|
Post by Shan on May 28, 2005 23:43:29 GMT
This is a thread where we can talk about casltes (medieval one, old ones or just ones of interest), abbeys/old churches, and old ruins. Feel free to post anything you want about them (pictures, history, facts, architecture, questions, just whatever you feel like posting). If you have a special castle, abbey/old church, or some old ruins you would like to share with us, please do so. If you have a picture or a link to a picture of the place that would be great but is not a must. I am no expert on any of these. I just find them very fascinating and interesting. So if any of you find any mistakes in facts that are stated, please feel free to correct them. I really hope we can have alot of fun with this and share some info at the same time. Next post: Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight Shan
|
|
|
Post by Shan on May 29, 2005 0:14:58 GMT
Wonder why I started with this one. One very good reason, my girls thought it would be a good place to start because they thought it was cool that donkeys were used to draw water from one of the wells. quote: Two medieval wells still exist within the castle: the Keep houses the first well, which is some 160ft deep and is reached by 71steps; and the second well is contained in a 16th century wellhouse in the courtyard. This well has been in constant use since the 12th century, following a failure in the first well, and it is thought that prisoners were used to tread the waterwheel. However, in the 17th century, donkeys were introduced to drive the winding gear, and they still give demonstrations today of how this fascinating piece of early engineering drew up the water.We also found a very good interactive site for Carisbrooke Castle. It is well worth a look if you are interested at all in the castle. Carisbrooke Castle Interactive Did you know that King Charles I was imprisoned here for about a year just before his execution? Shan
|
|
|
Post by Shan on May 31, 2005 4:49:57 GMT
Here are some facts about our first castle. In 1000 AD a wall was constructed around the hill that the castle now sits on by the Anglo Saxons to defend themselves against Viking raids. The castle was built on the hill inside thes wall based on a Saxon fort that occupied the site during the 8th centuryby William Fitz Osbern. Carisbrooke was granted to Richard de Redvers in 1100 and his family had possession of it for the next 200 years. The original 'motte and bailey' castle was laid out in the 11th century, and the polygonal Keep was added in the first half of the 12th century. About the same time the stone curtain walls were built with square flanking towers. The twin towered Gatehouse on the western side of the curtain wall was built in around the 14th/15th century replacing the earlier one built while the castle was in the possession of the Redvers family. Even today it shows signs of the the portcullises. The castle contains a restored 13th century chapel. The original chapel was commissioned by Countess Isabella and the now restored chapel is based on her original design. In November 1647, while attempting to flee to Europe, King Charles I was brought here by the Governor, Colonel Hammond. At first the King was treated as an honored guest but after an attempt to escape he was politely held prisoner. When attempting to escape for a second time the King became jammed between the bars while trying to climb through a window. And here is a link to more pictures of Carisbrooke. PicturesShan
|
|
|
Post by Gray Lensman on May 31, 2005 5:04:07 GMT
Really nice description there, Shan. You really went into a lot of detail. I can see the value of the location, based on the pictures. The high ground and the steep hillside would probably have made the castle easier to defend, if needed. I imagine there would have been a great view of the surrounding countryside from those towers. I rather like the classic architecture of the place. It's crumbled somewhat, but any building that's stood mostly intact for nine centuries speaks for itself. I really wish I had more to add than I actually do, but I don't have much familiarity with Carisbrooke. Still very interesting reading, to say the least.
|
|
|
Post by Elliot Kane on May 31, 2005 6:14:30 GMT
Rainham Village ChurchThe oldest building in the locality by quite some distance According to its profile: "The Church, dedicated to St Helen and St Giles, is the Parish Church of Rainham, and is historically and architecturally one of the most important buildings in the village. It remains one of the best examples of a complete Norman Church in South Essex and, as a Grade 1 listed building, it forms the heart of the Rainham Conservation Area. The church was built around 1170 A.D. and despite some later alterations it still stands much as it did 800 years ago, with its chancel, nave, aisles and tower. The building is attributed to Richard de Lucy, an eminent Norman nobleman who married a daughter of Henry II, and some say was implicated in the murder of Thomas a Becket." *** The place feels like its been old & holy since the beginning of time
|
|
|
Post by Shan on Jun 1, 2005 15:52:01 GMT
Great old church, Elliot. Churches like that seem to hold as many stories at the old castles do. It is hard to believe that so much history as passed among their walls and that they are still standing and being used today as they were intended to be used when they were built while the old castles are only a shadow of their former selves. The look and feel of both are very fascinating in their own way, but so much alike in other ways. Steve -> whether you feel like you have very much to add or not, just your thoughts about it or how it makes you feel adds alot to the over all picture for me. I enjoy the feel and thoughts you get from places as much as I do the actual history of the place. History stands for itself, but our thoughts or the feeling we get from a place, a buildings or whatever can in its own way make it come alive. Thank you both for sharing. Shan
|
|
|
Post by Shan on Jun 1, 2005 16:03:00 GMT
I found just a few more pictures of Carisbrooke if anybody is interested. They are at the bottom of this page and the larger ones are pretty good. Enjoy. CarisbrookeAll the steps you in one of the pictures, I wonder if they are the 71 steps that lead up to one of the wells? Ummmmm, could be. Anybody have an idea of one to look at next, another English castle, a Scottish castle, an Irish castle, German castle? So many castles, and so hard to choose. Shan
|
|
|
Post by Shan on Jun 4, 2005 14:10:24 GMT
While looking for interesting Irish castles on the web, I came across this and found it very interesting. Have any of you ever heard of Trysting Stones? Trysting Stones (below is a quote about them) Centuries ago, before wedding ceremonies moved from the bride's house to the church steps, and finally into the church itself, the joining of a couple was often conducted in a place of mystical significance. On Cape Clear, Co. Cork, there is a townland called Comillane where you'll find a pillarstone known as Cloch na Gealluna - 'The Trysting Stone'. It has a hole right through it and in pre-Christian times, a couple would join hands through the stone and in the presence of the local king, they would wed. Similarly, at Kilmaolcheader church near Dingle, Co. Kerry, stands a pillar with a circular opening near the top. It's said that a couple is engaged if they join hands through the opening. Hey, Elliot, want to get engaged? ;D Shan
|
|
|
Post by Elliot Kane on Jun 4, 2005 16:43:34 GMT
What? Engaged? And in the old Celtic tradition? Anyone would think I liked an Irish girl or something! ;D Seriously though - I knew about Trysting Stones, but not the exact purpose. Interesting stuff. Thanks, Shan
|
|
|
Post by Glance A'Lot on Jun 9, 2005 15:12:31 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Shan on Jun 11, 2005 15:35:47 GMT
Very impressive castle and good info, Glance. Thank you. You said you had visited a number of different castles. Is this one of them? If it is would you mind telling me what you thought? Shan
|
|
|
Post by Shan on Jun 11, 2005 16:24:05 GMT
Elliot has shown us one real old church, and I've got another one. I hope you enjoy the pictures and find the info on it interesting. Old Boniface Church - Shanklin Isle of Wight Legend has it that monks from the Abbey of Lyra, in Normandy, crossed over to the Island, and landed at Monks' Bay. They built a small curious edifice on the woody plateau where the Old Church now stands and dedicated it to St. Boniface. It is said that they chose for their site the ruins of a Saxon Church, and this is supported by the fact that they dedicated their Church to a Saxon Saint, though they themselves were Normans. The Church is only 48ft in length by 12ft wide, and it is the type of a private chapel. The Chancel and the south door are examples of the earliest Norman architecture, the door made of planks placed horizontally within, perpendicularly without, and studded with nails. All the windows are later (12th and 15th Century). The porch is comparatively modern, crosses have been cut in its sides, and the bell cot was erected in 1794. Inside of the church The Monks are believed to have discovered a ruined Saxon church, and as an act of thanksgiving for safely crossing the channel, rebuilt it, dedicating it to the Saxon Saint. The Old Church was replaced in 1848 by the New Church of Saint Boniface, but not demolished. Every 5th June, Saint Boniface Day, a special candle-lit service is held there. Now would you love to attend a candle-lit service in the Old Church? I would. The grave of a man called Charlie Wilcox can be found at the Old Church. Wilcox was the godson of Lewis Carroll, and suffered from tuberculosis. Whilst Carroll nursed him at Guildford, it is believed that he wrote the famous poem 'The Hunting of the Snark'. Wilcox moved to the Island for convalescence but unfortunately died in 1874, aged just 22 and was buried at the Old Church. I love walking through old graveyards. I could spend hours just looking at the old tombstones. They are very fascinating. Enjoy. Shan
|
|
|
Post by Glance A'Lot on Jun 14, 2005 15:10:16 GMT
Did I visit the Marksburg? Oh, yes, as most castles on the Middle Rhine between Mainz and Koblenz. The Marksburg is the only one that never got destroyed and such was preserved in its late 14th century form. It also is the seat of the German Castle Association, and such a wealth of information on castles in the German speaking realm is to be found there. It's pretty impressive and not too crowded with tourists - as it is not one of the 'big' sites. Actually it is rather average in size, so that it gives a good impression of the 'normal' local knight's residence and toll collection point for the major earl residing somewhere more comfortable. The reason it was preserved without being destroyed was that the later owners were not of the militant type A totally different one is that one: www.burgeltz.de/e_index.htmlThis was depicted on the 50 Deutsche Mark bill, and is an example of an agglomeration of various families sharing the same site. Within the castle compound you can find several independent housing complexes - originally from the same family, later portions were sold to others. In any case, not all the inhabitants/co-owners got along peacefully
|
|
|
Post by Elliot Kane on Jun 14, 2005 15:53:37 GMT
Cool stuff, people I might not have much to contribute right now, but I'm reading
|
|
|
Post by Shan on Jun 15, 2005 3:32:07 GMT
Glance, another really cool one. I think you are very lucky to have visited these places. I would love to be able to see some of them one day but chances are very slim that I will get to. I look forward to seeing some others that you have visited and hearing what you thought about them. Shan
|
|
|
Post by Shan on Jun 15, 2005 3:33:58 GMT
I'm glad you are enjoying the thread Elliot. I've got another castle to post in a day or two and I have some old ruins that I want to add also. Hope you will find those interesting too. Shan
|
|
|
Post by Glance A'Lot on Jun 15, 2005 15:21:41 GMT
Shan, that reminds me of a colleague from Seattle on a trip to Europe with his two kids (like 10 and 12 years old), who I housed in a normal, centrally located hotel in downtown Aschaffenburg - The kids were quite impressed, when I told them the hotel they're sleeping in is older than the USA! We Europeans have a different concept to age (of buildings!) Houses 100 years old - common; Houses up to 500 years old - galore; cathedrals 1.000 years old - a number, but then, if you go to Rome or Athens - now that's old! Or, as Napoleon said to his troops at the battle of the pyramids: "40 centuries look down on you!" (nice double meaning, that - I wonder... )
|
|
|
Post by Shan on Jun 15, 2005 21:39:46 GMT
You just stated the one reason that I think it would be so cool to visit your part of the world, Glance, all the old buildings. I know nothing at all about them and really the history behind them interests me very little (a few simple facts usually satisfies me). I could look at them for hours thought. There is just something about the way they were built that you do not find in buildings today. And I am always amazed at how long they have been around. It is hard for me to imagine how they could have lasted that long. Not just the kids of your colleague are amazed by that. Just seeing the pictures and reading how old they are amazes me. To be able to experience it would be truly amazing. Thank you for sharing all your insights with me and anyone else who happens to read this. Shan
|
|
|
Post by Shan on Jun 16, 2005 1:51:18 GMT
Chillingham Castle is our next stop. In 1344, Sir Thomas Grey was granted a licence to crenellate his property at Chillingham. He built a quadrangular castle with four corner towers and an inner courtyard. A curtain wall was built around the castle grounds, but this has now mostly disappeared, although some remains can be seen at the end of the Italian Garden. The castle came under attack in 1536 during the 'Pilgrimage of Grace' rebellion. Sir Robert Ellerker successfully defended the castle, but had to repair damage caused by cannon-fire. In 1590 alterations were made to the castle, which included moving the main entrance to its present position, in preparation for the royal visit of King James VI of Scotland on his journey south to his English coronation. Further rebuilding was carried out during the 18th and 19th century, turning the castle into a comfortable stately home with landscaped gardens. Castle Gardens 1Castle Gardens 2Castle Gardens 3Lots more to come on this one and even a view of the torture chamber. It is said that Chillingham Castle is the most haunted castle in Britain, and I've got info on them too. ;D Shan
|
|
|
Post by Gray Lensman on Jun 16, 2005 23:05:54 GMT
Wow, lots to catch up on here. Not a whole lot I can add, except that there's a lot of interesting facts presented here. I rather like Chillingham. Has more of a fortress look, which is probably why it draws me somewhat more. Not too hard to tell where the place was damaged, judging by the quality of the stones used. I would be interested in the hauntings, actually. Adds to the atmosphere.
|
|