Thursday 7 February 2013

THE ROAD TO MIDDLEHAM



Time and distance has been giving me headaches this week.

In my wip, the boys are making their way to Middleham. 

Sadly, this beautiful castle, Middleham Castle, King Richard III’s home-in-the-north, was only being built at the time. They would have seen the first stage of development – maybe the foundations – as they were passing through and stopping off at Middleham’s market. Taking the time to admire the pictures from the English Heritage site is not good use of time but I’m happy I have an excuse to admire the images of the castle. It has to be said that the castle itself – up-close and enormous - is even more impressive.

In 1203, the roads would have been familiar to any Roman/Romano Briton who was able to travel forward in time. I know a lot more about lych ways, carthorse routes, and drover paths than is reasonable. Then there’s the problem of looking for fords and ferries. In England, the great age of stone-bridge building was during the reign of King John. 

DON'T YOU HATE IT WHEN YOU FIND AN ARCHVILLAIN HAS DONE ANYTHING GOOD?

6 comments:

  1. What a great place. I love getting lost in English architecture. Someday I will get across the pond to see it all with my own eyes instead of via internet.

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    1. Hi Anne
      You definitely should come and visit. We all have castles out in the back garden like that farm in Yorkshire ;)

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  2. That's a real castle? Wow, how awesome.

    ......dhole

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    1. Isn't it AMAZING? I love castles - I toured the ones in Wales once.

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  3. I've never visited that castle even though I've been totally immersed in all things Richard III recently. I must make a point of getting over to see it.

    I see you've signed up for A to Z too :-)

    Rosalind Adam is Writing in the Rain

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    Replies
    1. Hi Rosalind
      I recommend a visit to Middleham it's sooo incongruous to have such majesty down on the farm.

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