Woolly says – After days of counting raindrops on the patio window I had begun to despair as it if it would ever stop. Jo and the panting machine had taken the stupid idea of walks to a new level and twice a day would troop out of the door returning looking like drowned rats, not that I have ever seen a drown rat to compare them with but they were wet. Having checked the next day’s forecast it appeared that we might be granted a day off from the constant downpours and I hurriedly set about my plans. The morning dawned with a grey covering across the sky, but by the time we were all in the car the sun was peeking through the clouds and a small amount of warmth had started to dry the sodden ground.
Hurtling along the roads I realised that the trees are starting to change to their autumn colours and that the year was starting to come to a close. Life continues to be complicated with new rules and restrictions and who knows which counties and places are in local lockdown as there are so many, was there any chance that 2021 might actually allow us to travel somewhere else in the world? I could only live in hope.
After a short drive we pulled into the parking area and set off to discover the delights of Montgomery Castle.
Originally the site of a motte and bailey which had been constructed around 1071 the current stone fortress had been started in 1223 on the 16th Birthday of Henry III.
The construction had consisted of the gatehouse, two D-shaped towers and the apartments which crowded around the curtain wall of the inner ward. After an unsuccessful attack by Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth in 1228, the middle and outer wards were added to the castle. The castle was again attacked in 1233, which had resulted in damage to the well tower, which had to be subsequently repaired and re-roofed.
By 1649 the civil war had demolished it and it has since lay as a ruin. As we approached, I was delighted to see that we had a bridge to cross into the gate house, it made it seem so much more splendid as I trotted across. The gate house was still in a reasonable condition with its separate rooms on each side, as we entered the inner ward it was to find that the rest of building hadn’t survived so well.
The former well was now covered with metal sheeting which seemed a shame after the seven years it took to drill down through the rock to find water for the castle’s inhabitants. The inner ward was relatively small although the wooden building that would have once stood there would probably have been three or four stories in height giving it a magnificent view across the landscape.
The views were wonderful and with the sun warming us it was a delight to be there.
Woolly says – we made our way back towards the entrance as I was eager to see how the castle looked from below, as was Alfie the Dog who raced on ahead.
The grassy bank lead us down to a completely new perspective and the fact that the central wall still standing in the gate house was at a definite slant, having taken a couple of quick snaps we moved hastily onwards just in case it took that moment to make its final descent.
Further windows and fireplaces were now displayed along with the rock face that the castle had been sited on.
As we rounded the corner the whole building seemed to almost disappear and for anyone approaching…if they could climb the 100ft sheer cliff face..it would seem that only a small rather insignificant structure was there.
A further stretch of the castle walls gave us rounded towers and more blocked up windows as we arrived back at the start. Maybe not the biggest of castles but it certainly has an atmosphere and a wonderful feeling about it. I sighed happily and leapt back into the car to get home before more water decided to descend from the sky.