PBS - Castle - David Macaulay 

I LOVED these videos when I was a kid. Castle, Pyramid, Cathedral. I think they are a big reason why I am a history teacher today.

Im 43 and a art teacher. I still watch this cartoon at least once a year with my students when we study castle architecture and draw fantasy castles. Its is very entertaining and informative.

This must be att least 40 years old buy this year of 2022, but it is still the most accurate, informative, honest and thoughtful documentary about the medieval castle that i hav ever seen!

I remember watching this in class back in the early 90's when I was a kid. I loved it then and I love it now. Thank-you for putting it up.

I had some of Macaulay's books in the late 70's, one about the castle, the pyramids and a modern city. They all show in detail the way thing were built. The first time I had ever seen things explained in cross sections or exploded view. He had a really interesting way of getting young children interested in architecture and it has stuck with me all these years. I am still fascinated about how castles were built.

Lover it when teachers would put this on for us as a kid. The animation, the battles, the "will they or won't they" chemistry of David and Susan. This had it all.

I remember seeing this in school, it left quite the Medievalphile impression on me for life. I'm so happy I found it again.

I remember staying up to watch this on a school night. So great.

I remember watching this in school and everybody screamed when they saw the guy taking a shit.

I saw this randomly on TV as a kid and i really enjoyed it. Years later i even found the book in the school Library. Now I'm watching it as an adult and am going to use it for a D&D setting. Funny how some things never leave you.

I remember watching this when I was a kid and I always check out this from the library and then my parents would buy this for me because I love castles so much.

I saw this documentary on PBS around 1982 at the height of my friends and my obsession with dungeons & dragons. Some things I remember vividly were the murder holes and the cold castle dunny. Thanks for the memories. I was convinced that Ralph Bakshi was in charge of the animation for some reason.

I first saw this video in Art class in 1991. It was old then, but I loved it! I know have shown to 7th graders for the last 11 years as a social studies teacher. They love it too!!!

I remember watching this as a kid back in the early eighties. I had taken the book out of the library several times already. I loved medieval and renaissance history. That's what lead me down the path to original Dungeons & Dragons.

This documentary and a childhood spent playing Age of Empires 2 really set me on a path in life, I'll say that much.

This was one of my favorite books when I was a kid. I checked it out of the library over and over. Before I had my yellow classic Lego castle set, I built a red one based on the books.

School cancelled for coronavirus and I have to watch this😭😤

I remember well seeing this on PBS in the early 1980's.

this video is both enjoyable and really full of great information about castles. Now it's endearing with its old-school vibe. BUILD A HOUSE AND START A FAMILY is still a line quoted by my family to this day.

Ahhhhhh, I remember this from elementary school! I loved the animated parts and the music. So much nostalgia.

I still love this stuff, after 30yrs I had forgotten all about it until stumbling upon it recently. I love all the stories, Roman city, Pyramid etc. I want more though!

A beautiful and clear presentation presumably made for a young audience but which doesn't talk down to them. I like how David sums everything up at the end - on the purpose behind the building of castles like these and how the changing times eventually made them obsolete. It's rare that you get a history lesson that gives you a real feeling for how people lived back then, or why people did things the way they did - most history documentaries these days seem to be loud spectacles made more to entertain an audience rather than educate them. I'm sure most of the commenters who declare this to be boooorrring would rather be watching one of those, but I'll take one of David Macaulay's thoughtful pieces anytime.

This is by far the nicest portrayal of Edward I that I've ever seen. Great documentary.

Absolutely worth watching. Although our "modern" times are determined by fast global changes, there's an undisputable consolation in these glances into history: That everything is futile and thus, even the dark times do not last, which means that there's still hope.

Have loved this series since first time I saw it, as an adult, proving you are never too old for good annimation. Am slowly acquiring the series on dvd, and enjoy them just as much today. Only wish there were more in series!

While all you children are complaining about having to watch this, the adult actually chose to watch this for enjoyment and learning.

What an absolute masterpiece! I absolutely love the style and I recognize that a lot of effort was put into making this. I've just bought this guy's book. Awesome animations!

I remember watching this about 25 years ago in school, and I remember thinking it was old back then. Good watch tho 👍 thanks for the upload

David Macaulay is still alive and publishing as of 2021 ! And thanks for posting, I'm here after reading the book.

I fell in love with these books after finding them in our towns library when I was a kid, and I remember how exited I was when I first saw that they made 'movies' out of them.

Wow I think I saw this in art class in middle school in the mid 80's. I still remember the part where the thief was being kept in the dungeon. Although I thought I remember that a toilet emptied into the dungeon to torment it's...inhabitants. Looks like my memory of that had warped over time. Thanks for posting this.

This taught me enough about castles as a kid that it really bugged me, years later, that neither Helm's Deep nor Minas Tirith had competently designed gatehouses in the Lord of the Rings movies.

I loved this series as a girl at school. thanks for sharing. Goes to see Cathedral which is the best documentary ever.... Thank you

This movie watched as a child started my love of all things medieval.

Watched this when it came out. So glad to watch it again.

1983 this was made. They don't make documentaries like this anymore. It was good I enjoyed watching it.

"I am deeply moved Kevin" one of the best quotes ever

I saw this a long time ago on TV, I must have been 6 or 7 back then... I still remembered parts of it, and now I found it again by chance. Awesome!

Wow, I remember watching this in first grade during art in 1990. Thank you RU-vid algorithm for the trip down memory lane

I loved all of Macaulay's videos as a kid. Watching it as an adult here are a few things I noticed: Several times people are shown emptying chamber pots into the street. Now I know that medieval cities would often fine people for not keeping their streets clean, so this depiction is unlikely. As a kid, I thought of the castle defenders as the "good guys" and as the Welsh attackers as the "bad guys", but now I have a better understanding of the fact that the English were basically invading Wales. Even so, the depiction of the Welsh soldiers burning down the homes of the peasants still looks grim. At 47:20 the sappers throw a pig's body into the tunnel before they set fire to the beams supporting the tunnel. As a kid, I didn't understand why, but now I think this is a reference to the Siege of Rochester, in which King John used pig fat to fuel fire to burn a tunnel.

Am I the only one doing this for homework?

This is a gem. Many thanks for uploading this!

Whether you're an adult or a child, you can enjoy this series and learn quite a bit in an hour. 🙏

I saw this in elementary when I practically lived at the library. I had read the book, and later found this VHS on the library shelf. This film had a huge impact on my life, and I had a HUGE crush on this woman. I still think anyone that has a voice similar to her's is extremely attractive. I like it that she beats him in chest. And they are a great pair, with awesome chemistry

Rented this every week from the library when I was a kid. Good times.

Thanks for sharing this. I really enjoyed seeing this as a kid. Great memories.

I watched this in elementary school. It was new then. Still good.

I remember watching snippets of this in a college class for security believe it or not. It was a simple task but we had to identify things on a castle that helped to make it secure.

Brian blessed doing the voice of master James

Fascinating documentary. Many thanks for uploading. From England. 👍

I have watched this documentary a thousand times . And I am still watching it

Thank you so much for sharing these David Macaulay jewels!

7:55 - "A necessary precaution, we know the Welsh are watching us" - oh boy, If I had a penny every time I've said that...

who else has the worksheet for homework ._.

That build-up to and drop of the main theme at 2:36 is absolute fire!

I remember this from when I was a kid. we saw it in school when this was newly released. This is one of the things that got me interested in medieval history.

4 years ago, people had to do a worksheet on this. now, during a pandemic, i have to do homework on this that is overdue

Dude, this was my childhood.

I still have the book that accompanies this show from when I was a kid back in the 80's and 90's.

I loved this show as a kid. Thanks for posting.

It's interesting to note that the original distributor was not WHYY Philadelphia, but WTVS Detroit. I know this because I have a cassette of this from the '80s. Also, CPB and public television viewers weren't among the original underwriters (though the other three were).

who else was waiting for the "thank you" after they said "from viewer's like you"

It’s not long ago, but I watched this as a freshman and now I’m a junior. Time goes by too fast. The teacher who showed me this had his last year of teaching with my class 😭

My older brother or dad showed this to me when I was 6 or 7.I love history.

This doco is an oldie, but a beauty! Still very informative over 30 years later.

One interesting thing implied here is that after a while there would have been some intermarriage between the Welsh and the English townspeople who came there to occupy and settle, which probably helped ease some later tensions.

Watching for the 27 the time in a decade. Great Documentary

I loved this as a kid. I kept checking it out at the school library

We watched this at school, and at 21:53 my teacher blanked the screen xD

How did I miss this beautiful piece? Thank you for the posting.

This was about the time we are all doodling 90s logos on our notebooks. Then the teacher says "now submit your top ten things you learned about this videos". I miss middle school hahahah

I remember reading Castle, Pyramid, City, Cathedral, and Mill many years ago. Great books!

I really liked the way you put this entire project into action. What an Awesome story to go along with all the other factional information about Castles. I learned a wealth of knowledge & enjoyed this from start to finish. Thanks for the upload David.

tubey, not all halls had fireplaces. Often there was a pit in the middle and the smoke simply filled up the hall unless there was an opening in the roof.

Loved this as a kid. Had it on VHS :P

Very well done. This has always been my favorite program on castles.

Is it just me, or did that look he gave her when she beat him at chess (along with his deadpan "So you did" and hollow expression) just reveal to us that he is going to have her murdered for it? Witheringly funny if it is supposed to be dry English humor.

Some voice-over in the animated sections by Brian Blessed, I think & maybe Michael Jayston also..

I had the book and vhs tape growing up. Loved all of his works.

Can’t believe this is nearly 40 years old

That axe to the head sound effect though..

Damn its interesting seeing people watch this for homework. I found this video on youtube when i was a kid and it got me into history

Charming and informative. This is my first viewing of this documentary. I love animation, and the telling of the story of the fictional castle was brilliant. It could stand to be on its own, I think. I was 7 when this was released in '83. Now I'm 42, and still enjoyed it. I wonder if Shad (Shadiversity) has seen this.. Well done to all involved, and thank to you, Mr. Anthony223 for providing this for us to enjoy.

Who else back then, who say this in class, but didn't pay attention, yet watch the animated segments, and those people demonstrating and showcasing the ruins of the castle . . . I did, and it was great, and after seeing I even took the time and looking it up . . found it but not the entire video XP bummer

perhaps we shall see a video about the "motel of the mysteries"

I love this animation. It is awesome

Its not the animation that makes it special. It is the music, the mixed of creepy-dramatic music makes this feel, like your there.

This is a nice documentary. The animation is nice and the design of the castle is discussed in great detail. I regret that I ignored this video the first time I saw it.

I like the part where they’re talking about castles!

I wonder how long it took them to memorize all this

Was looking all over for this doc. Remembered seeing it when I was a kid, learned a lot! Thanks for this upload!

I remember when I first saw this with my dad back in the early 80's. We both loved it, I am happy to say after re watching it, I still do! You Tube is the great medium for sharing knowledge old and new, thanks for posting this gem!

This has strongly inspired the story I'm writing. Thanks for posting!

Castles made of sand, fall into the sea, eventually.

A terrific video!! This really helped in getting a mind on the processes of castle construction.

this was a great documentary i was shocked on good it was def gonna re-watch this again in the future i wish there where a few more like it thanks for posting

I think everyone should know a guy named "Kevin the Strange".

Brian Blessed & Derek Jacobi - nice

thank you for posting this. I grew up watching this and its so nice to see it again

I remember watching this back in the early 1880e; It was a hood show.