Ashby De La Zouch Castle

This castle became a popular place to visit in the 19th Century when it was mentioned in Walter Scott's novel Ivanho (1819). 

The castle was an important royalist base during the Civil War. William Lord Hastings, a political figure was a  supporter of King Edward IV and the Yorkists against the Lancastrians in the Wars of the Roses. Ashby de la Zouch was the creation of William Lord Hastings who was licensed by Edward IV to fortify this site along with Kirby Muxloe, a courtyard residence with a moat. Presently it is closed to visiters so sadly I could not visit. Hastings was also an artistic patron and his wife's sister is depicted in the central panel of an altarpiece by Hans Memling (d1494). 

Hastings was executed for treason after a council meeting in the Tower June 1483, a source of consternation.  When Richard ordered the execution of Lord Hastings as the Council meeting descended into chaos, he was labelled a murderer and that particular piece of mud has stuck ever since. Annette Carson has published a scholarly book Richard Duke of Gloucester as Lord Protector and High Constable of England in which she explains the technical issue of the time. Shakespeare mentions the event in Richard III.

The castle garden was fascinating the rectangular garden was divided by a walkway One half is a broad-level lawn and the other subdivided by high banks and  interlocking spurs. The spurs may be  evoked contemporary bastion fortifications for artillery.  

Here are a few images of the ruin and some illustration of the brickwork used to build the towers.

Bragate Day Two

The clocks went back last night so it was lighter at 06:45 and it was a bonus to see some sunshine despite the chilly start. It was not long before the park filled up with runners, bikers, dog walkers, photographers , families walking and sparing boxers exercising. The red bulls continued to roar and the Fallow Deer croak to show dominance. The hinds could be heard to grunt and bleat gently. Occasionally one could hear clanking of antlers as the young bulls practice their skills and others seriously challenged each other. 

 

Bradgate

 The nature group met at Bradgate to photograph the deer. The weather was challenging it was very windy and low light so the park did not look its best and then came heavy rain. Here are a few images mainly Fallow Deer.  The Red Deer were off into the woods.

Palace of Holyroodhouse, Her Majesty The Queen's official residence in Scotland.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse is Her Majesty The Queen's official residence in Scotland commonly referred to as Holyrood Palace.  It has served as the principal residence of the Kings and Queens of Scots since the 16th century and is now a setting for state occasions and official entertaining.The Castle is the opposite end of the Royal Mile located at the bottom of the Royal Mile.  

Queen Elizabeth spends one week in residence at Holyrood Palace at the beginning of each summer when she carries out a range of official engagements and ceremonies.

The palace as it stands today was built between 1671–1678 in a quadrangle layout, approximately 230 feet from north to south and 230 feet  from east to west, with the exception of the 16th-century north-west tower built by James V. Sir William Bruce designed the 3-storey plus attic classical palace for Charles II, upon the restoration of the monarchy. 

The principal entrance is located on the west front in a recessed 2-storey range that links the 16th-century north-west tower with a matching south-west tower each with a pair of circular angle-turrets with ball-finialled, conical bell-cast roofs. The entry gateway is framed by massive coupled Roman Doric columns, with the carved Royal Arms of Scotland and an octagonal cupola with clock-face above.

Visiting in Autumn gave me a chance to see the trees in vibrant colour in the 10 acre gardens.  The colourful leaves gave a beautiful backdrop to the ruins of the Abbey.

The naked ghost of one Bald Agnes (Agnes Sampson), stripped and tortured in 1592 after being accused of witchcraft is said to roam the palace.  Luckily I did not see any ghost!