And so, 'tis May, 2021, nine-hundred years after Norwich Castle's completion and here we are, back again with the builders in. This time we have a big yellow crane and a shedload of groats but I find comfort in the fact that our stonemasons still use identical tools and methods to their mediæval counterparts.
Unlike the days of Henry the First we no longer die so much of arse-gravy mayhem; instead we choke to death in our millions due to governmental incompetence and fuckwits who won't wear masks … 3,390,000 dead as of today and the Indian Variant that our imbecile Dear Leader is ignoring will slap us back into lockdown before much longer. Happy days …
But at least the bluebells are out on the castle mound and the big yellow crane looks cheerful and jolly in the spring sunshine. So that's alright then. This is the view from the stage of the little outdoor theatre in the moat.
And at last that smegging 1960s café has gone and we can see the beautiful north wall of the keep as nature intended (or at least as William Rufus and Henry the First intended). The archæologists have recorded and covered up the remains of William Longshanks' palace and things are moving along nicely.
The Museum opened (pre-bookings only and limited numbers) on Monday and the swear jar in the site office is gasping for groats as the builders are once more on their best fucking behaviour … Sorry; that's a pound in the jar from me …
If anyone fancies this Victorian window in their front room the sign says "External window remove carefully for architectural salvage" so it'll be on sale as soon as they've got it out of the wall. Getting it in the back of your car might be a bit of a bugger, though.
We're up in the keep again now, just below what will be the Great Hall floor level. you can see the original Norman wall on the left, with some of Gitty Soane's crap brick repairs in it; the arch is Boardman's from the 1890s and beyond will be the restored King's Chapel.
Some Danish seasoned oak floorboard samples for areas where we're not using reclaimed mediæval boards. Thanks to every monarch from Henry the Eighth through to the Georges destroying our ancient tall oak woodland to build navies we're left with attractively gnarly, stumpy old oaks which are no good for the very long and very wide boards we need. The Danes still have plenty, however, and since the Normans who built the castle were descended from Danish King Rollo in the 900s (see the early history chapters below) we feel pretty comfortable with using them.
9 comments:
I know I've missed a LOT in this ongoing narrative, but can you tell me why that stained glass window is going to be removed and sold? (I will go back and try to catch-up, but...tell me anyway.) xoxo
Apropos of nothing, I remember when I did my summer studyies at Oxford someone told us that the college founders (I was at Balliol) had planted oaks because they knew the trees would be needed for repairs a hundred years or so in the future. I hope it's a tradition, and it continues.
It's 21:53 here, Tuesday night, and I've gone back to "catch-up" on all that I've missed! Tomorrow it's:
Saturday, December 19, 2020
Old Dive's History of Norwich Castle - Part the Fourth - Under Siege: Norwich Castle During the Barons' Wars - Chapter V
I should be up to date soon, I think. xoxo
Yay, Savannah! Lots of the Victorian stuff is being removed as it's a mess of bad buildings in the wrong places (as you'll see later in the History). What was a series of poky little Victorian offices and a horrendous 1960s set of buildings will be replaced by a glass atrium offering views of the castle not seen since the 1700s.
The old Boardman windows are worth many groats so will be sold; anything of real historical value will be kept for the castle's collection.
You've got lots of fun to come with fire and rebellion, lots and LOTS of barbecued people, torture chambers and general mayhem. Enjoy! xoxo
Petrea, we still have a very few of the tall, straight oaks but rather sensibly we are no longer allowed to cut them down. The Danes never had a navy after the Vikings, being stuck between the King of Sweden and the Dutch and British fleets so they still have lots of yummy tall oaks for commercial purposes. We got a special price as they want to be part of the Castle team. Yay!
Savannah, you are going to love it.
"Studyies," by the way, is the medieval spelling.
I usually find cranes ruin a good photo, but in this case it's wonderful to see it there knowing the fantastic work being done on the castle. And yay for partial blue skies and bluebells. Oh to have those gorgeous Victorian windows! Just curious -- any clue what the price will be? Not for me -- I'm asking for a "friend" (who may or may not win the CA lottery tonight).
It's mediæval studyies, Petrea. Hee hee. Gotta love the ligature.
Probably around 5 grand, Katie, but your "friend" may have a fun time getting it back to Katiefornia.
Oh, and we've got the mosaic specialists in, measuring up and sending me drawings and specs of how they're going to repair, restore and relocate the Boardman mosaic flooring. We're putting the Norwich Castle coat of arms mosaic in pride of place. I approved their methodology this morning, all the while thinking "What would Katie do?".
Thursday,20MAY,16:06
Starting: Tuesday, March30,2021 in which Old Dive Begins Part The Tenth
Talk about some fascinating history lessons!! So many questions...I'm loving this, sweetpea!xoxo
Wowee, Savannah! You're almost finished. Awesome. Fire away with any questions. xoxo
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