[Duncan]

Joyouse Gard.
Northumbria, off the A 1.

It started out as a hill fort much earlier then some think and  Ida must have refortified the area when he began his rule.
The fort was at first enclosed by a hedge presumably an earthen rampart and later a stone wall. The reference in the
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle mentions this and its a very remarkable statement as its the only one to reference a defensive work by the Saxons.



The name is close to the old Briton name of Din Guayrdi and its town now known as Bamburgh.
It's located in what was the Anglo-Saxon portion of Bernicia which was the Danish territory that in some historys Arthur reconqured for his ally Dubnovalus Lothicus and in other historys was recaptured and used there after by Lancelot.



Many 6th and 7th centuries battles and campaigns are documented using Bamburgh as a starting point.
The most remarkable is recorded in the Northern British History in which the kings of Britons with Penda of Mercia went all the way to Stirling in Scotland.





What is left of a round tower thought to be a signal station on the North approach.

[AJR]

I really like the photos.  May I post a few of my vintage postcards to provide a comparison ?

[Duncan]

Please!! It'll be very interesting.

[AJR]

A few old postcards of Bamburgh Castle, from my collection.

[AJR]

A couple of b/w sketches of Bamburgh Castle scanned from a book I purchased yesterday (undated, but probably around 1950).

Attached thumbnail(s)

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[AJR]

From the BBC Website, 7th October 2005

Apartment in castle up for rent

Flat hunters have the rare chance to rent an apartment inside one of the most striking castles on the Northumberland coastline.

The price tag for the six-bedroom luxury flat in Bamburgh Castle is £24,000 a year.

The Grade I listed building has views of the Farne Islands and Holy Island.

The castle, which has 14 apartments, stands on a basalt crag which was used in Roman times as part of the beacon alert system on the coast.

Castle administrator, Ron Bewley, said "People who live here now don't really want to leave. It's a fantastic place to be."

[Galla]

Well, at least at that price, they won't have to worry about getting any riffraff in there. I bet it is well worth the price. Looks very formidable for a structure - mainly due to size...I bet it was a sight to behold in those days....

[Duncan]

It's really and for the lack of a better word, inspiring? imposing? breath taking?When you stand below the walls in the car park or drive into the gate house.The place has an aura and a feeling of, and here again a lack of better words, don't even think of it!
Yet in the base of the cliff just off the road is a small spring and area with a white cross is a small haven of tranquility.

[Galla]

Definately need to mark that one as a place to visit... Sounds wonderful!

[Duncan]

A word of note or several.
IF your really lucky and have been extremely good most of your life...hmmm well ok... thats not me so that can't be the reason!

Sometimes you get a simi private tour that will take you into the very depths of the basements and the lower vaults which I believe could have been caves at first.
Any way...there is one vault/large room below the main Keep that is of particular interest since it is said that a certain king and his captains used it for gatherings.
The arches are indeed of an older construction and consists of flat layered, thin stone instead of blocks.
Very interesting also are the carvings and symbols in that meeting room.