Wednesday dawned to rain. Bugger! Tara done in from the mines trip and everything lese this week so reluctantly didn't go out today. In fact only I went out. Popped over to Harlech Castle which was only 8 miles or so, a much more rewarding castle than Cricceith.
Laid siege to in the 1460's during the Wars of the Roses, it was the inspiration for the song 'Men of Harlech' which features in a brilliant- hairs on the back of the neck standing up bit- in the film 'Zulu.' A film much loved by Alec, so once Tara found out this fact about the castle we had to photograph it and send a selection to him!
Weather pretty grotty, even had my winter coat on to walk the battlements. it was once on the coast line but now about a mile inland. During the siege they were supplied from the sea and kept the Lancastrian cause alive in Wales during this period. The garrison commanded by Davydd ap Ifan ap Einion held out from 1461 after the battle of Twthill near Caernarfon until 1468 though it wasn't under attack for the whole time. Raiding parties sent out from the castle eventually became troublesome and the fact the that Louis XI of France funded an invasion of Wales by the exiled Duke of Pembroke meant that the Yorkist King, Edward IV had to rid himself of this Lancastrian stronghold once and for all. He sent an army of around 9000 to raise the siege and in August 1468 the garrison capitulated. Some of the English Lancastrians were executed though the garrison commander was spared, what became of him history does not tell us.
Back to base and explored a little more this time going down across the Ffestiniog railway and down into other fields and woods. Tried to take afew arty photos, my efforts follow. We'd had a brilliant few days in Wales and would love to return. Cymru am byth!
Laid siege to in the 1460's during the Wars of the Roses, it was the inspiration for the song 'Men of Harlech' which features in a brilliant- hairs on the back of the neck standing up bit- in the film 'Zulu.' A film much loved by Alec, so once Tara found out this fact about the castle we had to photograph it and send a selection to him!
Weather pretty grotty, even had my winter coat on to walk the battlements. it was once on the coast line but now about a mile inland. During the siege they were supplied from the sea and kept the Lancastrian cause alive in Wales during this period. The garrison commanded by Davydd ap Ifan ap Einion held out from 1461 after the battle of Twthill near Caernarfon until 1468 though it wasn't under attack for the whole time. Raiding parties sent out from the castle eventually became troublesome and the fact the that Louis XI of France funded an invasion of Wales by the exiled Duke of Pembroke meant that the Yorkist King, Edward IV had to rid himself of this Lancastrian stronghold once and for all. He sent an army of around 9000 to raise the siege and in August 1468 the garrison capitulated. Some of the English Lancastrians were executed though the garrison commander was spared, what became of him history does not tell us.
Back to base and explored a little more this time going down across the Ffestiniog railway and down into other fields and woods. Tried to take afew arty photos, my efforts follow. We'd had a brilliant few days in Wales and would love to return. Cymru am byth!
 |
| Ella, MC & Tara discuss the finer points of crochet. |
