The winning entry in the Daily Telegraph’s 1999 Mini-Saga Competition.
The task set being to compose a story of 50 words exactly – no more! no less!
Mini Saga2-War & Pieces
Tag Archives: castle
LINDISFARNE – Holy Island
Below is a selection of sketches and photographs based on my previous visits to this beautiful historic and sacred island off the North Sea coast of England
Arundel Castle, West Sussex, U.K.
Arundel is an ancient town situated on the River Arun in West Sussex, England. Its castle, massive and dominant in the landscape, dates from the 11th Century, although considerably altered and added to since that time.
Arundel Castle has undergone many restorations and extensions since it was first built in the year following the Norman Invasion of England in 1066. It was officially established by Roger de Montgomery on Christmas Day 1067. By the grace of William the Conqueror, he was the first to hold the earldom of Arundel. The castle has remained in the possession of his descendants ever since and is now the home of the Duke of Norfolk, who is the Earl Marshal and Hereditary Marshal of England. The current duke is Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk.
My photographs, featured below, are amongst those I took on a recent visit there in October 2017.
Arundel, showing its position just a few miles inland from the English Channel and about 65 miles from London.
Showing how the castle position dominates the town and the surrounding area
Looking up to the massive southern wall of the castle
The Castle’s Western Gateway
Part of the extensive castle gardens, looking towards Arundel’s Roman Catholic Cathedral
The more private part of the castle where the present Duke of Norfolk lives
Further view of the gardens
The Root Garden, planted with the upturned roots of trees lost in the great 1987 Storm
It was pumpkin time in the castle vegetable gardens, and Halloween was approaching
A medieval montage within the castle keep
An important 12th Century visitor to the Castle
A re-enactment of 12th Century knights in battle
More Norman knights
A view of the River Arun and its bridge at Arundel after several days of rain
Northumberland – Bamburgh
[ Photo Blog #56 ]
The coast of Northumbria on the North-East of England bordering with Scotland is atmospheric and highly impressive. It was described by Janet Street Porter on ITV’s ‘Britain’s Best View’ as having ‘a coastline ravaged by nature and steeped in history. There’s a story round every single corner … you’re not just looking at a view, you’re standing in the footsteps of kings, and all on one of the most dramatic coastlines nature has to offer.’
I have visited many times, usually on the way to or from my tours of Scotland. For me, one of the highlights of a visit to this part of the country is the small town of BAMBURGH. The following photographs I took there in 2003 on one of these visits when I stayed in this historic town for several days.
Bamburgh is a stunningly attractive small town within the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In fact it is even perhaps just a village, with a population of only about 450. It is dominated by its magnificently imposing Castle, once the seat of the former Kings of Northumbria, that can be seen for miles around. It would be hard not to be impressed by the sheer size of the Castle and there is so much to tell about its long and amazing history. On the seaward side of the castle and town there are impressive stretches of pure golden sandy beaches with rolling sand dunes and views across the sea to both the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and to the Farne Islands. The town also houses a museum dedicated to its great heroine, Grace Darling.
To read the story of Grace Darling and of how her heroism caught the attention of the Victorian public, click on this link . . . The Story Of Grace Darling
Bamburgh Castle from the North Sea shore
Looking eastwards towards the castle from the town
The defensive landward side walls of Bamburgh Castle in the evening sun
The seaward walls of Bamburgh Castle from the seashore
Looking north to the castle across the coastline dunes
The beach of the North Sea at Bamburgh
Looking eastwards across the North Sea from the sand dunes
Driftwood marker on Bamburgh beach
The Bamburgh Sandman (See my earlier blog of October 29th 2016 at: The SANDMAN )
This elaborate cenotaph commemorates the life of the early 19th Century lifeboat heroine, Grace Darling, who is buried nearby.
Bamburgh rooftops and castle battlements outlined against the rising sun
The Castle at Sunrise
Sunrise over the North Sea from Bamburgh
Bamburgh Castle . . . Pen and Wash – WHB: 2014 ©
Dartmouth, Devon
[ Photo Blog #46 ]
Map of South Devon, England, showing the River Dart and Dartmouth
Dartmouth is a historic South Devonshire town situated where the beautiful River Dart meets the sea. It has become a famous tourist destination, but it has a long history, mainly associated with its position as a deep-water port for sailing vessels, giving them easy access to the English Channel. As far back as the Twelfth Century the port was used as the sailing point for the Crusades of 1147 and 1190. Since the reign of Edward II, Dartmouth has been the home of the Royal Navy. The town was twice surprised and sacked in the 14th and 15th centuries during the Hundred Years’ War. Following this, the narrow mouth of the estuary was closed every night with a great chain. To protect the town, Dartmouth Castle and Kingswear Castle were built on opposite banks of the river entrance. The Britannia Royal Naval College is located on the hill overlooking the town and has been training Officers of the Royal Navy since 1863.
The River Dart – Looking eastwards from the town
Dartmouth – The Quay
The Royal Naval College overlooks the town
The River Dart Passenger Ferry crossing between Dartmouth and Kingswear on the opposite bank
Dartmouth Castle at the mouth of the river on the west bank
The car ferry crossing close to the river mouth
View towards the river mouth and the English Channel
Cruise ship anchored in the deep water of the River Dart
View of Kingswear across the river from Dartmouth, with the ruins of Bayards Castle in the foreground
View from the South Embankment towards the mouth of the River Dart
Lindisfarne Castle
Lindisfarne Castle viewed from Lindisfarne Priory . . . Photo … WHB – 2008
Lindisfarne is the Anglo-Saxon name of the island off the North-East coast of England which is more generally know as Holy Island, or as ‘The Holy Island of Lindisfarne’. It is a tidal island and is cut off from the mainland twice each day. A paved causeway connects it with the mainland for a few hours at low tide.
For many centuries the island was subject to raids from marauding Vikings. It became an important centre of Celtic Christianity, and the saints Aidan, Cuthbert, Eadffrith and Eadberht were prominent figures in its ecclesiastical history. It was St Aidan, coming from Iona in Scotland, who founded the first Priory on the island in the 7th Century. This became the base for the spread of Christianity throughout the North of England. St Aidan lived on the island until he died in 651. The famous illuminated manuscript known as the Lindisfarne Gospels was created at the Priory during the early years of the 8th Century.
Perhaps the most prominent, if not the most significant, feature on the island is its castle, positioned on an outcrop of rock at the water’s edge. Following the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII, it was built in 1550 in defence against attack by Scotland and their Spanish allies. In the 19th Century, in private ownership, the castle was renovated by Arts and Crafts architect Edwin Lutyens, and a small but enchanting walled garden was created there by Gertrude Jekyll.
The idyllic location of the Castle has intrigued and inspired for centuries. The view from the top is truly magnificent. The castle is now managed and maintained by the National Trust.
The Gallery below contains some of my own attempts to capture the unique nature and character of this fascinating place. Click on any one of the images to open a slide show containing 3 of my photographs and 3 of my pen and wash sketches, all with a view of Lindisfarne Castle . . .
From the shoreline
From the Priory
From The Priory
Lindisfarne Castle
From Gertrude Jekyll’s Garden
From St,Aidan’s Statue
Roland's Ragbag 