This is a bit of a picture postcard shot really but I think it is a good image showing the medieval Belsay Castle in Northumberland.
Apparently it was built in 1370 and it was used as a residence by the Middleton family until Christmas Day 1817 when the family moved into the newly built mansion just a short distance away
The original castle was stripped of its furnishings and used as a folly in the extensive grounds and was used to host summer parties.
I think I prefer the original castle to the modern hall, how about you? Leave a comment to let me know your preference...
The magnificent castle at Pembroke was clearly built to impress and I am sure that in its heyday it certainly did that. It has an imposing presence overlooking the river and with its high, thick walls surrounded by a moat it would have been more or less impregnable. Although it is in ruins the fact that so much remains intact hundreds of years after its construction says a lot about the intentions of the architect and the skills of the craftsmen and labourers who put it all together.
From the rocky texture of the bark in yesterday's images to the smooth texture of dressed and eroded stone in today's.
These pictures are from Ewloe Castle, built in 1257 by Llewellyn ap Gruffudd. It is an interesting castle because although it has a keep and a D shaped tower and very thick walls it is unclear why it was built because it would not have been easy to defend and perhaps it was built more as a show of wealth or strength than anything else. In any case what struck me was the quality of the stone work that has survived for over 750 years. The colour of the stone has depth and warmth and is enhanced by the mossy growth in the joints. The stairs in the tower lead to an exposed parapet which left me feeling a bit wobbly and the uneven surface on the way down, in the wet, demanded extra care even for such a short distance.
