Bamburgh Castle on the coast of N.E. England - an impressive structure with link back to 8th century AD



Bamburgh Castle, England.

This evening, I am posting information on Bamburgh Castle, a structure which was lavishly restored by shipping magnate, Lord Armstrong in the late 19th century on a site with a long history of occupation stretching back into pre-history.

Location is about fifty miles north of Newcastle upon Tyne, England on the North Sea coast.


View east from Bamburgh Castle

The name Bamburgh confirms the sites antiquity as it is derived from Bebbanburge, c AD 710-720, which mean ‘Stronghold of a queen called Bebbe’.

As a fortification elements, principally St. Oswald’s Gate, date back to the 8th century but the current castle has evolved from a Norman template with the Keep dating from the 12th century.
Inside the castle, the King’s Hall is a 19th century masterpiece built on a medieval floor plan. This is shown in the video clip at foot of this post. Note the impressive false hammer-beam ceiling held together with over 1300 oak pins. Other rooms include:
  • The Great Kitchen
  • Medieval Store Rooms
  • Buttery
  • Cross Hall
  • Captains’ Lodgings
  • Faire Chamber
  • Armoury
  • Court Room
  • Scullery
  • Kitchen
  • Archaeology Room
  • Larder and Dairy
Bamburgh is the first castle in England to have fallen to cannon fire, in 1464, when under siege during the Wars of the Roses. Henry VI ruled from here for a short period in 1461.
Cliff edge location adds to romantic appeal.

King’s Hall

Interior at Bamburgh Castle.


Entrance Gateway, Bamburgh Castle


Bamburgh Castle

 Video clip of King's Hall



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reconstructed Roman Villa

Image
This evening, I am reporting on my visit earlier today to a meticulously reconstructed Roman Villa in Somerset, England.   Funding for the project was provided by a South African billionaire. Specific features of the reconstruction project which is known as 'Villa Ventorum': Employed hundreds of architects, builders, archaelogists, mosaic makers, fresco painters and experts on ancient plumbing. The new build was built close to the remains of the original villa which dates from AD351. Incorporates the only working hypocaust system in Europe to create authentic Roman underfloor heating. Thne system also provides heating for the internal baths. Designed to appear to visitors as though still in use. Mosaics and frescoes have been made below the top standards of the time (e.g. Chedworth ) to reflect the social rank of the resident family. Incorporates a Roman 'fast food bar' allong the lines of that found in Pompeii . (Core of above information sourced from the Times newspap
Read more

Glen Quaich, one of Scotland's best backroads tour routes

Image
This afternoon, I am reporting the route of Glen Quaich in Central Scotland. This is a scenic, single track road which is usually closed to traffic in winter. The route covers about twelve miles and runs between the villages of Amulree and Kenmore on the northern tip of Loch Tay in Perthshire. Depending on time of year it is possible to encounter low lying snow, many sheep, grouse and other exceptional opportunities for photography. Incidentally, Quaich means a drinking cup. In a certain place the landscape is shaped like a bowl. Glen Quaich, Perthshire, Scotland Glen Quaich Black Grouse at Glen Quaich Here are a couple of video clips.
Read more

Fort Augustus, a popular visitor site on southern tip of Loch Ness

Image
Loch Ness from flight of locks at Fort Augustus, Scottish Highlands This evening, I am posting information on Fort Augustus, a busy tourist village on the southern tip of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. Summary information on Fort Augustus as follows:- Population about 650 persons. Distance, about 160 miles from Edinburgh and 35 miles from Inverness entailing journey times of 3.5 hours and 1 hour respectively. Well endowed with hotels and other accommodation plus shops, restaurants and visitor attractions. From here visitors can avail of boat trips on Loch Ness. Home to an impressive flight of five locks on the Caledonian Canal. Latter dates from 1822 and is now primarily used by pleasure boats. Closely linked with the 18th century Jacobite uprising in that (a) the village was renamed Fort Augustus (after Prince William Augustus, third son of King George II) consequent upon construction of a British military (redcoat) fort in 1742 and (b) the same Prince
Read more