Castle review thread.

[Montegriffo]

Convention is over, sadly I had to watch this vid to see what went on as I was stuck in the kitchen cooking falafels (the only acceptable food since the caliphate took over).



Left site at 6 yesterday with my crew setting off for a 6 hr drive back to East Anglia.
My next gig is 2 weeks away in Llangollen, north Wales so I'm in no hurry to leave.
I drove the kitchen (a 7.5 ton lorry with a 20' box) back to Brougham castle and now I live in a van down by the river.
I'm parked under the big tree left of the bridge.


Got up late today and am about to go and pay £56 for an annual membership to English Heritage which should get me into nearly every castle in the country for free.
Edward I visited Brougham so this is going to be the first of my castles of king Eddy tour even though it wasn't one of his and James of St George didn't build it.
I'm planning to visit all of the Edwardian castles in this area from James' earliest example at Rhuddlan and finishing off at the finest example and Ed I's last castle at Beaumaris on Anglesey in the far north west of Wales.

[Montegriffo]

Well that was great. Thirteenth century Norman keep originally with a wooden ballistrade but now surrounded by a stone wall with three large towers added in 1388.
Built in the same red sandstone as Penrith castle but with door arches, arrow slits and windows in a harder grey stone
Built on the site of a Roman fort it was owned by Roger Clifford who was King Edward's warden of the Welsh marches (borders).
Clifford played a large part in the wars against the Scots and Edward visited on his way to Carlisle in 1300 ( 22 July) where he put down another revolt from the cattle thieving porridge eaters.
Clifford was to lose his life at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
The wooden floors of the keep are long gone but the stairs and walkways to the defensive positions are built into the walls so you are able to climb all the way up to the fourth story. High enough to give me that knot in the stomach you get from mild vertigo.
Many of the fireplaces are still in place and you can stand in the larger ones and look all the way up the chimney. Pro tip, take a torch.
A deep well sits in the courtyard and the gatehouse has a hole in the ground which I guess was a dungeon or wine cellar.

Carlisle castle and Hadrian's wall with its Roman forts next. Not really a part of my Edward I tour but only 20 miles North of here so not too much of a detour...

[Montegriffo]

So, I am camped next to an observation tower on Hadrian's wall tonight. Spent an hour or so walking around the Roman fort of Birdoswald. Not a great deal left over 6' tall but you can get a good idea of the size and shape of it.
Built in the early 2nd century and garrisoned by around 300 soldiers the fort is one of many such wall forts which were placed at roughly 14 Roman miles apart along the whole 70 miles of its length.
Built in the same manner as a medieval wall, with faced stones on both sides and rubble and mortar in-between, the masonry was of an equal if not superior standard compared to Brougham castle.

[SuburbanFarmer]

This thread is awesome. Needs more pictures tho.

[Montegriffo]

This thread is awesome. Needs more pictures tho.

Sorry about the lack of pics, I have no solar panel on my kitchen truck so I am having to limit my laptop use. Will have to buy a small inverter so I can charge it up when I run the engine.
Of to Carlisle castle today after I've had a look at a 12 century priory built with stone from Hadrian's wall.

[Ex-California]

So, I am camped next to an observation tower on Hadrian's wall tonight. Spent an hour or so walking around the Roman fort of Birdoswald. Not a great deal left over 6' tall but you can get a good idea of the size and shape of it.
Built in the early 2nd century and garrisoned by around 300 soldiers the fort is one of many such wall forts which were placed at roughly 2 Roman miles apart along the whole 70 miles of its length.
Built in the same manner as a medieval wall, with faced stones on both sides and rubble and mortar in-between, the masonry was of an equal if not superior standard compared to Brougham castle.

Awesome

[Montegriffo]

So, I am camped next to an observation tower on Hadrian's wall tonight. Spent an hour or so walking around the Roman fort of Birdoswald. Not a great deal left over 6' tall but you can get a good idea of the size and shape of it.
Built in the early 2nd century and garrisoned by around 300 soldiers the fort is one of many such wall forts which were placed at roughly 2 Roman miles apart along the whole 70 miles of its length.
Built in the same manner as a medieval wall, with faced stones on both sides and rubble and mortar in-between, the masonry was of an equal if not superior standard compared to Brougham castle.

Awesome

Thought of you as I was walking around.

Had a busy day today, will roll a spliff and start writing it down.

[Montegriffo]

With it being a Sunday I thought I'd start the day with a visit to church.
Lanercost priory to be exact. This half ruined Abbey from the 12th century still functions as a parish church.



The crypted roof in the lower refractory was impressive and there were several Roman altars displayed here which had been found in the nearby Birdoswald fort.



part of the main building had lost its roof but most of the walls and columns were intact.



I was pleased to learn that Edward I had an extended visit here in the winter of 1306-1307. He had visited while in ill health before his final trip to Carlisle Castle to once again put down a Scottish rebellion. He died soon after in July 1307 whilst campaigning against Robert the Bruce.

[Montegriffo]

Birdoswald and Hadrian's wall pics


The gatehouses

Eastgate Northern tower.

[SuburbanFarmer]

Magnificent.