No less than 5 different people recommended that we visit this castle. We made sure to add it to our drive to Chester. It was the second largest castle in all of the UK and was built in only three years from 1268 to 1271. Some of the moats and lakes were built later but the Castle went up quickly. There was an attack in the 1300's by 35,000 men but they were unable to take the castle. However by 1640 is was in ruins and continued to decay until the late 1700's. Restoration work continued for another 100 years to get to what is visible today. We really enjoyed poking around and seeing all the parts. While we were looking at the crossbow soldier we heard a child screaming bloody murder. It really helped dramatize the defending of the castle. On the way out we started talking to a man dressed in period clothing. We could have spoken with him all day but we has a very long drive still to go.
A Duclair duck, not an official duck species
This goose was taking a drink
So many Canada geese celebrating Canada Day
Jack Daw don't bother me
The guy on the right gives a scale to the size of the buildings
A very long wall
Bronze map of the site. Water had collected in the moat areas
Flags flying
A big fish was putting up waves
Nice entrance
Over the moat and into the castle we go
The tower to the left is leaning by 10 degrees
Trebuchet siege engines ready to fling projectiles
A big crack!
Dragons live here
Holding up his end of the bargain
Holding up the wall!
Part of the broken tower
Stone projectiles ready to launch
The Great hall
Some areas were still mostly intact
Some were less so
A covered hallway along the top
Unexpected sculptures by Rubin Eynon a Welsh artist: This is named "The King" it is part of a four piece set called "Four Heads"
Thoughts of the sea in his head
The Villain
He is trusted by the King but turns the King against the Wife. The villain has only thoughts of riches in his head.
The Wife is betrayed and the Villain kills the King
The tree of life and a broken heart is in her head
Her Lover flees with the wife
Thoughts of reestablishing the order are in his head and he returns with the wife to reclaim the crown
The broken tower from up on high
Chunks of the wall in the foreground
Inside was pretty nice
Spacious rooms
Scary tiny spiral stairs
Looking out to the picnic grounds
Flying the Wesch flag
Defending the castle by shooting arrows and dropping big rocks
The other half of the castle
Don't fall!
Great towering structure
The area where the arrows were flying and the rocks were dropping
These sparrows were flittering over the water seeming to be fishing
A fine gate and the re-enactor
White Wagtail giving me the eye
Here is looking at you!
A stone circle
Built in modern times
But still pleasing to the eye
It has been 1 year and 26 days since we began our Migration
