Stargoose Returning And Castle Rising

Stargoose Returning:

After nearly a year since my last post it seems a good time to apply the fingers to the keyboard once more - hope other people think so too. Whether posts will appear with the same frequency as before remains to be seen, but here is the first of what I hope will be many.....

Castle Rising:

Tucked away, just a little off the beaten track, not far from Kings Lynn in North Norfolk, is the  village of Castle Rising, where there stands, believe it or not, a fine castle. On the morning when I paid a visit I was told by the charming lady in the ticket office that I was the first customer of the day so I had the place to myself. A  whole castle for £4, now there's a bargain!

The original castle dates from 1138 AD, during the reign of King Stephen, and was built for the son of William d'Albini, who was a senior member of the entourage of William the Conqueror. Although it was a superb defensive site it was also a statement of power and dedicated to his wife, the exquisitely-named Adeliza, who was also the widow of King Henry I.

Although most of the roof and many of the internal floors are missing - see the row of holes on the right-hand wall that would once have supported the flooring joists - pretty much all the walls are still standing, making it the most complete Norman keep in the country. There are many narrow passages and winding staircases just waiting to be explored by the young boy who still lurks secretly within me!

And views out to the surrounding countryside....

The most famous time in the building's history was in the mid-fourteenth century when it was home to Queen Isabella, "the She-Wolf of France", after she had been involved in the murder of her husband Edward II, and then ruled as regent during the reign of the young Edward III. Not at all like our own dear Queen!

After much poking about it was time to venture outside once more...

.....and to walk around the mighty ramparts which are still 120 feet high in places and cover an area of 20 acres. By the time you'd climbed up that lot in a suit of armour you'd be in no condition to fight!

From the vantage point of the earthworks you can view some of the fine decorative stonework on the exterior of the castle...

....or look down on the remains of the Norman church which once stood at the entrance to the castle...

Or you could just gaze at the sheer magnificence of this ancient stronghold...

Not a bad deal for four quid!

Take care.