The British Countryside Pool (britcountry_flk) wrote, @ 2023-10-17 02:26:00 |
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/196428382@N
David- 80 has added a photo to the pool:
Yet another of the iconic Northumbrian views - Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island although, as the National Trust says. "A castle (thats not a castle), on an island (thats not an island)."
There seems some doubt as to why it is here. Some sources say it was built in 1550 to help guard the harbour (but was it that important back then?). Others say it was part of border defences against England's long-standing and traditional enemy - not the French but the Scots! This is also questionable. I mean my (none military) mind cannot help but wonder why build such a small structure perched high on an exposed hilltop when, a few years previously, the Tudors were building state-of-the-art low, petal shaped, artillery forts (St Mawes, Deal, etc.) and in the next 10 years work would start on constructing the highly sophisticated defences of Berwick-on-Tweed just up the coast. If the Scots had invaded and either captured or by-passed Berwick to march down the Great North Road (the present A1) this castle, on its exposed rock on an "island" headland jutting out into North Sea would not even have been in sight let alone gun range. Any Scottish warships accompanying such an invasion would be well out to sea anyway to avoid those Farne Islands. Whatever, built it was (using stone from the recently dissolved Priory nearby) and garrisoned until 1893, later as a Coastguard look-out. It did, of course, fall into decay until it was seen and bought as a "holiday home" by the editor of Country Life in 1901 who engaged the architect Lutyens to transform it. Later it was acquired by the National Trust and is now open to visitors to admire the views from its parapets.
The castle did see some military action. In the 1640's Civil War it was first fortified by Royalists but taken by the Parliamentary forces in 1646. Later in 1715 it was "captured" by 2 men (only 2 are mentioned) acting for the Jacobite cause. The leader was a visiting ship's captain who invited the garrison's sergeant-in-charge and his off duty men on board for "a" drink. Once they were safely drunk, the captain and his nephew went to the castle, overpowered whoever was left and ran up the Jacobite flag to encourage supporters to join. The next day troops arrived from Berwick and the enterprise quickly ended!