Historic Stokesay Castle

 

One of our outings was to beautiful Stokesay Castle. The link provides the history.  It's been years since we last went.  Keith stayed here, and I did a recce as to whether I could get him round in a wheelchair, but it's not terribly accessible - he could step through the doorway of the gatehouse, which has a step-over wooden threshold across it, but lots of stairs inside the Castle itself so not ideal.

The tower and the main part of the castle.  It wasn't too busy, so we were able to wander round at will and not have crowds of folk in the same room.

Now that's what you call a door!  

The main room of the castle with stairs to the right.  Swallows were nesting inside everywhere.

Some of the said Swallows, happy to have such a weather-proof home.

The picture below shows how it would have looked back in the day - very gracious, light and roomy.  The young fledgling Swallows were practicing their flying lessons overhead as we walked round. 

The view through lovely old hand-blown glass.

Inside the tower was this beautiful fireplace and stunning carving.

This little 17th C cradle was beautifully carved and I loved the proper "roof" at one end.  At the end, a really pretty little carved stool too. 

Lots of Swallows nesting and flying about here too.

This was my favourite view out - you can't see any in the photo but there were literally hundreds of House Martins swooping about, or clinging on to the roof or walls.  I have never seen so many together in one place and yet the Guide said there were only half the number that were there last year.  Perhaps he meant Swallows as there were SO many HM's.

Looking across the Shropshire countryside where the harvest had been gotten in early and definitely not needing to go in the drier.

Adam and Eve, who appeared in several carvings.  I was fascinated by what had been carved.

This was the facing the visitors side, and clothed for modesty's sake . . .

Adam and Eve hiding their assets here!!

This looks a bit like a Dragon with a large tongue - or flames - coming out of his mouth.

So, a lovely day out.  If you are planning to visit (RR?) go now whilst all the House Martins are still about.  They were almost the highlight of my day.

Sorry for the lack of words, but I've been up since 5 a.m. and have been hacking back the dead grass (chest high) and Rosebay Willowherb (even higher) in the orchard and I'm tired now.

Keith has had a haircut outside in the sun, but insisted on staying out longer and probably got dehydrated, although I plied him with ice-cold water and he's drunk more than usual.  He got up the steps onto the lawn too and had a walk up and down, but was careful not to overdo it.  Yesterday he hadn't been so good.  Lack of confidence on very slightly uneven surfaces again - he's completely fine on a flat floor inside a building.  Lawn is ok though, which is good.