Photos and the City

Tag: UK

  • Sweetheart Abbey

    sweetheart abbey, scotland, uk, ruins, dumfries, galloway, national trust of scotland

    When her beloved husband Lord John Balliol died in 1268 Lady Dervorgilla of Galloway had his embalmed heart placed in an ivory casket which she always carried with her. And she did quite a few charitable acts in his name, like the founding of the Cistercian abbey of Dulce Cor, the Sweet Heart Abbey, in 1273.

    When Lady Dervorgilla died in 1289 she was buried in front of the abbey church’s high altar, together with her late husband’s heart.

    sweetheart abbey, scotland, uk, ruins, dumfries, galloway, national trust of scotland

    The abbey was demised in 1560 following the Protestant Reformation. Since then a graceful ruin survived wars and time.

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  • Caerlaverock Castle

    Caerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the city

    I started my Scottish road trip from Gretna Green along the Solway shoreline to explore Dumfries & Galloway. It was my first time this south in Scotland and it reminded me so much of Ireland. So much green, lush hills and so many sheep. And no wonder Ireland is just a stone throw away.

    Caerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the city

    My second stop was near Dumfries (the first was at the closed Devils Porridge Museum) at Caerlaverock Castle. It lays a little bit out of the way but is so worth the detour!

    Caerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the city

    It´s built triangular and was the stronghold of the Maxwell Family from the 13th to the 17th century. It was under siege from the English during the Wars of Scottish Independence and rebuilt several times.

    Caerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the city

    The site was already used by the Romans, the first mention of the land dates from around 1160. Around 1220 it was given to Sir John Maxwell and the works on the first castle began. It laid a little bit further back than today’s castle and the foundation is still visible – and it was square and may have never been completed?!

    Caerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the cityCaerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the city

    The “new” castle was completed in 1270 and a moat around the castle had been dug, also probably as a source of building stone, only the gatehouse stands on a rock, the rest of the castle is on a clay platform.

    Caerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the city Caerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the city

    Due to it´s proximity to the English border the castle looks back on a turbulent history. Many sieges, being under English command numerous times, won back etc… it has so many stories to tell!

    Caerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the city Caerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the city Caerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the cityCaerlaverock Castle, scotland, national trust, castle, ruin, dumfries and galloway, rain, ursula schmitz, photos and the city

  • Lowther Castle

    cumbria, england, uk, lake district, lowther castle, photos and th city

    It was time to leave the Lake District and England, but before crossing the borders to Scotland I just had to do two more stops. Just a short drive from Pooley Bridge lies the Lowther Castle.

    The roots of Lowther Castle go back to the 14th century, when Edward III granted Sir Hugh de Lowther a charter to enclose a 200 acre tract of land for a deer park beside the River Lowther. Sir Hugh built a motte and bailey fortification beside the river, but later in the 14th century this was replaced by a pele tower to better defend against Scottish raides from north of the border. (Britainexpress)

    cumbria, england, uk, lake district, lowther castle, photos and th city

    In 1691 the medieval building was torn down and replaced with a Jacobean residence which was mostly destroyed by a fire in 1718 and remained mostly a ruin until 1806 when architect Robert Smirke created an impressive new house in the style of a medieval castle, incorporating the ruined house. Smirke later designed the British Museum in London.

    cumbria, england, uk, lake district, lowther castle, photos and th city

    The house was closed in 1936 and became an empty shell when the roof was removed in 1957 and it took about 70 years until a charitable trust started a huge restoration and the castle was opened for the public in 2011.

    cumbria, england, uk, lake district, lowther castle, photos and th city

    The castle itself looks like out of a fairytale and it´s a shame that I didn´t have more time to explore the gardens they must be stunning.

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