White Castle, Abergavenny

[sixpence_jones]

We have spent today in the 14th Century and it was huge fun as usual. The ladies sang, the children danced and made daisy chains, the men got to hit each other with swords. We ate pears in spiced red wine and marchpane too.  Rose got a bull in archery and the group were given banana cake by an impressed member of the public which we ate for lunch.

Comments

[bleddyn_coch]

Sounds like a great way to spend the day (unless you're in armour!) - I bet your girls love it. I think your group were involved in a medieval event I went to at Cosmeston a few years ago - the name rings a bell.

My dog's catching up on her sleep now. She's spent the entire weekend torn between wanting to play with the boys in the paddling pool in the sun and wanting to stay in the shade. It's no weather for a shaggy dog!

[sixpence_jones]

The Freemen have been so Cosmeston a few times. It is a great place.

Remus doesn't know what to do to stay cool. The kitchen floor is an option, but lurchers like their comfort too much to lie on hard tiles no matter how cold they are!

Poor Welsh dogs aren't used to these kind of temperatures :o) What breed is yours?

[bleddyn_coch]

She's a working-type bearded collie, so is very hairy! Fortunately all the fur gives her padding enough that she'll happily lie on a cold, hard floor. I'll put up a picture of her once I work out how to put pictures in a post!

[sixpence_jones]

Love collies! I shall come and coo over pictures of her soon :o)

[hexgirl394]

This looks fantastic. I love this kind of stuff. We all went to an English Civil war re-enactment over the weekend and I had to feel sorry for them all in all that leather and armour - it was blistering hot.

We've visited more castles than I can count, but I do love them and I actually don't think I've been to this one.

[sixpence_jones]

Oooh I love the Civil War re-enactments! The costumes are so impressive (even if the gunfire gets a bit hard on the nerves after a while). Where did you go and what group did you see?

White Castle isn't that well known, but it is in a stunning spot just of Offa's dyke and was at one time very important strategically.

[hexgirl394]

The re-enactment took part in my home town of Wigan, which was apparently very important strategically during the civil war. They tried to reproduce the battle in the exact place (Wigan Parish church), and they did really well considering that it is smack bang in the middle of town and much more built up than it was in 1651. I'm guessing that they didn't have either a Primark or a WHSmiths to contend with back then.

Not sure who the group were, but I know they travel around a lot and have been hoping to come to Wigan for a long time but couldn't get council permission to blast off canons and muskets in the town centre. And yes, they are a bit trying on the old nerves, I spent a lot of time with fingers in my ears.

There are so many fab castles in Wales - I think I may have been to nearly all the North Welsh ones - Conwy, is a stunner! White Castle looks beautiful too. It's on the list now :)

Are you involved with a re-enactment group too?

[sixpence_jones]

Yes, my family and I are involved in a 14th century re-enactment group called The Freemen of Gwent. We are a bit before the common usage of gunpowder (thank goodness!) so we aren't that bothered by it. Longbows are more fun anyway :o)

[bleddyn_coch]

Remus is utterly gorgeous!! Those soulful eyes! (You and the rest of your family look lovely as well, by the way!)

[sixpence_jones]

Lol! Thank you!
I think Remus is beautiful, in a moth eaten bathroom carpet sort of way. But he is the dearest dog in the world - so sweet natured and we love him to bits :o)

[sixpence_jones]

We do have a hurdy gurdy actually lol, but it is a very expensive thing and I am too scared to bring it to gigs. Children (and quite a few adults) are notorious for mucking around with re-enacting kit with absolutely no thought to how destructive they can be!