Inner Ward Gateway & Ditch, Beeston Castle

John Latter, on April 7, 2007, said:

I arrived here via your thread in the Paroramio forum. Looking at your international collection, Magic Surf Bus, it's obvious I'm going to have to get out more!

Some of your photos of Beeston Castle are very atmospheric but I do like the bridge in this photo :)

John Latter

The Ghost of The North Center Bastion

magic surf bus, on April 8, 2007, said:

Thanks John - this unusual bridge is definitely not for vertigo sufferers as the castle sits on top of a steep rocky outcrop that commands a view from the Welsh border in the West clear across to the Pennines in the East. I've visited many of the major castles in England at some point, and have worked on excavations at two of them - I think Beeston is one of the most spectacular locations I've seen.

John Latter, on April 8, 2007, said:

I think anyone with vertigo might find themselves cured by the time it takes to cross that bridge!

When I first looked at this photo I automatically started picking out a route to climb the rockface and Castle walls.

At my age I may be confusing ambition with ability (and reality may be different to what the photo indicates) but I was more than happy with how things went when I was clambering over Dover's North Center Bastion last weekend.

I like old buildings, castles, churches, etc., but what I like even more is the freedom to explore.

In June I'm going to the Drop Redoubt because I need some internal pics.

The place only opens to the public once a year and visitors are led around by a guide and have to wear hard hats like those seen on construction sites.

I can only imagine that these are for passing asteroids because the Drop Redoubt has been so 'sanitized' absolutely nothing's going to happen there at all!

No heart-stopping moments when you're climbing down a vertical chalkface whose surface has been worn smooth by run-off water and whose crevasses are packed with 'greasy earth'.

No apprehension as you climb through a 2 ft gap to the far side of a cave-in and know that if sods-law operates it could be days before you get free.

No "Oh S***!" when you're happily taking photos on a dry 'island' and then realize you've lost your torch for the second time - and the only way out is through a maze of pitch-black tunnels.

In short, no fun at all!

(Er, sorry about that rant!)

On the other hand, being able to work on excavations would bring its own kind of excitement - lucky you!

John Latter

"Walk, Don't Run"

magic surf bus, on April 8, 2007, said:

John: When I worked on the excavations at Beeston Castle we camped inside the castle's outer ward and we weren't given a key to the front gate. If we wanted to get back in after a pub session down the lane we had to scale the outer wall. Needless to say the sight of a dozen or more intoxicated archaeologists attempting to scale the castle wall at night resembled something out of Monty Python and the Holy Grail ;-)

John Latter, on April 8, 2007, said:

Now that's behaviour after my own heart - bet it would have made some great photos too!

John Latter