Photo of the day
- Thread starter Nishy
- Start date
JamieM
Extreme sharpness is ephemeral!
Yes, Bob, pretty remarkable when you consider I was no more than about 12" from the subject with a 12mm lens and no distortion.
Paper Plane
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steve
Paper Plane
Forum GOD!
From the back of my house just now.
steve
JamieM
Extreme sharpness is ephemeral!
Went for a little stroll with the Dogs earlier today, visited a local landmark not too far from me within walking distance, the Norman hill Castle, Morlais Castle.
History
Morlais came under the control of the de Clare family in 1217. However, its remote location which, was far removed from the main lines of movement through Glamorgan, meant the site was of little interest to this powerful Anglo-Norman family. In 1262 the Lordship passed to Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester who initially supported Simon de Montfort in his rebellion against Henry III but later changed sides to support Prince Edward (later Edward I) in his campaign that culminated in the Royalist victory at the Battle of Evesham (1265). In recognition of his support, Henry III granted him Abergavenny Castle but Gilbert focused his efforts on a much more elaborate structure and in 1268 commenced building Caerphilly Castle as a vast statement of his status. However, Gilbert's power peaked in 1282 when he led an unsuccessful expedition into Southern Wales as part of the Second War of Welsh Independence. Defeated at the Battle of Llandeilo Fawr, he was relieved of command undermining his position as a Marcher Lord. In an attempt to re-establish his power, he commenced construction of Morlais Castle circa-1288. Its location, at the northernmost limits of the Lordship of Glamorgan, overlooked neighbouring Brecknockshire and was intended to extend Gilbert's influence into the territory of his neighbour Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford.
The castle occupied the summit of a naturally defendable limestone escarpment overlooking the Taf Fechan. This waterway also gave the castle its name - Morlais deriving from Mawr (great) and glais (stream). The site had previously been a fortified settlement during the Iron Age and these defences were enhanced and incorporated into the new castle giving it an unusual configuration. The internal enclosure was divided into Inner and Outer baileys. The former had a triangular layout and was dominated by a large Round Keep whilst access to the Outer Bailey was guarded by a large 'D' shaped tower. Unusually the Outer Ward also had a large Keep-like Round Tower whilst the Great Hall, or some other substantial building seems to have been built along the inside length of the curtain wall. A cistern, a deep pit for collecting rainwater, was located in the centre of the enclosure.
The building of the castle immediately ignited tensions with Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford and Lord of Brecknock who claimed it impacted on his sphere of influence. The dispute escalated culminating in a skirmish known as the Battle of Maes Vaynor (1291). In an unwelcome distraction from his other military ambitions, Edward I intervened to settle this local but potentially destabilising conflict. Both Gilbert and Humphrey were fined and spent a short period incarcerated in the Tower of London. However, it was Gilbert who was fined the greater sum – 10,000 marks – on account of his building of Morbais Castle. The King's intervention brought work on the castle to a halt and it is not certain it ever resumed although it certainly remained in use as it was captured by the Welsh during the revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn in 1294. The Welsh in Glamorgan made peace with Edward I in 1295 and Morlais was eventually returned to Gilbert de Clare. However, his death in December 1295 saw Morlais Castle abandoned and it was left to drift into ruin. Its walls were still standing to a significant height in 1741 for they were captured in an engraving by the Buck brothers but thereafter the stonework was robbed to support local building endeavours.
History
Morlais came under the control of the de Clare family in 1217. However, its remote location which, was far removed from the main lines of movement through Glamorgan, meant the site was of little interest to this powerful Anglo-Norman family. In 1262 the Lordship passed to Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester who initially supported Simon de Montfort in his rebellion against Henry III but later changed sides to support Prince Edward (later Edward I) in his campaign that culminated in the Royalist victory at the Battle of Evesham (1265). In recognition of his support, Henry III granted him Abergavenny Castle but Gilbert focused his efforts on a much more elaborate structure and in 1268 commenced building Caerphilly Castle as a vast statement of his status. However, Gilbert's power peaked in 1282 when he led an unsuccessful expedition into Southern Wales as part of the Second War of Welsh Independence. Defeated at the Battle of Llandeilo Fawr, he was relieved of command undermining his position as a Marcher Lord. In an attempt to re-establish his power, he commenced construction of Morlais Castle circa-1288. Its location, at the northernmost limits of the Lordship of Glamorgan, overlooked neighbouring Brecknockshire and was intended to extend Gilbert's influence into the territory of his neighbour Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford.
The castle occupied the summit of a naturally defendable limestone escarpment overlooking the Taf Fechan. This waterway also gave the castle its name - Morlais deriving from Mawr (great) and glais (stream). The site had previously been a fortified settlement during the Iron Age and these defences were enhanced and incorporated into the new castle giving it an unusual configuration. The internal enclosure was divided into Inner and Outer baileys. The former had a triangular layout and was dominated by a large Round Keep whilst access to the Outer Bailey was guarded by a large 'D' shaped tower. Unusually the Outer Ward also had a large Keep-like Round Tower whilst the Great Hall, or some other substantial building seems to have been built along the inside length of the curtain wall. A cistern, a deep pit for collecting rainwater, was located in the centre of the enclosure.
The building of the castle immediately ignited tensions with Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford and Lord of Brecknock who claimed it impacted on his sphere of influence. The dispute escalated culminating in a skirmish known as the Battle of Maes Vaynor (1291). In an unwelcome distraction from his other military ambitions, Edward I intervened to settle this local but potentially destabilising conflict. Both Gilbert and Humphrey were fined and spent a short period incarcerated in the Tower of London. However, it was Gilbert who was fined the greater sum – 10,000 marks – on account of his building of Morbais Castle. The King's intervention brought work on the castle to a halt and it is not certain it ever resumed although it certainly remained in use as it was captured by the Welsh during the revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn in 1294. The Welsh in Glamorgan made peace with Edward I in 1295 and Morlais was eventually returned to Gilbert de Clare. However, his death in December 1295 saw Morlais Castle abandoned and it was left to drift into ruin. Its walls were still standing to a significant height in 1741 for they were captured in an engraving by the Buck brothers but thereafter the stonework was robbed to support local building endeavours.
JamieM
Extreme sharpness is ephemeral!
A few character portraits I shot over the last couple of days in my local park Thomastown park, we are having some glorious weather here in Wales over the last week, so has they say make hay while the sun is shining, the guys are all known to me some of them are old neighbours of mine, Mr Cledwyn Price and Mr Lionel Powles are two of my old neighbours, then we have second-generation Welsh Italian Mr Clive Barsi, then we have Richard Coles and John Coombes, these guys are quite a bit older than me with big personalities, such great fun to walk around with lots of fun laughter and some extremely funny stories.
Mr Cledwyn Price
Mr Lionel Powles
Mr John Coombes
Mr Richard Coles
Mr Clive Barsi
Mr Cledwyn Price
Mr Lionel Powles
Mr John Coombes
Mr Richard Coles
Mr Clive Barsi
Paper Plane
Forum GOD!
The village church.
steve
steve
Paper Plane
Forum GOD!
Fire in the sky. (But no smoke on the water…)
steve
steve