Autumn Visits
By dorjac
11 comments
GJ and I have just had a wonderful weekend.Starting on Friday to Winchester via Dorking. The youngsters runnning the hotel seem to have weathered a difficult year with smiles on their faces. The next day we welcomed 18 friends from different places for a 21st reunion dinner to remember a colleague who took his own life. GJ is no longer able to be chief fixer, for health reasons. We went on to Arundel to a hotel there the same day,after the dinner. I wanted to see the castle and gardens at Arundel. I was told at the dinner that there are steep staircases and dark winding steps in turrets. While GJ dozed in the car I triumphantly reached the top of the keep. Yes it was steep and dark but the views were terrific, weather perfect and I like castles. Founded in 1067(they didn’t waste any time those Normans). I like gardens and trees and buildings. On this one site there are all three. The first photo is at the top of one of the steep flights of steps of I was warned about. The next picture ,twice, is of the white garden through the doorway to the Fitzalan chapel. This is a lovely quiet peaceful place for public use. The castle is in the distance, quite a long stroll away from the chapel. Following on is the gateway to the quirky garden, opened by HRH in 2008, ‘Collector Earl’s Garden’. All the garden ornaments are of massive pieces of oak. Massive oak benches. Oak Arches and urn shapes, tinkling fountains and gushing water. No photos, as all more than 3Mb. The picture of an inedible gourd is less; so to represent ‘the potager’ this is it. More usual term is kitchen garden. It gave me an idea; that when my apple trees look like not performing too well; they will be having a companion to scramble through them! Now we are back on the top of the keep looking out over the river Arun. Back down the steep steps is the a Castlemilk Moorit ram grazing the steep side of the mott. Down the hill to the entrance a view of the massive build of this castle. A quick purchase from a craft fair near the entrance. Presents for in-laws, nieces and their gran at Lewes, after a call into Shoreham Airfield for coffee and cake(Perk for GJ). Home at 11.30pm, after a free trip through the Dartford tunnel. CJ has been out for the count most of Monday after all the effort entailed. By the way Spooky the cat is still asleep, as I write, on the pet cushion on the garden seat. I saw him ,one sunny day, being fussed over on the windowledge of next door between 2 gossiping ladies. So he has it all worked out. I ignore him, as he is handy with his teeth!The sleeping knight on a plinth. I like them too. Friends sometimes recall hysterical laughter from a country church. They found me seriously amused that both Mr and Mrs Knight had missing forelegs. The feet were on the footrest with the usual dog snoozing, but the shins were carefully lined up below.
19 Oct, 2009
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Comments
Glad you enjoyed. You've taken some nice photos.
20 Oct, 2009
Well worth the climb to get these photographs,they are lovely,pleased you had a good trip and thankyou for sharing........
20 Oct, 2009
Thank you for your kind comments. There is a surprising variation in MB content in photos. The quirky garden pictures are nearly all off limits. The kitchen garden was excluded too. The amazing cork oak (Quercus Suber) was awash with megabytes as well as acorns! Close ups seem lower. Now I know why so much GOY content is of one plant or flower.
20 Oct, 2009
Nice photos and blog, do they still have the necklace around the smallest necked queen there. Close to the castle there is small work shop where the father makes jewelry from his daughters disign's is that still there too. My mum bought me a silver ring from him when I was 13.
20 Oct, 2009
Great blog, nice to think that your colleague is remembered in this way. They did leave some great legacies those Normans!
20 Oct, 2009
Hi Drc....I only had 2 hours and on my own, as my husband not well enough to cope with slopes and steps. So I just targeted places on the leaflet from the hotel. I definately was bent on getting to the top of the keep. Ladies at the dinner were saying it is a stiff climb up. I worried that some young ladies might stick in the spiral staircases, as they are very narrow. I didn,t see a workshop anywhere or go in any rooms. The entry charges are in levels with fancy names and it is rather pricey to go in some of the rooms. I hitched a lift down the slope to leave in the disability car, as I wanted to pop into a craft fair over the road.
20 Oct, 2009
lovely blog, i love castles to, makes you think about how they lived all those years ago, bet it was cold in them big places even with the fires burning, glad you enjoyed it :o)
20 Oct, 2009
Your Pics R Fab the Only Castle i love is Leeds Castle & its not in Leeds? Hope 2 go back in May next yr 2 see their Giant Wistria in full bloom :)
20 Oct, 2009
I've been to Arundel once - I seem to remember it, though - thanks for the photos!
Jacque - Leeds Castle was quite close to our previous home in Kent - I know it well! :-))
20 Oct, 2009
:) O spritz i didnt want 2 go home when i 1st visited it about 2yr ago .I loved every minute of the Place :)
20 Oct, 2009
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I like hiking around castles, too, which always have great views from the top of the hill. Better when you don't have to look out the arrow slits! And would that be a haggis grazing so far south?! Surely looks like two legs are shorter on one side! Thanks for sharing your journey.
20 Oct, 2009