Oakham Castle - Rutland!

Rutland: Visiting Oakham Castle – the Land of Large Horse Shoes! (29.10.2025)

As we are staying in the Rutland area – we decided to visit the Castle after I saw a so-called “Auditor” who compromised the “good will” of the institute by deliberately igniting a pointless conflict about flying a drone over the property. We felt that we should visit the site, behave properly and with civility, and defend the good culture of England. These Auditing thugs are making money out of YouTube (most are unemployed and are working on the dole) by following a movement which emerged out of the political far-right in the US. Indeed, Rutland is the only place we have visited that is so democratic that we were allowed to “sit” in the Judges Seat whilst the Magistrate’s Court was not in session. We were told this was allowed as the Court “belongs to the people” who pay for it through taxation.

Inside the Castle!

Torbay: Berry Pomeroy Castle – Tudor Ruins! (2.4.2024)

During the 1500s, Elizabeth I was an absolute monarch (as was her father – King Henry VIII) – who preferred to live in and around the Nonsuch Park area – including Hampton Court Palace (which is no longer used by the royal family). However, there was once a “Nonsuch Palace” which does not exist today. After Elizabeth I died (1603 CE) – many of the castles she frequented were no long favoured by the royal family – leading to these buildings falling into neglect and ruin. This was the case with Nonsuch Palace which was so badly dilapidate that what was left of it had to be demolished in 1683 CE – for safety reasons – with the ruins being recycled into the constructon (or maintenance) of local buildings.

The Ruins of Penhallam Manor – Northeast Cornwall – 30.7.15

Although only the foundations exist dating to 13th century renovations, (the home was eventually abandoned in the early 15th century), they reveal expert stone-masonry, architectural design, and building craftsmanship, as well as over-all expertise in positioning of the stricture and the good use of natural terrain, (the local river, for instance, was diverted to form the water in the encircling moat). The area of Penhallam was awarded to the de Cardinham family from France, and Penhallam Manor apparently served as one of their stately homes – such was the family’s importance in the new Norman social order in Britain. English Heritage maintain the site – which is free to enter for the general public. The ruins lie in a forest clearing that is about a 15 minute walk from the small car park (which is designed for 5 cars). It is a beautiful place to visit.