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30 maggio To Pray or Not to Pray~ Is that the question?vocatvs atoue non vocatvs Deus aderit
( Bidden or not bidden, God is present. )
I have seen an interesting trend among Christians that alarms and saddens me. I understand that people do get bogged down in everyday trials and tribulations sometimes- that is unavoidable. We are living in vicarious times and problems are bound to get the best of us occasionally. What concerns me though is that many of our sisters and brothers make the assumption that everything they do is sanctioned by God and that he will follow you to the end of the earth. This may or may not be true depending on the status of your heart and what kind of a life you're leading. Do you desire Him above all else or has he become your "sidekick"?
 Some years ago I wrote a short article titled, "The Man in the Caboose". Without giving you the entire writ, it was in essence about the way people are insistent about running their own life- insisting on taking the main controls and treating God like the man in the caboose. (Only around for emergencies and handy for blaming when everything goes wrong.) You see, this attitude assumes that God only jumps in when we get out of control when, as a matter of fact, our control is illusory and we haven't allowed Him to intervene in our affairs. Prayer is a supplication for God's intervention in our affairs, attitude and circumstances.
Quite a few years ago I picked up a book when it was new (it was published in 1985) titled The Seduction of Christianity and subtitled "Spiritual Discernment in the Last Days". In it, Mr Hunt and Mr McMahon give a compelling argument against the increasing acceptance of positive and possibility thinking, healing of memories, self-help philosophies and holistic medicine among Bible believing Christians today and how this deception is the beginning of the Apostasy written about in the Bible. They expound on the dangers in accepting these wide-spread beliefs which are presented as though they are a supplement to your faith rather than a contradiction to the clearly stated precedents set down in black and white in the Bible. Nothing about the apostasy appears evil. It appears to offer solutions, often, to problems of which may not be obviously offered in the Bible. (This is why it's so important to study the word more and more. Those solutions are always there! )
Some very good points and exposés in the book are as follows:
"Not only liberals but conservatives as well are being seduced in overwhelming numbers...What the secular world calls "mind power" many Christians confuse for "faith"."
"Psychological methodologies...such as Scientology, The Forum (formerly EST ), Lifespring, and Silva Mind Control... the ability to exert "mind over matter". Also TM= Transcendental Meditation
"Humility is out and self-esteem is in."
"Not just individual Christians, but churches also now pursue success, and the larger the church the more successful it is considered to be."
"Napoleon Hill's books are offered at Christian bookstores across the country and recommended by numerous Christian leaders."
"Yet it is Hill's teachings about the mind that are far more dangerous than his emphasis on wealth."
"...They recommend him and his books highly, which contain occultism that they apparently overlooked."
Hill states:
"...I discovered there is a group of strange beings who maintain a school of wisdom....The school has masters who can disembody themselves and travel instantly to any place they choose....to give knowledge directly, by voice."
"The "Supreme Secret" they authorized Hill to "reveal" to the world has been preserved in occult tradition for thousands of years and reminds one of the serpent's offer of godhood to Eve: "Anything the human mind can believe, the human mind can achieve."
"This is the sorcerer's counterfeit faith and is the basis for what the secular world calls PMA (Positive Mental Attitude)."
"Far from having the gracious and loving but sovereign God as its object of trust, "power of belief" enables those who have been initiated into its secrets to command forces to obey their thoughts."
"Anyone who imagines that because he thinks certain thoughts or speak certain words God must respond to him in a certain way, has slipped into sorcery, and, if not playing God, is at the very least attempting to manipulate God."
"The only supernatural powers that Christians are to exhibit are called "gifts of the Spirit." (through the Holy Spirit)
"We are not condemning everything else a Christian leader writes or speaks simply because he quotes Napoleon Hill. Yet it is because Hill is mixed in with so much good that his concepts are accepted. This is why we must contend for the purity of the Word of God without addition of the deadly deceptions that slide in unless we are on our guard."
Many of us, myself included, if we are honest about it- have at one time or another accepted ideas as Christian in our mind when they are, in fact, not sourced from the Bible at all. We came to accept them, more than likely, because we heard those ideas expressed in our VERY OWN CHURCH ! The most dangerous part of all this, in my opinion, is that our very prayers may be used in the fashion of using God to get what we want when we ought to be using prayer to find out God's will. If we love Him like we ought to, we want to please Him because He knows what is right for us. Prayer is the best way to find out what God's will is for your life and that is where real power lies ~ not in a false belief in your own abilities. When you see that difficulties have become overwhelming and you are tempted to lift up prayers only against circumstances remember that God always listens to and answers prayer. However, we may not get the answer we wanted but we will definitely get the answer we need.
There is a new "Nathaniel Hill" on the block, Eckhard Tolle, author of A New Earth and he has a powerful advocate- Oprah Winfrey. I like Oprah, just like every body in America's households, but the woman embraces every so-called "light-bearer" that comes across her path. (Come on, you know that's true!) This book touts the same Eastern "theological" techniques that have been supported by churches whose real bible is "The Science of the Mind." One would be smart to question this so-called new consciousness. It is the same old deception wrapped in a new pretty cover with pretty but mostly untrue and un-Christian ways of thinking.
My most recent encounter with a Christian under serious deception caught me off guard, temporarily, and then I recognized the wrong-thinking and called him on it. This was a man who, among other Christian literary pursuits, operates as a Christian literary agent. In an e-mail to me he wrote: "I and all editors at Christian publishers are frankly suspicious of anyone claiming to have direct communication from God, the Holy Spirit, or Jesus. They are typically the worst-written manuscripts we see, so we know they are not Holy Spirit inspired." He wrote this having not read a word of my book or the detailed e-mail proposal I sent him. I don't trust his sweeping statement, either. I doubt very much that he speaks for the entire Christian publishing industry!
 Jesus said," Do you believe in the Son of God? You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you." He also said, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him." Additionally, he said the following:
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me. But you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I said to you."
"Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."
" He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God."
"Then if anyone says to you, "Look, here is the Christ!" or "There!" do not believe it."
"Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
"Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." (John 11:41-42) (Before raising Lazarus up from the dead.)
"Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you." John 14:20 (It doesn't get any more personal than that ! )
"I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it." (prophets and holy men who lived and died before Christ came)
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves"
All of this may make a person back off, in confusion, wondering if prayer really does avail anything. Prayer like any other practice can be perfected but the most perfect prayer follows the pattern that Jesus set for His disciples when he said what we call The Lord's Prayer. He did not ask us to say this identical prayer over and over again, it was laid out like a recipe, or a map or a guideline. First, worship him, then, ask for his will, then, present your needs. In finishing, ask for His protection, guidance and wisdom in your daily walk and acknowledge his sovereignty. By following this pattern you are addressing God in a proper manner, giving Him respect, honor and recognizing His glory. If you pray like this you cannot fall into a pattern of using prayer like a magic wand. We are the friends of God if we recognize and accept what Jesus did for us on the cross. We don't need to pretend otherwise. Blessings to all the true realists- one and all !
Pour mes amis bien-aime', mes meilleurs embrasses, Le Chateau Demoiselle !
 1 John 4:1-4
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Check out my auction photos in the Auction album and: http://castlelady.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!F29367B89E011214!3502.entry
At 4:42 p.m. yesterday ( 6/2/08) this blog reached 14,000 hits and it's now way past that. Thanks to all visitors, friends and others!
Your religion is what you do when the sermon is over. - A Mom
24 maggio Northumberland is Castle Nirvana! Part Six The South Tyne Valley contains an amazing concentration of castles. One reason why may be that this portion of Northumbria runs along a sizable length of Hadrian's Wall. The English Middle March, with Chipchase Castle was one of several garrisons set up for it, along with Harbottle and Alnwick, the latter being the administrative center. Use of the stones from Hadrian's Wall to build other edifices- including castles- was commonplace The big names here were the Ogles, Collingwoods, Fenwicks and Widdringtons. They were the wardens which first appeared during the early part of the 14th century, when security was at its worst. It was, at first, the Dacres, Cliffords, Percies and Nevilles but eventually the system became a little more fair and under Elizabeth I it was insisted upon that the key posts be paid by inland people, on salary and allowances, whose personal interests did not conflict with those of the state.
Arbeia Roman Fort, which is where Hadrian's Wall originates on the eastern portion is seated on Newcastle's coast on the South Shields side of the Tyne across from Tynemouth Castle. The photo in my album shows the gatehouse and if you visit it you'll find it complete with barracks which were also totally reconstructed. It's necessary to take the ferry to visit it but it'll be worth it. To the west of Arbeia was Segedunum which, today, has a bath house and museum and is located at the boundary of Greater Newcastle at Wallsend. The nicest aspect of touring this city are the proximity of historic buildings with vibrant modern architecture. Newcastle does this very well !I have added Castle Garth, a restored tower on St. Nicholas St. within the city of Newcastle to the photo album, so take a new look at the ever expanding Northumberland album! Don't miss the Hancock Museum while in Newcastle, either. It has had a L26 million makeover and when it reopens in 2009 will be the most spectacular combined art/planetarium/antiquary/natural history museum in Europe. In short, it is the museum of museums! For more info www.greatnorthmuseum.org
At the southernmost boundary of Newcastle, Hylton Castle and Washington Old Hall are almost neighbors with Hylton being located at Sunderland and Washington Old Hall five miles west of there at Washington Village.
The tower that remains at the Hylton estate is a redesigned version of the original gatehouse-style fortified manor house which was built by Sir William Hylton around 1390-1400. There are no official records to show the style or the coat of arms which are displayed on the west front wall but from research done by two women in the early part of the 1900s it has been determined that there was also a hall, four chambers, two barns, a kitchen and chapel in addition to the castle itself. In the 16th century floors and galleries were added to the Great Hall and later in the early part of the 18th century Baron John Hylton severely redesigned the interior by placing larger windows in Italianate style and building a north wing. His son who was also named John built a south wing and crenellated both wings, replaced the circular turret- which was situated on the north end of the west front- with an octagonal turret and restored the main central entrance. He died in 1746 leaving no heirs to take it over and various owners failed to keep it maintained.
In 1863, William Briggs bought the property and tore much of the building down- north and south wings- , gutted the interior and added different windows. This, too, fell into disrepair and by 1950 the townspeople insisted on the historical property to be dealt with by the local government. The resulting refurbishment stripped Hylton Castle down to what remained of the medieval masonry and the exterior now displays medieval heraldic shields. It is owned and maintained by English Heritage as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. They also keep the Hylton Dene and St Catherine's Chapel maintained. Their 200 acres of ground is worthy of a stroll around and is a conservation site.
George Washington commemoratives are displayed at Washington Old Hall in district four of Tyne and Wear. This Jacobean mansion is in the care of the National Trust so the original 12th century portion has been reincorporated with the more recent additions of the Great Hall and 17th century kitchen and décor of the period throughout the home. Some of the memorabilia will definitely be of interest to United States citizens as this was the home of the ancestors of the Father of Our Country !
T- 0191 416 6879 washingtonoldhall@nationaltrust.org.uk
Now, heading west toward Ponteland two edifices there, Kirkley Hall and Ponteland Castle are now mere monuments rather than ruins. The ruins of a tower stand as part of the Blackbird Inn at Ponteland which has been incorporated with a barrel-vaulted basement This existed as a courtroom and chapel in 1256 and was connected with the Bertrams of Mitford. From them, it was granted to William de Valence, the Earl of Pembroke and by 1324 passed to David, Earl of Athol, by marriage. It was raided by the Scots in 1388 and Aymer de Athol was taken as captive from the castle to Scotland by the Douglases. It was rebuilt in the 17th century but was left to ruination. Today it exists only as part of the pub, but an historical placard cites the remains on the property and gives the history, and where the remains are located on the premises.
The Kirkley estate encompasses a farm institute and land studies campus of Northumberland College in addition to the historic country mansion itself. Acquired by the Northumberland County Counsel in 1946, this was a tower in its beginnings which was situated near the banks of the River Blyth built by Sir William de Eure in 1267 and it was registered in 1415 as his home. The Ogles acquired it in the 17th century and by 1632 Cuthbert Ogle had built a new house close to the site of the old tower. It passed through the hands of many members of the Ogle family for the next 280 years when they disposed of the estate and the hall passed over to Sir William Noble who was the owner when it was damaged by fire in 1946. William rebuilt it but not to its former state and very reduced. It is only available for weddings, corporate and social events. The grounds include ornamental gardens, fruit trees and greenhouse plants.
Moving south toward the Tyne from there on the north bank, Bywell Castle remains are still existing from the original founded by Guy de Balliol sometime after 1094. Basically, a tower remains worth seeing. It was mentioned in records by 1122 but was never completed, apparently, as it states that a gatehouse, curtain wall and tower of an early 15th century castle were left free standing but "beying the heyght of a man above the ground, which were never fynyshed". This most probably referred to the curtain walls, which no longer are in evidence. The earliest reference to the castle was in 1464 when Henry VI fled to it after the battle of Hexham. He only took shelter for a short time and then fled before Lord Montague showed up. The King's sword, helmet and crown and his horse's belongings were left behind for Montague to find. Other old survey records from 1570 stated that the Earls of Westmoreland built the tower and gatehouse on the site.
http://www.northofthetyne.co.uk/BywellCastle.html extensive photos and history!
Heading west toward Corbridge Roman site, Nafferton Castle or what is also referred to in legend as Long Lonkin Hall is located on the A69 about two miles west of the Wylam Junction between Newcastle and Hexham nearby to the former Welton Hall and Prudhoe Castle. Legends aside, Philip de Ulecote who was a royal woodsman started to build a tower circa 1215. The Lord of Prudhoe Castle, Richard de Umfreville, objected to his fortification which he could see from his castle. This was during the reign of King John and it was supposed that de Ulecote was holding Richard's four sons captive on the instructions of King John, which was a punishment for Lord Umfreville's participation during the revolt of the barons. After the passing of King John, Hugh de Burgh restored Prudhoe Castle, its lands and title to Richard but without planning permission. With this knowledge he found that de Ulecote had not received a license from the king to build his tower and in 1218 he appealed to de Burgh who issued an order to de Ulecote to cease working on his tower upon which he abandoned the work and what was left gradually fell into decay.
Despite my greatest efforts I could not find a photo of the tower ruins but there are many photos of the forest surrounding it. If you'd like to see those photos be sure and Google it and along with that you'll find the legend which is also fascinating but obviously not true.
Moving further west to the beautiful and ancient Hexham and Hexham Abbey and Corbridge the preservation of medieval streets and homes is in abundance of evidence. At Corbridge you find many historic buildings made with stone from Corstopitum including the Saxon tower of St. Andrew's Church and the parson's 14th century fortified tower house and at the actual Roman site the inevitable excavations have revealed earlier forts, a well-preserved granary, temples, fountains and an aqueduct. Hexham is further west, a busy and ancient market town from the 7th century, fashioned around the church and monastery built by St. Wilfrid which was raided by Vikings in 876. Augustinian monks built a priory and abbey in 1114 on the prior ruins which today is Hexham Abbey and continues to dominate the look of the town. Romans, Saxons and Normans have all left their influence and it's now one of the most important buildings to survive from the 12th century. The eastern façade was added to in 1858 but the rest of the architecture is a splendid example of Early English Church architecture displaying long lancet windows and clustered columns. The south transept has a glorious staircase which leads to the cannon's dormitory. A crypt, built from stone of the former Roman fort at Corbridge are the sole remains of St. Wilfrid's original church. Much more is to be seen by touring this area. Don't miss the Border History Museum near Hallgate.
T- 01434 602031 for Hexham Abbey
Halton Castle is considered Aydon's sister castle since it is supposed that Aydon's plan mimicked that of Halton. They are very close in proximity but Halton is closer (north) to Hadrian's Wall. It's nicest remaining feature is its large rectangular four-storeyed tower with cylindrical bartizans topping the corners. It hasn't been greatly restored however, it's in wonderful shape. In 1305 as the border wars started to heat up the de Reymes family fortified it for protection with permission from Edward I. By 1315 it was burnt and pillaged by the Scots and a few years later English rebels seized it and only a few modifications and repairs were undertaken. Nevertheless, today, even the garderobes remain!
In the 17th century the Collinson family bought the castle and converted it by adding a farmhouse and was lived in as such until 1966. The farmhouse remains on the outskirts of the original castle walls and most recently it was used for some scenes from the film, Elizabeth.
South of Hexham in the Tyne Valley, Beaufront Castle sits high above the River Tyne showing off great views from its towers. It was built as a tower in 1415 and was the seat of the Carnabys from the time of Elizabeth I. In 1687 the Errington family (who had previously owned Cocklaw Tower, remember? ) purchased it and spent L20,000 on the restoration of the gardens, plantations, lawns and hothouses at the end of the 18th century.
In 1841 the house was demolished and the present mansion was built by William Cuthbert from designs by John Dobson using some of the earlier remains as models. There were plans to make the castle a HQ for the government of North England during WWII but it is uncertain whether these plans were carried out. This private residence is not open to the public.
Two miles southeast of Hexham, Dilston Castle is now a 15th century small tower keep built on the site of a former castle. The tower which was, at one time, four storeys high was incorporated by 1622 into Dilston Hall. That portion was then demolished and the tower that remains is the 15th century tower. This also is private property.
As we head west toward Housesteads Roman Fort there is a plethora of castles which cluster around the fort and Haltwhistle which is considered the precise center of Britain. If you draw latitudinal and longitudinal lines centering on land only, the mid-point rests on this ancient town. Right on the bank of the South Tyne, it's the closest town to Hadrian's Wall at its midsection and Northumberland National Park, both being only 2 miles distance. In 2007 it had the distinction of winning the Northumbria Bloom Award for Best Small Town.
The castles along the South Tyne border in their various states of Grade Lists and classifications are Featherstone Castle, Ridley Hall, Willimoteswick, Bellister, Blenkinsopp, Thirlwell, and Whitley Castle. The closest of these to Haltwhistle is Bellister and Featherstone which are within a few miles south.
Bellister Castle is actually a 15th century tower in ruins adjoined to a more recently built house. When you look at the photo you'll see a distinct and apparent difference. This type of "preservation" is rather rare to see and looks very unusual, of course, because in Bellister's case no attempt has been made to make the ruins appear a part of the new structure. This is a private property.
Featherstone, three miles south on Broomhouse Road, was originally a medieval manor house. William the Lion gifted this house to his daughter Isabel upon her marriage to Robert de Ros in 1191. From that time clear into the 16th century it was passed down the long line of Featherstonhaughs and only occasionally being owned by heirs not of their line. Before his slaying in 1530 at Deadman's Haugh by a party of the Ridley family, Albany Featherstonhaugh, who had been given title as High Sheriff, sold the castle to Lord William Howard and thereafter the castle changed hands quite often until 1844 when James Hope Wallace married into the Featherstonehaugh family and succeeded to the estate of his uncle Lord Wallace. He took his name but forfeited the title most likely because-being a retired Colonel it would have put him in a tax bracket he wouldn't be able to afford! From that time on it has served as a private boarding school, and other public uses. Currently, it can be rented-out for parties, festivals, self-catering holidays and vacations.
The oldest part of the building is a hall house within the west range which was erected circa 1330 by Thomas de Featherstonehaugh. In the early 14th century the square pele tower was added to the building, which turned it into an L-plan. It was not remodeled again until the 17th century when it was most likely Gothicized but not fortified by any means. By the early 19th century the grounds were enclosed with an outer wall, adding turrets and gateways making it look very much like a fairytale castle rather than a genuine medieval castle. The photos in the album will amaze you with its "pristine" look and when you visit the old tower it will amaze you to know that it is now over seven hundred years old ! If you do further research on the internet for Featherstone you're sure to stumble upon the ghostly bridal party legend. What might be more interesting is the feuding between the Featherstonhaughs and the Ridleys!
more pics up close click below:
T- 01434 320202 Mr. Clark
Two castles nearby in an easterly direction are associated directly with the Ridley family. These are Willimoteswick and Ridley Hall both of which are very close by to Bardon Mill, a short distance east of Haltwhistle and very close together only half a mile from the A69 trunk road. The Willmontswick family occupied the fortified manor house in the 12th century until it passed into the hands of the Ridley family in 1279. I am not sure why the distinction in name came about but both names are used interchangeably with the manor house (which is also spelled Wilimostewick) but the family name was definitely Willmontswick.
The original part of Ridley Hall are the cellars of this large Georgian estate known to be in the possession of the Ridley family from 1567 or possibly prior to that date. Bishop Ridley was born in the tower of Willimoteswick, the same Bishop Ridley who was burned at the stake in 1555 and was baptised in Beltingham Church very close to Ridley Hall. (He gave a very interesting account about his boyhood on record which I am going to include in my forthcoming entry on castle nomenclature, terms and informative facts!) In addition, Ridley Hall is directly connected to the Bowes-Lyon family which is the line that our current Queen Elizabeth originated from through the connection of Glamis Castle in Scotland !
Ridley Hall was rebuilt in 1743 after a fire devastated the mansion. It was rebuilt in the Georgian style then passed into the possession of the Lowes family from nearby Allensgreen. The entire family died within a few weeks of each other except for one daughter, Mary Ann Lowes. In 1818 she sold the estate to Thomas Bates (who owned Halton Castle ) for L12,000. He refurbished and improved the estate and in turn sold the Hall to the Rector of Haltwhistle, Rev. Hollingsworth for L16,300. Inexplicably, Bates continued to live at the Hall until 1830 when he and Hollingsworth had a falling out. (Maybe he outstayed his welcome! )
After that year it was purchased by Sir John Davidson of Otterburn (which is in the Cheviot Hills) for his wife, Susan Hussey Elizabeth Jessup (the granddaughter of the 9th Earl of Strathmore), which is where the connection with the Bowes-Lyon family began.
Susan was a garden enthusiast and so she landscaped the 33 acre estate and laid out sixty-five flowerbeds. This was redesigned and increased with rhododendrons, azaleas, flowering shrubs, snowdrops and daffodils by Miss Muriel Bowes-Lyon sometime during the 20th century. From Susan the house came into the possession of John Bowes (of Bowes Museum in Durham fame) and then Hon. Francis Bowes-Lyon who rebuilt Ridley almost to excess in the neo-Tudor style after 1891 since it had fallen into decay by that time. There are eight bedrooms on the first floor and eight more on the second which housed his seven children. The west wing was converted to kitchens and servants' quarters and beautiful woodwork was placed throughout the public rooms and staircase with stunning fireplaces one of which was placed in the dining room and came from Mottisfort Priory in Hampshire. Another stone fireplace in the main hall dates from 1639.
The north Pennine way goes through this property which borders the Allen Banks, a nature reserve owned by the National Trust. Today the hall is offered as a venue for weddings, conferences and holidays even though it is still a private residence!
T-01434 344282 rhadc@fsmail.net Alistair Myers (manager)
When you head five miles northwest of Haltwhistle and almost to Greenhead you will find two castles, Thirlwall and Blenkinsopp, which are in close proximity. There is even speculation that the two were connected by a tunnel but when investigated it was found that the beginnings of an underground passage existed but uncertain that it continued for the one and a half miles between them. What is certain is that both are in overgrown ruins. Thirlwall, a motte and bailey very close to Hadrian's Wall, was built using stone from it during the 12th century. Extensions were built and it was made into a fortified hall between 1330 and 1350. No attempt to restore it was made and by the 17th century it was derelict. Much of the original building fell into the river during the 20th century. Only in the past three years has any reparation been made and what remains can be viewed in safety.
Blenkinsopp Castle is also in ruins but it was altered so much that it isn't easy to imagine that it once was a formidable border stronghold. It is apparent that it was also built from the stones of Hadrian's Wall. Part of the building is still in use as a pub with a portion of the medieval outer wall and the tower standing. It is supposed that the original remains may be buried in the ground. The original medieval tower house was an L plan, for which license to crenellate was given to Thomas de Blencansopp in February and May of 1340. By 1541 any extensions which may have been built had become decayed with a ruined roof on the tower.
It received new life when the newlyweds, the Coulsons of Jesmond took it on in 1877. They enlarged and rebuilt it in Tudor style for the next three years. The black and white photo I have added above and in the album shows off this restoration. At some point it became a hotel but burned down in 1954. Parts of it were dismantled in the 1960s and then more taken out by 1986. When you look at the most recent pictures of the ruins you will still be amazed at the structure!
The Castle Lady, amazing you with deep affection !
Coming up, Part Seven will finish S. Tyne by covering Whitley Castle at the
Northumberland/Durham border of Allendale plus back toward the Cheviots to finish !
20 maggio Ye Flowery BanksRobert Burns, born January 25th in 1759 at Alloway in Ayrshire (which is southwestern Scotland) was a farmer and farm-laborer almost all his life. He never traveled further than ten miles from his birthplace until after his 28th birthday. His poverty drove him to publish his poems so that he could emigrate to Jamaica with the money earned. His book met with great success and he traveled to Edinburgh but he became disillusioned with the fanfare and went back to a small farm at Ellisland. With his family, he had limited success there in farming and a government job, so he moved them to Dumfries. His true wealth was in his ability to make an easy rhyme of English. He was always in love no matter his marital state and his verses- whether song or poems- show it but his greatest work is in his Scots dialect which you will read below. Within ten years of moving to Dumfries he died (in 1796) only thirty-seven years old and nearly impoverished. Today he is Scotland's most famous and beloved poet.
How can ye blume sae fair?
How can ye chant, ye little birds,
And I sae fu' o' care?
Thou'll break my heart, thou bonie bird,
That sings upon the bough:
Thou minds me o' the happy days
When my fause luve was true!
Thou'll break my heart, thou bonie bird,
That sings beside thy mate:
For sae I sat, and sae I sang,
And wist na o' my fate!
Aft hae I roved by bonie Doon
To see the woodbine twine,
And ilka* bird sang o' its luve,
And sae did I l' mine.
Wi' lightsome heart I pu'd a rose
 Frae aff its thorny tree,
And my fause luver staw* my rose
But left the thorn wi' me!
 Robert Burns
* each, *stole
Leaving you sweet rosy kisses, The Castle Lady ! 12 maggio Northumberland is Castle Nirvana! Part Five Marches of North England refers to a system which was more contrived than organized, of invasions and counter-invasion between the Scots/English borders. It was a type of policing by well-known families (Dacres, Percies, Nevilles, Ogles, etc. on the English side ) which had limited success. It was, in fact, "a perpetual theatre of national revenge." Because raiding made farming hazardous, unpredictable and made poverty commonplace, commodities we take for granted- grain, butter, etc. had to be imported from other counties sometimes as far away as Suffolk!
The entire border area was divided into three marches, East, Middle and West. These existed on the Scots side as well as the English side. The East March covered a good portion of northeast Northumberland and was bordered on the south by the Aln River. The Middle March covered the rest of Northumberland which included Tynedale (now divided by north and south), Redesdale and Belingtonshire in the Palatinate. The West March was primarily Cumberland which had garrisons at Carlisle Castle, Askerton, Bewcastle and Rockcliffe.
The former East March of today includes quiet beaches along the north coast. I have included new photos of Spittal Beach which is typical of the entire east coastline of Northumberland broken only by the occasional ancient castles, which I've already mentioned. There are a few more along these areas and further inland which I haven't covered thus far which deserve mentioning.
Neighbors to Dunstanburgh, Alnwick, Warkworth and Newcastle Castle include Preston Tower, the Vicar's Pele tower at Embleton, Howick Hall, Craster Tower, Edlingham Castle, Cragside House and Cartington Castle. Tosson Tower, Hirst Castle, Ogle Castle, Cockle Park Tower, Capheaton Hall, Meldon Park and Mitford Castle cluster around Morpeth Castle which is a genuine castle hotel. I will also be covering Seaton Delavel Hall which is very close to Newcastle at Seaton Sluice facing away from Whitley Bay. This whole area is not only teeming with castles and castle ruins but the scenic expansive beaches of Beadnell and Embleton Bay along with the cliff tops and pretty fishing villages further south will fill you with awe. Further south the modern marina of Amble near Warkworth and the rare birdlife at Newbiggin and Druridge Bay will keep you enchanted. It's not often one gets to combine history with beautiful beaches to enjoy. Northumberland truly has it all.
Dunstanburgh is surrounded by quite a few pele towers. Preston Tower is a restored pele tower which contains furnishings depicting life during the 16th century. The seven feet thick walls were built by Robert Harbottle in 1392 with four towers only two of which remain. This is one of seventy eight pele towers which had been erected along the northern border by the 15th century. It is located a mile east of the A1 and is seven miles north of Alnwick Castle. A short distance south of there on the B1240, Embleton Tower was built during the same period but is a vicar's pele and has three storeys which is typical for such edifices and was also crenellated. The photo I have included of it is shrouded with surrounding forest and foliage. Craster Tower appears to be a restored pele tower which was given additions. The original pele was built in the 15th century and the extensions sometime around the 18th century. Most likely the tower was restored at that time. This is still used as a private residence and is not open to the public.
Happily, this is not the case with another restored early 14th century tower, Howick Hall. This magnificent former tower house which is six miles northeast of Alnwick Castle, was owned by the Grey family ( of Earls Grey and Earl Grey tea fame ) from 1319 to 1963. Although the original tower house has long been demolished it was described in a 1715 survey as "a most magnificent freestone edifice in a square figure, flat-roofed and embattled with a handsome court and gateway on the front". The Georgian Hall was originated by a Newcastle architect, William Newton in 1782. In 1809 George Wyatt was hired to make an expansion involving a change to the front entrance which had him moving it from the south side to the north, building a terrace there in its place and linking the front hall with the east and west wings on each side.
Even this was taken out by a devastating fire in 1926 involving the central portion along with the furnishings and placements of the top two floors. It was rebuilt in 1928 by Sir Herbert Baker who made major alterations which were unorthodox by any standards. He changed the north façade by placing a portico above the front hall trying to make the appearance smaller with an open well in the center and a rotunda links the front and back ground floors.
In 1973 the grandson of the 5th Earl Grey, who had been the last of the Earl Grey line, Charles Baring converted the west wing into living quarters for his family and are current residents. The 5th Earl (who also was Charles) miraculously paid off his ancestors' debts before his grandson took possession and together with his wife Mabel transformed the gardens at Howick Hall into the splendor that is currently on display.
T- 01665 577285 http://www.howickhallgardens.org.uk/housefamily.asp
Edlingham Castle is situated southwest of Alnwick in a remote and picturesque setting beside an old railway viaduct. It began to be built in the 13th century and building continued into the 14th century. Thereafter no restoration has taken place from its inception. It had a rectangular hall with a gatehouse to which a small tower keep was added with curtain walls finishing it. From the mid-17th century it has been abandoned and much of the stone has been carried off. Even so, if you visit the site, what remains is magnificent and a great place for a picnic.
Cartington Castle joins Cragside Manor near the Rothbury Forest further southwest. While Cragside boasts of prodigious modernizations along with marvelously eclectic Victorian Gothic architecture, Cartington, which is two miles northwest of Rothbury, is very decayed overall but retains portions which many castle enthusiasts will want to see.
Cartington is now in ruins but there was a large complex of buildings associated with the castle at one time. The 14th century tower still stands at forty feet and it had a great hall. It was a Royalist edifice so it was dismantled after the Civil War, however, it was partially rebuilt in the 19th century. It sits on private land but it can be viewed from a short distance.
Cragside, on the other hand, was built in the late 19th century for the first Lord Armstrong, gun-maker and innovator. This house has been referred to as "The Palace of a Modern Magician", and it shows everywhere inside, outside and on the beautifully landscaped grounds this estate contains. The architect Richard Norman Shaw, of the Arts and Crafts school, combined so many styles that it looks completely different from various angles and makes this house almost unidentifiable to the casual onlooker. Certainly the effect would be one of the blind men describing the elephant. From the front view it appears mostly timber Tudor in style with the opposite view being one of various Victorian architectural styles combined. Another view taken from the Debden Burn below, makes it appear almost Palladian with its beautiful placement of windows and only the Tudor rooftops make it appear otherwise !
This eclectic palace also has the distinction of being the first house in the 1880s to have hot and cold running water, central heating, fire alarms, telephones, a passenger lift and the entire house supported with hydro-electricity which was installed in 1870. It was built in 1863 to be a modest, two-storey country lodge but Mr. Shaw extended it in what is called the Free Tudor style. It was once equipped with astronomical and scientific apparatuses in a special observatory. The forest surrounding it is, at 1000 acres, one of Europe's largest rock gardens, complete with coniferous trees, a formal garden, the tallest tree in England (59 m tall ) which is a Douglas-Fir, lakes and an Adventure Play Area for children which was opened in 2001 ! There are over thirty miles of footpaths on the wooded estate and an interior tour reveals all the original furnishings and beautiful interior stylings !
T- (01669) 620150
Tosson Tower is about twenty miles northwest of Morpeth and is another of the Pele towers where the brick has been carried off. Not much of it remains. When one gets closer to Morpeth the architecture becomes more interesting but definitely ruinous. Hirst is a medieval tower house which had better days in the late 14th or early 15th century and Cockle Park Tower is a three-storey 15th century tower house which features machicolated corners with embellishments on one side and bartizans with machicolations at the wallhead. The residential building extended and completed the tower. This is now owned by Newcastle University and is private.
Now Mitford is one of the few early motte castles which still exist, in some form, in Northumbria, very close to Morpeth Castle Hotel and sits near the River Wansbeck. It's very ruinous but you can still see quite a bit of indication that it had a unique five-sided keep ( the second build ) and much of the curtain walls which were built in the mid 12th century are in evidence. It has good reason to be in its present state. This was the seat of the Barons of Mitford and it was burned down by King John in 1215 and confiscated by Henry III. In 1318 this was also attacked by the formidable Black Douglas clan on behalf of Robert the Bruce. The second structure of Mitford was finished off during the Civil War. Medieval castle enthusiasts will enjoy the chance to see it.
The Manor of Mitford was held from ancient times by the Mitford family. The old Manor House previously stood, adjacent to the old church of St. Mary Magdalene, on the eastern side of the River Wansbeck. The substantial ruins now standing on the site represent the remains of a 16th century house and of a pele tower built in about 1637. The original house was completely demolished and then rebuilt in 1810. This was then abandoned by the Mitfords when they built the new Georgian mansion, Mitford Hall and Park on the opposite bank of the river in 1828 from designs drawn up by John Dobson. All Mitford lands were owned by the Mitford- Bertram family up until the 1990s ! The current owner of Mitford Hall, the Shepherd family, in partnership with English Heritage have been in the process of restoring the Mitford Castle ruins since 1993. Camellia House, the former east wing of the Hall was refurbished by detaching it from the house and eliminating the northeast wing. I have several photos of this Hall and of Camellia House for you to view in the Northumberland album.
T- 01670 512602 headoffice@shepherdoffshore.com
Seven miles west of Morpeth, close by Mitford, Meldon Park is one of the glorious works of John Dobson and the site was hand-picked by him for Issac Cookson III. On the strength of John Dobson's recommendation Issac Cookson bought the land in April of 1832 from Greenwich Hospital and the first stone was laid in October of that same year. It is occupied by the Cookson family to this very day and the property now encompasses farmland, 2,070 acres of land which includes 171 acres of plantation and woods, a corn mill, a river filled with fish and formal gardens. Its palladian façade also includes an ionic porch entrance with two rows of columns, an unusual feature for such a structure. In the early 1900s Lutyens was employed to decorate the interior and he added mahogany balustrades in the main hall along with other 18th century interior decorations such as marble fireplaces. Today the estate, thanks to all its tenant farmers, produces a voluminous amount of produce which keeps the Meldon Park community quite healthy. Accomodation exists on the property at Dyke Neuk Inn.
T- 01670 772661 General Dyke Neuk Inn 01670 772433
Capheaton Hall has the distinction of being the boyhood home of Algernon Swinburne and was in fact a seat of the Swinburne Baronets, counted among the principal gentry seats of Northumberland. Algernon was born in London on the 5th of April 1837, raised on the Isle of Wight and later at Capheaton Hall which is seated near Wallington, nearby to Wallington Hall. The house was actually built for Sir John Swinburne in 1667-68 by Robert Trollope of Newcastle who was an architectural genius. This provincial baroque "country house" was built from local stone and sports giant pilasters supported with tall bases in the main front with an entablature creating a central bay with flanking bays. It has a sloping roof with vernacular flat-roofed dormer windows. The north front was rebuilt in 1789-90 by a local architect, William Newton. The village of Capheaton was planned and built up west of Capheaton Hall on a ridge in the late 18th century.
T- 01830 530253
Wallington Hall and Ogle Castle are at opposite ends of the time lines for inclusion although you may not know it upon first examination. What remains of the original courtyard towerhouse of Ogle, two miles to the south of Whalton, are no more and in its place a splendid manor estate with perhaps a few remaining medieval structures. The remains of the castle are in earthworks and an outer moat to the west of the present estate which is an L-shaped block with a tower. From the 14th century the Ogles owned the Ogle estate along with Bothal Castle (which I already covered in the Part One entry) up to 1597 when it passed by marriage to the Cavendish family and later to Hollis. I have a current photo of the estate but this link will give you a vague idea of what was actually referred to circa 1660 as Ogle Castle in the midst of battle.
http://www.markeaton.co.uk then look for the Ogle Castle word link !
Wallington Hall, originally an ancient pele, was completely rebuilt in Palladian style by Daniel Garret, around the tower in 1688. The emphasis on the interiors is evident, along with collections of ceramics art and William Bell-Scott's famous paintings of Northumbrian history! It has the distinction of being the house where Thomas Babington Macauley wrote his History of England. It sits close to Cambo, only six miles from the Belsay estates with the beauty of the garden landscaping emphasized since this is still a private residence of the Trevelyan family who have been in possession of this 100 acre estate since 1777.
An interesting 18th century medieval castle folly is visible from Wallington and is called Rothley Castle. There had once been a Rothley Tower on the site from medieval times which had most likely become very ruinous. Sir Walter Blackett, the owner of Wallington back in 1755 also hired Mr. Garrett to design the new castle folly. Today both Wallington Hall and Rothley Castle are under the protection of the National Trust.
Seaton Delavel Hall is a half mile from Seaton Sluice near Whitley Bay. This Palladian architectural marvel built by Vanbrugh for Admiral George Delaval vies in beauty with his other masterpieces which I've covered- namely Castle Howard and Blenheim Palace and it is considered his finest work and is also the last country estate he designed! It took ten years to erect- from 1718 to 1728 and consists of a high turreted corps de logis ( with corner chimneys) which contained the state and principal rooms with complimentary arcaded and pedimented wings forming a huge forecourt. The east wing contained the stables while the west wing served as secondary and service accommodation. Between the two wings the open courtyard spans 180 feet and 152 feet broad !
This estate had been owned by the Delaval family since the days of the Norman conquest. Admiral Delaval had made his fortune from bounty while he served in the Navy and he purchased this estate from an impoverished family member. Later coal mines from the estate continued to build his wealth. The admiral, himself and also Vanbrugh never were able to see the house in its finished state as both passed on before its completion. George's nephew Francis was the first heir to the estate. From 1728 on it has only been lived in for brief periods of time as it passed into the hands of many heirs.
A fire in 1822 gutted the centre block but it went through restorations in 1862, 1959- 1962 and most recently 1999-2000 ! It was finally taken on as a residence in the 1980s by a direct heir, Edward Delaval Henry Astley, 22nd Baron Hastings, and moved into the west wing which he had occupied up until 2007- at his decease. Even with all the restorations many of the state rooms show evidence of the fire.
The interior tour is a delight with the remaining staircases and two rooms which contain family paintings and photographs and royal memorabilia. The garden estate tour is an extra added delight.
T- 0191 237 1493 or 0191 237 0786
 The Castle Lady of course ! I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know. The only ones among you who will be truly happy
are those who have sought and found how to serve. - Albert Schweitzer
Check out my Auction album below! Make a bid ! Today ! Now! I mean it !
 I made my 13,000th hit before 10:30 pm tonight~ Thanks everyone !
 09 maggio More Cake Fun for Mother's Day ! If you've been musing over doing something different for Mother's Day or you just have not a clue what would be a fresh, new idea for the supernatural creature who gave you life I have the solution this year which will delight everyone, including your mother!
How about a great Mother's Day cake made by the hands of
her ever illustrious offspring? Namely, you!
Just say "Zippity-doo-dah!" and let's get started!
Here's how:
Grease and flour one square 8 X 8 X 2 inch and one round layer 8 X 1 & 1/2 inch pans. Prepare any kind of cake batter, the amount of which you will divide between the prepared pans. Make sure the round cake is thoroughly cooled after baking. This will ensure that the small amount of cutting will be successful as it is crucial to whether your cake will be shaped correctly or not.
Place the square cake on an over-sized tray with points away and toward you. Cut round cake down the center, exactly in two pieces and place each half with cut edges against the top side of the square to form a heart shape as shown in the diagram below. Use frosting to "fuse" the pieces together, then frost the cake over all.
You can make the letters for spelling "mother" out of various different items. Red candied or valentine heart, as pictured, are a very pretty way. You can also use chocolate chips if you make a chocolate cake with complimentary colored icing. This is where your imagination comes in so use it to the extreme !
See how easy that was? Now all you have to do is present it to her !
Don't forget to include a big kiss ! !
Bonne Fete de Maman!
The Castle Lady
s U big time ! By the way, this cake can also be used for Valentine's Day, too, of course, with different wording ! 01 maggio Ah it's springtime in Paris and bicycling is the new way to tour! There's a new way to get around Paris that Parisians and tourists have been testing for almost a year now and it's generally a hit with everyone.... Ta Da !
 ..in rolls a rented bike from the racks of
The bikes they rent are easily identifiable so there isn't much chance that the rental bike you choose will look like someone's privately owned bike and you are guaranteed the safety of your bike. You will need to get more info from their web site which is
Everything you need to know about using the service and any advance information can be obtained by visiting this site. Have fun touring Paris by bike and watch out for the little doggies!
Je t'envoi plusiers d'embrasses !
Le Chateau Demoiselle
Dans les Etats-Unis c'est Le Journe'e de Prie're National aujourd'hui.
S'il te plait, fait de prie pour le liberte' de Tibet ! Merci !
Also on this 27th day of Nissan: www.ou.org/yerushalayim/yomhashoah lest we forget
The story of Lily of the Valley day in France !
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