I wished I’d taken a picture. I think I did, but it would be lost on film somewhere, perhaps in a forgotten box in an attic. It was one of those memorable landscapes that made you go ‘wow’. A dreary autumn morning, the leaves dimly orange and yellow, and looking out of the front window […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
Welcome to Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields and a chance for bloggers to share flash fiction tales. This picture conjured up some closer to home memories. My dad keeps a toilet on the patio. Mum groaned the day it arrived. She encouraged other plants to grow up around it, hoping they might crush the […]
So, my chosen theme for the A to Z blog challenge is…. drum roll… fanfare…. Castles. Was that an anti-climax? It could easily have been cathedrals. I’m not an architect, nor a historian, but I love impressive old buildings. I’m in awe of the manpower and ingenuity that went into building such vast structures at […]
It could have been the sun, or the tops of the buildings, but I chose the foreground. Hope you enjoy my 100 word flash fiction challenge brought to you by Rochelle. The bin man collected the rubbish today. He took away the crushed cans And water bottles, The sweet wrappers, Bottle tops and half-eaten […]
The Quiet Writer 