Tuesday 29 September 2009

A castle to ourselves



After visiting THE PETO GARDEN, we drove to Farleigh Hungerford, not far from Iford. It was a lovely evening, the sun was beginning to set and had a lovely orange glow. We parked the car and walked past some lovely houses and then on to a footpath leading up to Farleigh Hungerford Castle which was built in the 14th century and now is owned by English Heritage










Approaching the castle


Looking down onto the houses we had just walked past


We knew that we wouldn't be able to visit the castle as it had gone past closing time but..


...as we approached, the gate was open!


We decided to venture in....


There wasn't a soul in sight, the ticket office was closed. It was just us and the ghosts from the past watching over us. The stories they would tell us if only they could .....



The fact that we had the whole place to ourselves made the experience all the more enjoyable and magical. The sun was setting, the air was still and there was a certain atmosphere about the place.




Not much is left of the castle now


The Lady tower now..


and then..


It is just a shell now.


This is what Farleigh Hungerford Castle once looked like. Full of life, people coming and going.
When I visit these places I often pause and try and imagine what went on and what it looked like then.

A bientôt!

Isabelle x

33 comments:

Michela said...

Such a magic place! Love the picture of your shadows!

Mary Poppins said...

What a wonderful post, and very thought provoking :) Thank you for sharing.

Loved your CK Post, what beautiful photographs.

Hugs

X

bellaboo said...

How wonderful to have the castle all to yourselves.Lovely photos!How funny,I took a 'shadow' one too on our 'village walk'.


Bellaboo x

My name is Riet said...

What beautiful photo's . Wonderful countryside.
Have a nice day

Marigold Jam said...

Lovely tranquil post. How fab to have had it all to yourselves for a while too. Like you I often wonder what stories places like that could tell.

Jane

Poppy said...

Wouldn’t it be lovely if you could go back in time! I would have been a bit scared with no one else there.
We haven’t been too Hungerford for ages…I got myself a lovely glass dome last time we went.

Have a lovely day love Lou xxx

Hen said...

The photos look beautiful in that golden sunlight. I bet it was lovely to wander round in the peace and quiet.
Hen xxx

Beki said...

What a lovely experience, to be able to wander around on your own. It must of been so peaceful!
How lovely it would be to go back in time and see it in it's former glory, there's something so magical about a castle!
(((hugs)))
Beki xxx

Lisa said...

How lovely to have had the whole place to yourselves. The photo of your shadows is just brilliant.
Lisa

Lori said...

what an amazing place to visit

Josephine Tale Peddler said...

Hello Isabelle,
Such a delightful post! I really enjoyed reading this on a Wednesday evening in Australia. It reminds me of a Barbara Erskine novel. That time of evening can be dangerous when ghosts and shadows begin to stir. It looks as if the castle was welcoming, thankfully. The light against the stones looks so mellow and wonderful. I am sure many people will enjoy reading this post. I feel as if I want to write an entire novel around the castle! Enjoy your week. xx

The Curious Cat said...

Lucky you! Gorgeous photos! Once we climbed into a fortress in Spain when it was empty. We got kicked out eventually but it was great having it to ourselves as the sun set! xxx

Laura @ 52 FLEA said...

I loved this post! Such a beautiful and romantic place! Wonderful photographs...the one with your shadows is magnificent! Thanks for sharing this lovely afternoon with us! Take care, Laura

OhSoVintage said...

What a beautiful evening it looked, quite magical. Love the house you photographed too.
Ruth x

Favourite Vintage Finds said...

What a lovely romantic place to visit! Great photos! Best wishes, Carla.

...Nina Nixon... said...

I love the thought of just you and the ghosts wandering around the castle.

Nina xxxxx

All things nice... said...

Isabelle,

Thanks for stopping by my blog, your blog is beautiful,I love all country heritage, rural England is very charming. You might like to pop by my Country Heritage blog http://www.countryheritage.wordpress.com which mostly has Irish heritage although there are a few photos from my travels.I'm off to read more of your blog :)

All things nice...

KC'sCourt! said...

That place is amazing! It looked so quiet and peaceful.

Thedarkerside73 said...

Wow could really sense that still atmosphere there from your words and pictures! Calm and with a very definate sense of the past. I love places like that. I always seem to feel very attracted to them.

Thanks for such beautiful pictures too.



MBBx

julie said...

wow, how magical. I love imagining what it would have been like in the past when we go to places like that and am encouraging the children to do the same. How lovely to have it all to yourself (I'm most selfish, I do dislike other people coming in and spoiling my imaginings!) x

Vintage Sandy said...

What gorgeous pictures English countryside is just breathtaking we have visited and would love to visit again sometime until then will visit through your beautiful pictures loved the shadow picture of the two of you!

lilylovekin said...

What a magical visit. You are lucky to live so close to so much history. I loved the photos of the setting sun on the walls and the shadow picture was fine indeed!

Floss said...

What a great opportunity - so much more memorable than if it had been full of other people. Thanks for the great photos.

Anna said...

Love that golden sunlight. Magical!

Anna x

Rebecca said...

Beautiful pictures! I zoom past these places on the way to work today, it would be great to stop one day to explore!

mamas kram said...

Love your beautiful photos! Such a romantic and enchanting place! Really magical!
Have a nice evening,
Doris

Lucys Lounge said...

great photos

Betsy said...

How I loved looking at these peaceful and beautiful pictures.
Thank You,
Betsy

Susie's country cottage said...

I like to look around castles. This one is pretty impressive. I like the illustration. It seems it was originally a proper fairytale style castle.

Pomona said...

I visited Farleigh Hungerford about 10 years ago - I remember it as a very atmospheric castle. You have taken lovely photos, too.

Pomona x

Sylvia said...

Gorgeous pictures !
Thanks for guiding.

Best regards,
Sylvia

A time to dance said...

I love the pictures of your shadows...what a wonderful place...lovely pictures....

Jackie said...

Your pictures are full of something we have had very little of in the North Westof England this year..blue skies and summer sunshine. I haven't seen my shadow more than half a dozen times this year. A blue sky has been a thing to be noted with joy and as for evening sun....
Thank you for filling the gap and reminding me just how lovely summer can be.