Bamburgh is what many people think of real castle. Overlooking the North Sea from it's high basalt outcrop the site has a history of occupation since the first century BC. 
In 547 Bamburgh was the capital of the Northumbrian kingdom, It was a stronghold of the Saxon alliance and is considered to be one of the possible sites for Lancelot's  Joyous Garde (we assume not at the same time as being a stronghold of the Saxon alliance-just goes to show you need to watch your sources)
However Lancelot wouldn't recognize it now. Much of the castle as it is seen today is from the extensive restoration of the 18th and 19th centuries. The Keep (that was probably built by Henry II - 1154-1189) was the only part left standing at the end of the 1600's. 
In 1464, during the Wars of the Roses, Bamburgh became the first castle to succumb to cannon fire.

[More coming soon]