Monday 27 August 2012

Photography, Maiden Castle,




Above, the castle mound as it's seen from the coastal footpath.
Move away from the footpath toward the cliff face, looking left and toward the castle mound.
Move slightly toward the mound and the ditch can clearly be seen.
Once down in the ditch the mound looks a lot bigger and steeper. You can also see how the earth is riddled with rabbit holes.
before climbing up if you look beyond the mound and left over the cliff this is what you can see.
This is the view to your left from the very top of the castle mound, its like sitting on top of the world. The rock formation is called The Three Sisters.
I decided to stand up on top of this ancient mound turn full circle taking photos as I turned. this is the starting point. Looking inland, my back toward the castle mound  and away from the sea.
Turning a little toward the right in a clockwise direction.
A little futher to the right, the sea and the three sisters come into view again.
Turn a little more and begin looking out to sea.
And this is the North Sea in all its glory stretching out in front of the little castle mound.
Continuing to turn in a clockwise direction this is the view to the right of the mound.
Turning slightly to the right we have almost come full circle and now see the farmers fields at the back of the mound again.
Turned full circle and back to the Three sisters.
This is part of a conversation on Emmas page, I mentioned Maiden Castle and one of her friends immediaty googled it.............so;
the googled bit is from  ''Stillwandering'' (thank you) and the pictures are mine from a visit last summer. I climbed to the top of the old fort and turned full circle taking pictures as I went, you can see from these pictures what an amasing site these ancient people chose for their cliff top fort.
Stillwandering wrote on Jan 11
forgetmenot525 said

''There is a ''grassy mound'' known as Maiden Castle which is supposed to be an ancient iron age fort about 2000 years old and it sits over looking the sea on the cliff tops just outside the town (Arbroath).''

had to google it: (wrote Stillwandering)
And this is her googled findings.
Maiden Castle (Arbroath)
This promontory fort had little worry of attack on its seaward side, as it's protected by 80 foot cliffs. And on the other side, it's defended by an impressive 11m high rampart. There are several caves beneath it:
There are several caves in the rocks, along the W. between Arbroath and Auchmithy, one of which can be entered only at low water. When seals abounded on this coast, it was customary to let people down to this cave with a rope round their body, to the depth of 40 feet, with ropes of straw rolled round their legs, and bludgeons in their hands, in order to kill seals.
There is another, called the Maiden Castle cave, the entry to which is about 10 feet above high water-mark. The mason-lodge of Arbroath built a gate to it, and gave it a door many years ago. They walked in procession every year on St. John's day* from Arbroath to this cave, where they admitted new members. It is about 231 feet long, and from 10 to 24 feet broad. At the farther end there is a spring of fine water, but exceedingly cold.
Above the cave are the vestiges of a fort, about 100 feet above the level of the sea, and on the land side the remains of the fosse and rampart are still visible.
There is another cave, which appears as if it had been cut out of the face of the rock, the entry to which is about 40 feet above the sea. It is about 12 feet long, 10 broad, and 8 high. The access to it is difficult and dangerous.
This is from v12 of the Statistical Account of Scotland of the 1790s.
*This has got a curious tale as well. Because the Masons (still?) celebrate John the Evangelist's day, which is the 27th of December, and (more recently?) John the Baptist's day, which is the 24th June - that is, basically the winter and summer solstices.
   

brendainmad wrote on Jan 15, '10
Lovely photos - not sure if I've seen them before but quite sure I wouldn't think of taking photos from a 360ยบ angle. The result is incredible. You have such lovely scenery in Scotland that it's no wonder it has produced so many magnificent artists!
forgetmenot525 wrote on Jan 15, '10
my hubby was so into archeology and so he followed the romans around all over the world so I have been to places you wouldn't believe -I hardly believe it sometimes we had to go on roads that were barely roads oh it was fun---
Heidi I just found out there are quite a few Maiden Castles, this one is in Dorset. I think maybe this is the one you visited because the history you gave matches.
http://www.maidencastle.com/
same castle also found here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maiden_Castle,_Dorset
but there are others, one in Cheshire
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maiden_Castle,_Cheshire
one in Durham
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maiden_Castle,_Durham
one in Yorkshire
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maiden_Castle,_North_Yorkshire
But the one I’m talking about is this one
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/11771/maiden_castle_arbroath.html
starfishred wrote on Jan 14, '10
wow................what a coincidence, this is such a small unknown town its amasing that you have been here, I never knew that.I love this place, to sit on top of this mound really is like sitting on top of the world. It makes me feel as if I have a very real connection to the past. I'm so very glad I went there and took the trouble to climb to the top because it's not the easiest place to get to and I can't help wondering if I'll ever manage that climb again. Thanks for the history lesson Heidi.........
my hubby was so into archeology and so he followed the romans around all over the world so I have been to places you wouldn't believe -I hardly believe it sometimes we had to go on roads that were barely roads oh it was fun---
forgetmenot525 wrote on Jan 14, '10
my hubby took me there once long time ago
wow................what a coincidence, this is such a small unknown town its amasing that you have been here, I never knew that.I love this place, to sit on top of this mound really is like sitting on top of the world. It makes me feel as if I have a very real connection to the past. I'm so very glad I went there and took the trouble to climb to the top because it's not the easiest place to get to and I can't help wondering if I'll ever manage that climb again. Thanks for the history lesson Heidi.........
canopusarchives wrote on Jan 14, '10
There's not too many unexcavated tells left in Britain these days, the archaeologists must be thrilled.
djdx wrote on Jan 14, '10
A nice visit you have given us. At first I was surprised not to see any snow. :-))
hedgewitch9 wrote on Jan 14, '10
Thank you Loretta :))
This is BEAUTIFUL!
And thanks to Tracy for research :))

You are blessed with such a place near to home :)))
stillwandering wrote on Jan 14, '10
What a beautiful place! Great photos, love the 360 view. Mounds are my special interest, there are mounds all over the world, and no really satisfactory explanations as to why they were constructed
starfishred wrote on Jan 14, '10, edited on Jan 14, '10
yes a beutiful magical place and it bring back memories -my hubby took me there once long time ago-sigh
wonderful blog loretta

a little archeology about the place



'Maiden' derives from the Celtic Mai Dun, which means great hill. It was known to have been the stronghold of the Durotriges tribe, until it fell to the 2nd Legion Augusta, under Vespasian, during the Roman invasion in AD43. The battle for the fort was a bloody one, and centered on the eastern entrance. Excavations carried out in the 20th century uncovered the bodies of 38 Iron Age warriors, who had been laid to rest by their Roman victors, along with food and drink for their journey into the after life.

After the Roman occupation the history of Maiden Castle becomes unclear, although a Roman Temple was constructed in the 4th century AD the foundations of which remain. It is feasible that the hill continued to be inhabited during early Saxon times, but appears to have been deserted for the last 1400 years. Many hill forts can be found in the 'Wessex' (an old Anglo-Saxon county) area but Maiden Castle is by far the most impressive, and commands some breathtaking views across the county.
bennett1 wrote on Jan 13, '10
I am so glad your daughters gave you a camera for your birthday. The pictures are wonderful.
msowens1 wrote on Jan 13, '10
I love the photos and the historic blog..... what a beautiful place......
shoppingdreams wrote on Jan 13, '10
Beautiful pictures!
forgetmenot525 wrote on Jan 13, '10
I'm not sure why these photos will not enlarge but they are in this album and they enlarge ok from here
http://forgetmenot525.multiply.com/photos/album/149/From_Seaton_Cliffs_to_Auchmithie
forgetmenot525 wrote on Jan 13, '10, edited on Jan 13, '10
a beautiful magical place..............not at all easy to climb up there but well worth the effort.
Just realised my pictures are not enlarging again.................wish they would get this ''move'' sorted and just get back to normal.
nemo4sun wrote on Jan 13, '10
you found watership down

lol

great pictures ~ truly beautifull

:)

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