Folkestone Remembrance

It's five years since I last dropped by Folkestone Harbour, the last time to look at the rejuvenation of the old harbour station into a heritage area (see here) but we popped back today as there is currently a Remembrance Poppy displayin the centre of the old track bed. The old Customs House also has a remembrance display detailing the station's involvement in both world wars, especially the first where thousands of troops arrived before embarkation over the channel to fight in the trenches but it was also interesting to learn that Mata Hari was intercepted at Folkestone Harbour in 1915 and Unity Mitford returned to England via the harbour in 1940 after her self inflicted gunshot wound to the head. We also watched a 30 minute film show about Stanley Robinson, a local who passed away last month a year short of his century. He served towards the end of WWII and started writing poetry at age 90, much of it about WWI and quite moving it was too. The film is on You Tube.                                            

Lest We Forget

Memorial at Kyle of Lochalsh Rail Station.

Oystermouth Castle

Oystermouth castle is a Norman castle that overlooks Swansea Bay. Although there had been previous fortifications on the site it was built as a stone castle in the 13th century by the Lords of Gower. However, the Lords were living elsewhere by the 14th century and the castle declined in importance and after the Middle Ages gradually fell into ruin. Under the ownership of the Duke of Beaufort it was restored in something of a romantic style in the 1840s and the then Duke of Beaufort gave it to Swansea Corporation in 1927. It underwent a £1m refurbishment on 2010/11, adding new facilities to benefit visitors. It is an interesting castle with good access and worth a look if you are in the area.                                            

Fyvie Castle

Fyvie Castle is in Aberdeenshire and we visited last month. The site of the castle was the location of an open air court held by Robert the Bruce but the actual structure dates back to the 13th century. Since then it has been owned by five families each of which has added its own tower the last of which was built in 1890. The last owners sold the property to National Trust for Scotland in 1984 and they continue to look after it to this day.                                            

Craigellachie Bridge

Craigellachie Bridge crosses the River Spey near Aberlour in Moray, Scotland. It is a cast iron bridge of 150' span completed in 1814 and designed by Thomas Telford. It remained in constant use until 1963 when it was closed for refurbishment, re-opening the following year with a weight restriction. A new concrete bridge was built nearby in 1970 and Telford's bridge was closed to vehicular traffic two years later. Today it is a grade A listed structure that remains open to pedestrians and cyclists.

Rhynie

Rhynie is a small village in Aberdeenshire that we stopped by last month that had a very nice village green and war memorial.

Pitsligo Castle

Pitsligo is a ruined castle outside of Rosehearty in Aberdeendshire. It dates back to 1424 with additions in the late 16th and following century. It was looted and destroyed by Flemish troops in 1845 and is now just a ruin which is free to visit.