After a difficult week with Jane feeling very unwell we were asked if we wanted to go with Dave & Lucie to Tattershall Castle near Sleaford so we leapt at the chance.
The Castle is now owned by the National Trust and it was opened for free entry because there was a Christmas fair in the ground floor and in a marquee at the front.
This is an incredibly imposing building, all the more so because it sits on the very flattest part of Lincolnshire. Considering nobody has lived in the building since the 1600s it is amazing that it is still standing.
The brick work detail is wonderful and to appreciate the whole building we climbed up the stone spiral staircase to the very top. Jane was in charge of the camera so she managed to catch me, Lucie and Dave inspecting the building work and the views through the murky morning sky.
A comment was made that if you asked a modern bricklayer to do something like this they’d have apoplexy before charging an exorbitant fee and then cocking it up.
Even in the 1400s when the castle was built the architects had delusions of grandeur by including a flat-roofed area on the top of the building. We imagined the rich and powerful would be sitting up here on the loungers, soaking up the rays and being waited on hand and foot. If they weren’t doing that then what on earth were they doing up here?
We enjoyed our visit, the craft fair was ok (I’m not a great one for Christmas fairs) and the castle was incredible so we rounded it off with a light lunch in Woodhall Spa before heading home.
Jane is improving and as always, is not letting anything get in her way. She’s attending a water colour class on Tuesdays and a portrait class on Wednesdays which helps to take her mind off some of the discomfort. Good to hear from you – Steve xx
the castle is pretty impressive. Sorry to hear Jane has not been feeling too good and hope you are over this a bit, our thoughts are with you and will be in touch soon xx helene and paul