Cardiff
Castle |
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Click
any image for a more detailed view |
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This
is a rain spout! Very Victorian. |
Although
much of the existing structure of Cardiff Castle is recent, it
is built on the site of a Roman fortress and some sections of
the Roman wall still stand. The first Norman castle was built
on the site in about 1091. During the 12th century, the castle's
lord, Robert "the Consul" (the natural son of King Henry
I), realized the defensive value of reinforcing his fortress with
stone, much of which survives in fine condition.
The ancient Castle,
the "keep", at right, is a part that dates from the
12th century and is still surrounded by a moat. The stairway is
a more recent addition, having been added in the 15th century..
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Castle complex includes the Welsh Regimental Museum. We stepped
into it while waiting for our tour of the castle interiors, then
we ended up going back because there was so much to see. There were
articles and exhibits from the military exploits of the Welsh Guards
from both World Wars as well as the Crimean War and the Boer War.
Unfortunately, among the dead in World War I was Lord Ninian who
had lived in Cardiff Castle as a child. The curator of the museum
was full of information, including the story of how a goat became
the regimental mascot and how it bowed when brought before the queen.
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Two views of the
grounds: The picture at left was taken from the base of the old
castle keep and the one at right from inside the keep, looking
through an archer's slit. Of course we climbed the stairs all
the way to the top. Ron needed the exercise.
Yes, it WAS soggy weather.
It was Spring in the UK. What else did you expect? |
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The
most significant changes in the castle occurred in the mid-1800s when
the Third Marques of Bute hired an architect from Ohio, William Burges,
to decorate the interior of the castle. Burges gave up a scholarship to
study architecture in Europe to accept the job, and the rooms are an amazing
collection of carvings, stained glass, nursery-rhyme paintings, fountains
and marble fireplaces. There’s even a nasty-looking carving of the
devil’s face over the door to the smoking room, meant to scare the
womenfolk so they didn't interfere with the men enjoying a glass of port
and a good cigar. More
history |
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Above is the Banquet Hall
-- still available for special events. The Queen of England has dined
here, as well as many wedding guests of local couples who had their
reception here. There's even a raised gallery for the musicians. Surprisingly,
we found that it is not much more expensive than far less opulent halls
in the US.
Well, OK, maybe Mr. Burgess,
in his true Victorian zeal, went just a teensy bit over-the-top. At
left is the Winter Smoking Room, for example, with signs of the Zodiac
painted on the ceiling, an intricately carved mantle and beautifully
crafted cabinetry.
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| The library is as
large as the banquet hall and has its own share of beautiful marquetry,
carvings and painted symbols. Now it contains only the records of meetings
of the City government. We can only imagine what it may have held when it
housed the Marques of Bute's personal library. The decorations here and
throughout the Castle included inscriptions in Greek, Roman, Latin and Hebrew,
in all of which Third Marques of Bute was fluent. The children's governess
was assisted by Welsh and French nursery maids, who were told to speak to
the children only in their respective native languages. |
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And finally,
here's a view of the Castle grounds from the Executive Lounge of our
hotel, the Hilton. We found plenty of excuses to visit the lounge! |
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