Monthly Archives: April 2016
Fotheringhay: All that’s left #atozchallenge
Much as I would like to ticked off every one, there are plenty of castles I’ve never visited and there are some which have nothing left to visit. Fotheringhay is one such empty space. Famed for its connections to Richard III, who was born there; his parents, buried in the church; and Mary Queen of […]
King of Ewloe, that’s me #atozchallenge
One of the nearest castles to where I live is Ewloe. Unlike the great fortifications erected by the Plantagenet kings, this castle was constructed by the Welsh using their own design. On the border of Wales and England, the Welsh princes hoped to defend their territory using the castle, but instead they retreated further inland […]
Desolate Dunstanburgh #atozchallenge
There is something special about Dunstanburgh Castle. I’ve visited it a couple of times and it always has the same effect on me. Unlike many castles, which are built near a settlement that subsequently thrives and becomes a town, Dunstanburgh Castle stands alone. The village is nearly a mile away and even today, visitors are […]
Conwy: Take one castle. #atozchallenge
My theme is castles. So it is appropriate to discuss the great castle builder – Edward the First. During his reign he had built or refortified seventeen castles in Wales. The construction of the ring of castles was a massive undertaking and it enabled him to crush any Welsh rebellions. Many of these great castles […]
Mill on the castle #atozchallenge
One of my favourite castles is Bamburgh, the subject of my letter B. Not far up the coast from my letter A, Alnwick, this castle sits on the beach and provides a spectacular view. While children construct castles using the golden sand, Bamburgh castle has stood undaunted by time and bombardment. Now a private home, […]
Aesthetics of Alnwick #atozchallenge
It’s the start of the A-Z blogging challenge. My theme – castles and today is the letter A. I’ve loved them since I was small and the great fortifications still fascinate me. Alnwick Castle in Northumberland is not a ruin. It’s the family home of the Duke of Northumberland and lived in by the same […]
The Quiet Writer 