Framlingham Castle

What a great time we had at this fantastic castle!   We took hundreds of photos between us all and Kevin also took video.  I am just going to post some of the photos up here on the blog, so you get the general idea.   We met Tim, Toni and the boys at the gates and spent most of the morning with them.  Unfortunately they had to leave a bit later on because Philip wasn't feeling too well, so I hope he's a lot better now. 

Okay, so here we go, a short pictorial trip through and around Framlingham Castle. Remember to click on fotos to see larger images

We took the Teddy that Ewan was given by Nursery school with us today, we have to write a story about Teddy's visit to Ewan, so it will be interesting to include a little bit about Framlingham Castle.

Arriving in carpark ... hardly any cars, when we came out this field was full of cars.

The following piece I typed out from the Framlingham Castle Guidebook :

“Surrounded by parkland and estates, Framlingham Castle was once at the centre of a vast network of power and influence.   Its almost perfectly preserved stone walls and mere still look much as they did in the Middle Ages. The parish church and town are also closely linked to the castle’s history.

Built by the Bigod family in the 12^th Century, the castle was home to the earls and dukes of Norfolk for over 400 years.  In the 14^th century it passed to the Brotherton family, cousins of the king, then to the Mowbrays, created dukes of Norfolk in 1397.   The Howard family inherited it in 1483 and spent lavishly on refurbishing it.  These families were the supreme magnates in East Anglia  - rich, ambitious and influential at home and abroad.

In the 16^th century, the castle was the scene of a national drama, when it was briefly owned by Mary Tudor, daughter of Henry VIII. Pursued by the followers of Lady Jane Grey in 1553, Mary fled to Framlingham and gathered her troops. She was at the castle when she received news that she had been proclaimed England’s, first ruling queen.”

As we went in, this Knight very kindly let us take a photo with the Princess and Mike the Knight ... both our kiddies were well received by all the Knights there.

Strolling through the tents and looking at all the different exhibits that they had put out for the punters

The Red House just in front of the Poor House, which are buildings inside the castle proper - these have been here for many hundreds of years.

 

 

    

It was a perfect blue sunny day today, hardly a wisp of cloud at all.  The temperature inside the suntrap of the castle grounds was about 25 to 26 nearing lunchtime and all of us have got slightly sunburnt!

When we arrived, there were about 100 people but by the time the festivities started the place had filled up.

The Knights had various competitions (no jousting at this event, we are going to find out where they do jousting).   The first competition saw two chaps from each team at one end of the course shoot arrows from their longbows (and crossbows) at an advancing Knight who had to walk at a steady pace towards them from the other side of the course, dodging arrows as he got closer to the other Knights.



In the next competition, Knights under specific banners were all grouped together facing Knights from opposing Banners.   At a signal from the Knight’s Templar, they raced at each other and used varying  tactics to get to the main Knight in the group, so they could knock the dragon off his helmet.   Lots of full crunching body tackles ensued!

In between the Knight’s actual events, a group of them from each Banner would allow themselves to be set upon by hordes of children.  Great fun for the kiddies but I’m sure not so wonderful for the chain-mailed Knights.  These guys take their Knight Battling very seriously!  

Charge!!!  

Call that a sword?

Faye kept blikseming the Knight in Charge

I'll get 'im

Aaargh ...

After 'im

Yes Ally the guy 2nd from the right DOES look like Rory McCann ... but he isn't. Duh.

The Victors - we bought their flags, so they had to win!

The French and the Bokkes ... urf urf

Blowing a horn

Mike the Knight

Smite 'im

Begin!

Dead Knights ... after Faye and Ewan had a go at them

This way My Lady ... he kept calling her 'Your Highness' ... I think it made her day!

Knighthood 101 - choose your sword

Dont stike the Knight in the squishy bits!   Don't strike the Knight on his head.  Don't stand on the Knight when he's down ... of course they did all the above and more.

Ewan dispensing justice to a lowly Knight.

Going in for the kill

More dead Knights ... the place was a Bloody Battlefield, I tell you.

I think I'll have a juice ... Mum!

Why can't I hit you in the squishy bits?

Stand still while I stab you!

Porker on a rail

View from the top looking across at the Mere

Ewan and Faye had already been on the battlements, when Hayzel and I wanted to go and have a look. So they were running ahead of us - we basically had to run along behind them and hot foot it down the stairs - so didn't really get much chance to loiter about up there.  The views were absolutely amazing. 

All that remains of the support posts for one of the Bridges

 The fields of England are a luminous green in the sunlight, it’s quite a sight driving through the countryside.   Farmers in this region grow a plant called ‘Rape’ (unfortunate name) with flowers that are a neon lemon yellow – here’s a scarecrow in the middle of one field we passed on the way home. 

Would you care for a spot of Jousting now my Lady?  Sir Knight? ...