Ailsa’s theme this week is Walls. I know my town is old and has loads of old buildings, but it can be cold, and I think he photo I took today of Dover Castle shows some of the most impenetrable walls in our country. Having been built in the 12th Century, it has withstood so much. The castle started being built by Henry II, and in 1216 Louis VIII of France attempted to breach the castle, but didn’t make it completely through. It stood for years, and when Henry VIII was there, he had a moat added and upgraded the defences to gunpowder. The castle was lost in 1642 during the English Civil War without a shot being fired – so the walls weren’t breached.
At the end of the Napoleonic War, more outer walls were added, making it even more defensible. At the beginning of the Second World War, the secret tunnels underneath were converted to an air raid shelter and then a Command Centre. Gun batteries were installed so that ships in the Strait of Dover could be picked off as necessary.
To this day, the castle has never been fully breached. The walls are between 17 and 21 feet thick. And this castle is right behind my house. Admittedly you would have to scale the White Cliffs of Dover to get there, but it is there.
This is awesome, Alastair. Castle in your backyard? That is fantastic to say the least
It is
Unfortunately though, it’s expensive to to get into
loved learning all of this Alistair…how cool to have a castlein your backyard so to speak
It is
That would be cool to have a castle in your backyard. Can you go in it at night, because that would be awesome.
Sometimes. Occasionally they do ghost hunts there. Haven’t been on one yet. I think one time soon, I will go out with my tripod at night and take a photo of the castle lit up.
How wonderful to live in the sight of such a monunment to time. Lucky you, though – yes! – I bet it’s very cold there right now.
It is. The temperature has heated up by about 10 degrees today.
You live in front of a castle??? That is so cool!
Well I can’t see it, as there’s a cliff in the way, but yes
I agree with the comments above^ very cool to live among such treasures. Thank you for sharing your world.
Thank you Rainey
[ Smiles ] Lovely! Your picture made me curious. I have been thinking: “What are behind those walls?”
Here’s a few links to some of my other posts that have shots from inside the castle.
http://kattermonran.com/2012/12/11/cees-fun-foto-challenge-lines/
http://kattermonran.com/2012/12/10/cees-fun-foto-challenge-ups-and-downs/
http://kattermonran.com/2012/08/12/a-photo-a-day-august-12-2012/
http://kattermonran.com/2012/08/11/a-photo-a-day-august-11-2012/
http://kattermonran.com/2012/08/10/weekly-photo-challenge-wrong/
Very beautiful, grandiose, colossal construction castle, beautiful architecture and design!
Thank you for sharing!
Warm wishes, Alastair!
Thank you
Wow!! Hugs Paula x
Thanks Paula
As a historical fiction buff, I reaLLLy like this shot. How thick are those walls! Amazing!
They are. When you are inside you come to the arrow slits, you can see just how thick they really are
So cool – a castle right behind your house!
It’s great. I’ve been there a couple of times since we have lived here, but it is so expensive to go and visit it.
WOW amazing castle shot…. so cool to be that up close to one. Defininetly on my bucket list to see one or two.
There are some beauties in this country. Although I think the Austrian ones on the mountains outshine them all. But they are built for beauty whereas the ones in this country tend to be built for defence
You are so lucky to live amongst such history and beauty. You really captures this magnificently.
Thank you
this is so cool Alastair. Magnificent view and thanks for the sharing the history and such. I am an armchair traveler tonight