Sizergh Castle: an English fortification dating back 800 years


 Sizergh Castle, Kendal

This evening, I am reporting on Sizergh Castle in Cumbria, near Kendal in the English Lake District and about sixty miles south of Carlisle.There are three facets of this historic property, viz:

  1. Long-standing association with the Strickland family for nearly 800 years. This family supported the Catholic, King James II and experienced time in exile in France during the 17th century.
  2. Gardens, which comprise: a small orchard, herbaceous border, rock garden, wildflower bank, lake, terrace,main lawn, Dutch garden, south garden and a great barn.
  3. The property itself which comprises three floors which feature: old furniture; arms and armour; ceramics and sculpture; pictures; tapestry; panelling; stained glass; and decorated ceilings. The building’s core is  a 14th century tower with further developments as follows:
  • Transformed into a fashionable Elizabethan House in mid-1550s.
  • Urgent repairs in 1770s which included replacement of Elizabethan Hall by Neo-classical saloon.
  • Modernisation in 1897-1902 including a neo-Gothic carriage entrance and new external stairway to the front door.

Onomatology: The first element of Sizergh represents a personal, Scandinavian, name, Sigarith, with the second element erg denoting a summer pasture or dairy farm.

 

 

 Sizergh Castle, Cumbria

 

Herbaceous border

 

Garden scene


Garden scene

The property, together with some 1500 acres of land, is now owned/managed by heritage organisation, The National Trust  and as such is open to visitors with times available on relevant website.

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