley
Hall. The descendents of the family founded Dudley Zoo in
1937.
As you
walk round the grounds of the ruined castle, with its spectacular views
across the Black Country, a sudden screeching of a parakeet reminds you
how well the zoo has blended with the historic remains of the old
castle that has now become home to dozens of animals from around the
globe.
