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Evelyn Wallace -The Castle Lady...Do you love castles like me? ; )Welcome! Willkommen! Bienvenue! Benvenuto! Bemvindos! Kalos Orisatay! Pozdrav! Privyetstveya! Birsey degil yerime! A Castle Directory and new photos are below!
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All About Castles Series
6 February Castles in the Air~ a book review by Judy Corbett
pub. Ebury Press © 2004
ISBN 0 091 89731 9
 If ever I have read a book expostulating on the hardships of reviving late medieval castles to their original state, this one is the most illuminating and not misleading in any way. When the author and her husband first view the castle it's a homecoming for two dyed-in-the-wool idealists. She, for actually recalling an all but forgotten childhood visit to the castle and he for his idealist dreams of buying an old ruin and restoring it back to life.
Judy and Peter Corbett are laid down as real-life players in a real-life drama as two romantics coping with stark reality in this difficult-to-put-down narrative. It's written in such a way that if you are not a lover of castles before you read the book then you will surely appreciate those who do when you're finished reading it.
Along with the anecdotal history of Gwydir Castle in North Wales, we get a glimpse of the barbaric practice of selling history like a piece of art. In this instance, however, a portion of Gwydir's Tudor glory is saved from complete historical destruction because a man named William Randolph Hearst bought entire rooms, wood paneling all, before the fire of 1922 which gutted portions of the castle. Because of this, Judy and Peter have the privilege to be the saviors of one room upon buying back and restoring it to its 16th century condition.
Their money-making capers- through room-renting, visitor touring, harrowing film location shoots and even soap-making from wood-ash are as amusing as the mishaps during their extensive restorations, early morning drop-in Japanese visitors and a visit from Prince Charles. This book restored my faith in holding onto dreams and the rewards of elbow-greasing hard work. Even a reader with a passing interest will find this book fascinating !
 With real but dream-y kisses,
The Castle Lady
29 January The Cumbrians are Coming ! The Cumbrians are Coming ! Derwent & Skiddaw  Finally, the county of Cumberland will be up in full force on my web site www.ilovecastles.com with many, many castles for you to see and read about very soon. When you click on England (and specifically Cumberland on that map) you will be treated to a complete listing of castles which still show full or interesting partial remains. Some are renaissance castles but many are medieval and you'll find fourteen more castles than I have previously covered on this blog (The Cumberland Experience April 13, 2006 & A bit more of Cumberland Dec 13, 2007) so there are a lot of new castles to see and read about on this county. There are several new discoveries of mine which did not make it on my list because they are much too remote and on strictly private property which would make it impossible for someone to visit. These may make it to my site eventually but for right now they will remain left alone since it is not my desire to mislead anyone about the accessibility of a castle.
 (Derwent Water froze over recently ! ) This year you will see the north England counties go up on the site regularly and on this blog you will be able to read details about the southern portion of England's castles and grand estates. I'll make sure to tell you when a new county goes up. Northumberland is next which has more than a hundred castles so it will take awhile to put that particular county up on the site. Patience is a virtue !
 Egremont Castle  High Head Castle ruins By now you can see how much heritage and history remains in England to see. I hope this gets you excited enough to go on your next excursion out of our woods and to plunge into the endlessly fascinating wonder of England and Wales. My forthcoming book, "The Castle Lover's Guide ™ to England and Wales" will be chock full of castles to visit and even stay at along with many tips on the easiest way to go castling all over England, Wales and the British Isles. It will be possible to reserve a copy prior to publication so keep visiting the site throughout this year to make sure you don't miss out on the 1st edition.
 Furness Abbey  Greystoke  Piel So what's next on the Castlelady blog, you ask? Well, once you see the text and photos on the Cumberland castles you will know a little more about an extraordinary aristocratic English woman by the name of Lady Anne Clifford. I'm going to tell you a little more about this woman and her life and trials in regaining her purloined inheritance and what extraordinary work she did in not just rebuilding her castles but rebuilding English pride in their history and culture. That's next ! Stay tuned !
 Hutton-in-the-Forest Who am I going to tune in on ?? ?
 The Castle Lady is going to tune in on you !
 19 out of 30 today !  25 January Happy Saint Dwynwen's Day ! ! I'll bet you're saying, "Who is Saint Dwynwen and why should we celebrate?" Well, you don't have to celebrate it but in Wales it would be a terrible shame if you didn't. A good equivalent to our own holidays would be St Valentine's Day because the Welsh celebrate her feast day with cards, flowers, special sweets made in Wales, and poetry for lovers. This patron saint of lovers was the daughter of 5th century Welsh saint and King, Brychan Brycheiniog.
According to legend Dwynwen (pronounced: Duinen) was in love with Prince Maelon Dafodrill but her father refused the match with him and promised her to someone who met with his approval. It is told that she fled to the woods in grief but another version states that Maelon chased her and tried to woo her. In her distress she prayed to God that she would forget Maelon and in answer an angel came to her and gave her a potion which eased her heartache but also turned Maelon into a block of ice. Upon this, she was given three wishes and she made her first wish to free Maelon from his icy statue grave, her second that she would never fall in love again or marry and thirdly that God would always answer her prayers on behalf of all lovers. It is believed that all who pray to her will find true love or are cured of their lovesickness.
To see evidence of her actual person you can visit the convent where she lived as a nun on Llanddwyn Island which is a stretch of land off the coast of Anglesey in North Wales. Her holy well is a site of pilgrimage for hopeful or forlorn lovers.
 The other reason why I celebrate this day is because it also happens to be my Mom's birthday! As a matter of fact you are allowed to celebrate my Mom's birthday all week long and she prefers it that way. Saint Mary Jane we call her and if you are so inclined you could write to the Pope and request he make it official. Lord knows she's worked hard enough for it !
 Love and kisses from The Castle Lady !
 23 January The ValleyIn honor of Edgar Allan Poe's birthday this week I thought I would put up one of his best poems. I re-read his story The Assignation again this week and I found something new in it that I had not seen before. Perhaps experience and some heart-ache have changed my perspective a little. I challenge you to read it if you never have taken the time. Enjoy !
Once it smiled a silent dell
Where the people did not dwell;
They had gone unto the wars,
Trusting to the mild-eyed stars,
Nightly, from their azure towers,
To keep watch above the flowers,
In the midst of which all day
The red sunlight lazily lay.
Now each visitor shall confess
The sun valley's restlessness,
Nothing there is motionless-
Nothing save the airs that brood
Over the magic solitude.
Ah, by no wind are stirred those trees
That palpitate like those chill seas
Around the misty Hebrides!
Ah, by no wind those clouds are driven
That rustle through the unquiet heaven.
Uneasily from morn till even,
Over the violets there that lie
In myriad types of the human eye-
Over the lilies three that wave
And weep above a nameless grave!
They wave:-from out their fragrant tops
Eternal dews come down in drops.
They weep:- from off their delicate stems
Perennial tears descend in gems.
By Edgar Allan Poe
 Sending kisses like dewdrops your way !
The Castle Lady  4 January Ye Shall Know Them by Their Fingerprints ! ! ? In the Century Magazine version of Mark Twain's Pudd'nhead Wilson, the second chapter gives an account of how the hero of the story comes to invent fingerprinting through an experimental pastime. This version of the novel was published, in serial form, from December 1893 to June of 1894 and therefore was anachronistic by nature since the discovery was widely published by Sir Francis Galton in the 1892 book Fingerprints in which he sited a University of Breslau thesis dated 1823.
The interesting part of this is not that Mark Twain's idea was unique; it wasn't. What he did by writing about it in fictional form was to give the professional practice of fingerprinting some credibility and widespread acceptance. That, my friends, is the power of a story. Nathaniel West said it best by stating that ,"fiction reveals truths that reality obscures."
If we apply that to people by general principle then we begin to see that our uniqueness is not due only to some biological phenomenon we may not understand but simply by the fact that we have a genuine nature which reveals itself in our honesty and by amplifying our particular individual viewpoint. It is not only our faces which show our differences but our independent minds and thoughts.
Unfortunately, mankind as a whole -in the classroom, at jobs and in public forums- is discouraged or shunned for dissidence or differentiation of opinion. I have seen people shamed or bullied, in many cases, into adopting public opinion as if the person were only being contrary- not exercising their right to have an opinion which contradicts the majority. However, our ability to think for ourselves and independently is our distinction from mere homo sapiens and according to the bible is one of the traits which we share with God.
(Isaiah 55:8 & 9)
When I think about human uniqueness it helps to remind myself that we are not meant to follow always, but to lead with confidence in our own area of knowledge, expertise or talent. We all possess something within ourselves that no other person contains and I believe that God made us that way for a good reason. Perhaps it was his greatest gift to us. Each one of us is a work of art and we have a chance to help form it. This can only happen when we open up to ourselves and examine what we see. People often hide from themselves- not just other people. The practice of busy-ness is most often to avoid introspection. Independence can be frightening and lonely for awhile but it isn't forever. It's how we become a leader and make a true mark in this world.
Becoming yourself is about stopping and taking a good, long, honest look at yourself and seeing the beauty within. You can make it and help others make it along the way and if you wonder if you changed anybody's life you can always take a good look around you- ye shall know them by their fingerprints !
With anticipation for a great year ahead for everyone,
 The Castle Lady
30 December Marvelous Manx Castles You'll most likely be surprised to find out that the Isle of Man, which is off the northwest English coast situated between Ireland's shores and those of Cumberland, has a number of castles. It is relatively quiet, as most small isles are but they hold a yearly motorcycle race- and have for the past 102 years ! - called the TT (which stands for Tourist Trophy) and is the most excitement that you will experience anywhere since they shut down all the roadways to run it. Preparations for it begin in late May and the race itself is in June for two weeks. In order to make sure of the best accommodations at that time you have to book a year ahead, so if you want to go this June you're already too late! They claim to be the road racing capital of the world.
  www.manxmotorracing.com (Manx Classic 2010 in April)
www.steam-packet.com look for the yellow AA signs for the IOM Ferry
It's necessary to ferry over from Morecambe Bay, which is an inlet between Cumbria and Lancashire, Liverpool to Douglas, the island's contemporary capital. The historic capital, however, is Castletown at the southern tip of this tiny island. (The Isle of Man is 32 miles long from north to south and 12 miles wide, from east to west.) Castle Rushen is situated there at the highest point of the town overlooking the marketplace. This medieval castle is among the finest surviving fortresses of its type on the British Isles!
 It is not certain when its origins were erected but the current structure was built by the Norse King Mann Magnus III who died there in 1265 and was buried at Rushen Abbey. The island had been ruled under the Norse kings from the late 8th century but after his death, control was transferred to Scotland upon the Treaty of Perth which put an end to the Scottish Norwegian War of 1263 to 1266. It was started as a central square stone tower keep and continued in fortification and building in limestone from 13th century on through the 16th. Reinforcing towers to the west and south of the keep were up by 1313 and by the turn of the century an additional east tower, gatehouses and curtain wall. Robert the Bruce damaged portions of it on May 18, 1313 but these were rebuilt by 1344 by William Montacute who was King of Mann at that time. From 1405 this island has been under royal rule with the Stanley family, beginning with Sir John Stanley, given the title of King of Mann originally by Henry IV. This title changed to Lord of Mann by 1521 which is held currently by the reigning British monarch.
This is a formidable castle by any standards as the walls of the keep are 12 feet thick at the base and taper up to 7 feet thick at the top up to 25 feet high. Four towers are exceptionally high with one reaching 80 feet on the north side, the others around 70 feet. The entrance is on the north eastern side approached by a narrow, hairpin roadway closed in on each side with high walls. It has a drawbridge entrance with a fortified inner gatehouse featuring two portcullises with murder holes in the killing area. Two guard houses are located on either side of the massive outer gatehouse. The chapel in the South Tower displays a still functioning clock which was presented by Queen Elizabeth I in 1597 when it was under her control. It is protected by a moat and a reduced 17th century glacis*, the latter of which extended as far as the moat circumventing the entire land front of the castle. There are authentic pieces of replicated medieval furniture and tapestries on display throughout the tour current to the 1500s or earlier. The best features of this castle interior are the state apartments and the banqueting hall which is the largest room, of course, with an original fireplace.
*a sloping esplanade just outside the curtain walls which places attackers under direct open fire.
During the Civil War, intrigue kept the castle out of harms way. In August of 1651 the 7th Earl of Derby, James Stanley who was the current Lord of Mann, sailed with two ships which brought Charles the II to Lancashire and 300 Royalists. This was the third phase of the war where Lord James was captured at the Battle of Worcester by the third of September and executed at Bolton Castle in October of the same year. His wife, Countess Charlotte was left in command of the Isle of Man because she had been a successful defender of Lathom House in 1644. She did well until a local uprising by Manx nationalist, Illiam ( William) Dhone convinced her garrison to commit mutiny and was forced to surrender to Parliamentarian forces at the same time as her husband's execution.
Currently it is run by Manx National Heritage as the Historical Museum along with the Nautical Museum, the Old Grammar School and the Old House of Keys (Manx Parliament). During the open season, which runs from March to October, exhibitions throughout the castle include permanent displays and there are re-enactments of various aspects of medieval life on a regular basis, with the emphasis on educating local school children. Their exhibitions include archaeological finds which were carried out in the 1980s.
visitor info: file:///C:/mnh/information
The Lord's Private Dining Hall virtual live panoramic view:
  Tower of Refuge zoom shot Back in Douglas you'll find a bit of a curiosity in the Bay which by all rights and purposes looks like a medieval castle on an island right in the middle of the bay. This is most often referred to as the Tower of Refuge and was built on a reef called St. Mary's Isle. It was built by Sir William Hillary who moved to the island in 1808 and had witnessed and taken part in a rescue mission for a Steam Packet vessel. In 1824 he invented a life boat service which he had manned with a trained crew but he also saw the need for a place for people to wait until they could be rescued. He had John Welch design the tower and it was completed in granite by 1832 on Conister Rock. A bargain at £ 254 (of which half was paid by Hillary) it is kept well stocked with fresh water and bread at all times. It was recently restored by installing a new landing platform, the 12 and 1/2 foot tower refortified and lighting installed. Visiting the tower is discouraged because it is considered to be only for refuge and rescue. Since the tide can come in fast it is considered a dangerous business.
Other attractions at Douglas include the Camera Obscura, horse-drawn trams, the Manx electric railway, the National Sports Centre, Noble's Park, the Regimental Museum, a rest home for old horses, a steam railway and the Manx Museum. The TT starts in Douglas, so of course the grandstand is there and for a little bit more diversion you can visit the Villa Marina.
To learn more:
For Those in Peril: The Life and times of Sir William Hillary, Founder of the R.N.L.I. by Robert Kelly
Shearwater Press Ltd. Sept. 1, 1979
ISBN: 0904980278
 North of Douglas, at Peel, you'll find Peel Castle situated on St. Patrick's Isle (an islet connected to the town of Peel by a causeway) which was also built in the 11th century by the Vikings, like Castle Rushen, under King Magnus II, referred to as Barelegs. Apparently the earlier Celtic monastic construction remains consist mostly of the prominent round tower but a large part of what exists today were Viking fortifications of wood, battlements, walls and towers of local red sandstone. The fortifications were abandoned but St German's Cathedral continued to be used by the local Diocese up to the 18th century. The cathedral also was eventually vacated but new defenses were added to the castle by 1860. Of the castle, much is in ruins with the outer curtain in good shape. Excavations carried out in the late 1980s revealed a large graveyard, Magnus's original wood fort along with a 10th century grave which still contained a Viking necklace and silver coins dating from the early 11th century!
Because of the relatively close proximity, this castle is sometimes confused with Piel Castle, which I covered in my first entry on Cumberland. Piel Castle, which looks quite different from her namesake neighbor out in the Irish sea (upon close examination) is close to Barrow-in-Furness on an island estuary just off the coast of Cumberland. That has been referred to as Piel Island but is also considered a part of the Isles of Walney. There is a distance of about thirty miles between these two castles. William Wordsworth wrote a poem describing Piel Castle in which he spelled it as Peele. He had visited the Isle of Man numerous times and therefore created confusion, however, if one realizes the difficulty in being able to view Peel Castle from his vantage point in reference, one can only conclude he meant Piel Castle and not Peel Castle.
If you find yourself needing victuals at any point you might want to check out Moore's Traditional Curers at Peel. Their specialty is locally caught and smoke-cured kippers which make for wonderful sandwiches.
At Ramsey, in the north most portion of the island, a footpath called the Millennium Way runs for 28 miles from Sky Hill clear down to Castle Rushen in Castletown. This was paved to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of Tynwald and opened to the public in 1979. Great for walkers, a pastime of which many British people are quite fond.
£5 notes feature Castle Rushen and the pub opposite, The Castle Arms, on the reverse side and £10 notes feature Peel Castle on the reverse, as well, all issued by the Isle of Man Government. They make great souvenirs for a castle lover !
 You'll find larger photos of these castles plus other photos taken on the Isle of Man in a subfolder for Cumberland. Check them out ! The Castle Lady directing you from the remotest to the most accessible !
 (Castles, that is ! )
A New Year's surprise is just around the corner ! 26 December Here's to a... Fleming Rutledge quoted thus :
The authentically hopeful Christmas
spirit has not looked away from the darkness, but
straight into it. The true and victorious Christmas
spirit does not look away from death, but directly
at it. Advent begins in the dark.
 I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas Day ! The Castle Lady
 24 December ' Twas the Night Before... Jesus came
and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.
The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker, with baby on her lap,
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.
 When out of the East there arose such a clatter
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash !
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But angels, proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray,
I knew in a moment this must be the day.
The light of his face made me cover my head
It was Jesus returning just like he had said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
 In the book of life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name ;
When He said, "It's not here", my head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with love,
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound,
While all of the rest were left standing around.
I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only we had been ready tonight!
In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing quite near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call,
We'll find the Bible was true after all.
Anonymous
May the peace of Christ coming fill your hearts with joy this Christmas !
The Castle Lady, with love !
21 December Love at Christmas Are you willing to believe that
love is the strongest thing in the world -
stronger than hate,
stronger than evil,
stronger than death -
and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem
nineteen hundred years ago is the image
and brightness of the Eternal Love ?
Then you can keep Christmas.
-Henry Van Dyke
It's the first day of winter ! !
Hurray !
 The Castle Lady with snow-y and blow-y kisses ! Not a snowflake in sight !
  20 December Christmas Around the World Last year I put up photos of various famous places around the world, castles and other monuments with Christmas decorations. I decided that the response was so enthusiastic I'm going to do a few more this year.
Enjoy ! - The Castle Lady
 Christmas in D.C., Washington, D.C. that is ! Arlington National Cemetary in D.C.
 Frankfurt
  Vatican  Tokyo Cele Nadelik at Pendennis, Wales
  Guess ? Many happy wishes come your way from me this year !
Watch out for my Ferrari sleigh ! The Castle Lady LOL
 Stay tuned this coming year for an explosion of photos and entries on English and Welsh castles here and on www.ilovecastles.com |
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