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To the left is the Gatehouse.
It is a fairly small medieval red brick building, with a wonderfully saggy roof line and beautiful, stone dressed windows.
Tattershall Castle used to have two moats and the Gatehouse is built between the two.
To the rear of the building is the picnic area and a view of the inner moat.
Tattershall Castle was built between 1433 and 1443, on the site of an earlier castle. It is said that it took almost a million bricks, made of local clay, to complete the building. It was really a manor house built to impress; a show of power.
This set of steps run down to the moat.
I read somewhere that as an alternative to walking in the grounds people could 'take the air' while being rowed around the moat.
I wonder whether this cute little building out to the back could have been the privy...unfortunately the doors were bolted so no chance of checking that out!
The cute little Gatehouse/Guardhouse to the left and the little 'privy' building over towards the right.
One moat runs to the front of the Gatehouse, the other was behind it.
This is the same view from ground level; I took it at the entrance to the castle.
A few minutes later the sky clouded and storm clouds gathered...
I don't know what it was - at first I thought perhaps there had been a speck of something on the camera lens, but then I noticed that it is not in the same position in each photograph.
It varies in intensity, but I haven't manipulated it in any way. What you are seeing is exactly what I saw when I downloaded the photos.
Does anyone know what it could be? Answers on a postcard please!
One final photograph.
In the picnic area we found this small, heart-shaped pear.
I'll leave you with a little snippet of information about Tattershall village.
Perhaps the most famous former inhabitant was Tom Thumb, who measured no more than 47 cms in height. The church which you can see in the photographs has a marker showing where he was buried when he died in 1620, at the age of 101.
One of the large houses in the village has a miniature house on the roof, this is said to be Tom Thumb's house! If I spot it on my next visit you can be sure I'll take a photograph.
One of the large houses in the village has a miniature house on the roof, this is said to be Tom Thumb's house! If I spot it on my next visit you can be sure I'll take a photograph.
Love. The charm of these photos . . . I have no idea what the orange dot is, some kind of reflection . . . .?
ReplyDeleteHello Lynne, It is an interesting place - when I first saw it my eye was offended somewhat by a castle built in brick, but then I began to appreciate just what a mighty task that must have been, especially more than five hundred years ago! I'm looking forward to showing you the interior.
DeleteWhat a lovely bunch of photos of the castle and moat. However, the photo of George, Harry and Toby is truly outstanding! Their matching hats just add to the charm.
ReplyDeleteHello Ms Sparrow, Harry loves wearing hats, especially if they make him look like Grandpa. Toby just likes to be part of the gang, and I tagged along with my camera. I thought they looked cute together.
DeleteThe orange ball could be a spirit?
ReplyDeleteJane x
Hello Jane, I am truly puzzled. I have seen light grey ones, dust particles before, but this one showed up in just four, out of about four hundred photographs, taken that day. Most peculiar!
DeleteSTUNNING. I just love that combination of ancient brick, and stone mullioned windows.
ReplyDeleteHello Cro, I bet the men who won the contract for all those bricks were kept very busy. The brickwork and stonemasonry of the castle are very beautiful - vaulted ceilings, huge stone fireplaces. It is a real celebration of their skills, I loved it.
DeleteOh, Elaine....where do I begin. What a wonderful collection of photos of your visit to Tattershall. I want to reach out and touch the bricks. I think I would be happy to live in the gatehouse....if the red door cottage is not available!
ReplyDeleteHello Meggie, It is a difficult call, you would have slightly more space in the little gatehouse, but only slightly! It could be quite nice to be woken by the sound of church bells on a Sunday morning though. On balance, I think that the cottage with the red door would offer greater peace and tranquility.
DeleteI would gladly come live in that sweet little gatehouse! my favorite photo, though, is the one taken from the top of the castle. I love to see the surrounding countryside. It gives me a terrific mental picture of your world ... what wonderful armchair tours you give us!
ReplyDeleteHello Susan, It really is a sweet little building. Tattershall castle is about 20 miles to the south of where we live, out on the flat lands of the Fens. Because that area is so flat you do get great views! I'm so pleased you are enjoying the tour, I'll be posting soon about the interior of the castle - it is a pretty amazing place.
DeleteOh, more magic from you. Really wonderful. Is that orange circle simply a sun spot? You don´t happen to know a professional photographer you can ask, do you? (Well, one who might give you a straight answer!)
ReplyDeleteCan´t wait for more!
Hello Mitch, I don't honestly know what it is, it just appeared in four consecutive shots, out of approx four hundred shots, taken that day. One of those mysteries, I guess. The interior of the castle is beautiful, Ian wanted to move in straight away.
DeleteBeautiful, I toured this one back in the late 60’s???? I always thought that small building was a dove cote.
ReplyDeleteHello Doc, I can see what you mean. It isn't noted as such on the guide though. There is a small room up in the castle which is fitted out as a dovecote. I must investigate further - thanks for that. If I find out I will let you know.
DeleteThe cute little building looks just the place to have a good read in peace.
ReplyDeleteHello Molly, I think you could be right! I really love exploring these old places - I think a real advantage with this one is that it is so sparsely furnished, you really do get to appreciate the building.
DeleteInteresting place. The orange spot seems to like hanging out by that tree. Is it in the general same spot in the other two?
ReplyDeleteJanet
Hello Janet, If you look carefully at photograph 1 you will see a very faint orange ball, near the bottom, in the middle - part on the grass and part on the gravel.
DeleteIn photo three it is just near that short flight of four steps. What I find intriguing is the fact that it didn't stay in the 'same place' on each of the photos, as you would expect it to had it been something on the lens. I just found it puzzling, and I still do!
SOOOO interesting! Just lovely! I enjoyed this post so much! Oh, and I love your new header photo as well.
ReplyDeleteHello Marie, Thank you - the header is three of my favourite 'boys' walking through the barley field. The castle does have an interesting history even though it was built more for show than for defence. I suppose being the best part of 600 years old would do that anyway, though! It was built on the remains of a 13th century castle, very little of which remains.
ReplyDelete