Hi all 👋🏻
With my next post into the Architecture+Design Community I want to show you THE GREAT HALL OF OAKHAM CASTLE ~ UK 🇬🇧
It is located on Google maps see the yellow star ⭐️:
I visited this castle on 11 April 2022. Photographs are taken with my iPhone.
Let me tell you first a little bit more about this CASTLE, before I show you my walk in and around it. 😎 Is it even a Castle?
More information about the historic important data from this building was sourced: in this website!
and Their own website!
Oakham Castle you can visit by going to the village of Oakham, Rutland - in England 🇬🇧 and see what is left from a large Manor House. Now named a Castle.
This historic building is one good example of Norman architecture that has survived time pretty well. A very careful restoration was carried out in 2016. What makes us appreciate it even more when visiting it now, as before its state wasn’t that good… the caretaker told us.
When we talk about Norman architecture this is with other words Romanesque architecture of the 11th and 12th century.
The Castle is amongst visiting people (locals and tourists alike) mainly known for its horseshoes collection, this collection can be found inside where they are all exhibited on the walls in the Great Hall.
But in my post today I want to focus on the architecture more and see the building. How it was build and conserved throughout the years.
To give you a bit more history of the Castle/ Great Hall from the Manor House:
We know it was built between 1180 and 1190 by Walkelin de Ferrers, lord of the manor of Oakham, and a great nephew of Robert de Ferrers, 1st Earl of Derby.
If we look now a little bit closer at The Great Hall itself, we see that amongst the decorations of it, we find 12th-century sculptures. These sculptures were carved out of stone from a local quarry not that far away, as these resources were readily available and easy to get in those days. Nothing would have come from afar.
Since 1229 Oakham Castle was also the house that held the crown court. You will see this in my photographs as they conserved this part well included the 2 prison cells, with information about them.
Oakham Castle doesn’t look like any castle. When we think about what a castle should look like 🏰 it is rather small, it has no towers and the image we see is more of a normal elongated house to be honest.
It has been named a castle, because it is actually part of the once… larger Great Hall that again was part of a large Manor House on the estate. These entire grounds where protected by a large wall back in those days.
This original Manor House resembled a castle, but those characteristics did not survive time.
People say and think, due to archeological diggings in recent years on the property, that there were towers on the walls and a moat around it.
If you stand on the highest parts on the property grounds you can envision the towers and the moat. (This you can see later also in my photo from the maquette of the original situation of all structures.)
We walked from the parking area in the back towards this castle and you need to climb up some steps, and there you can see it before going down again and crossing the grass to the Castle entrance.
Let’s start our walk around it and see for ourselves.
I will follow the time stamps of my photos so you can walk it with me and discover the Norman architecture and all details in and outside this Castle I will show you today 😎
This sign was placed at the parking lot, you don’t see the castle and it’s grounds from here. You need to go up some steps to the highest point of the grounds and than down to enter. Of course there is a gate coming of the market on the side. We will walk out there later.
On top of the walls we have this view, we see the grounds around Oakham Castle.
As you already can see it is not large and it sure doesn’t look like a castle 🏰
Coming down the hill we look towards the left side. You can see the entrance gate if you look closely in the direction of the white van.
Looking towards the right we see the border of the grounds and the towns Church behind it.
It is the All Saints Church from Oakham. That part is lower than the castle grounds too.
When walking over the grass along the border, we find here and there signs spread around that are giving us information about what was going on in the grounds many moons ago.
Another sign, it does make a visit pleasant to know you can read up about it, if you do not know the history before you arrive.
Another view from this corner.
We slowly approach the Castle and I take a few photographs from this side. You can already envision the structure inside as you see the 3 parts of the hall.
A last sign 🪧 tells us about the horseshoes.
It tells us that every “high placed” person coming through the town, was to give a horseshoe. They were nailed at first on the gate, and later brought inside. The oldest horseshoe dating to 1461-1483 from Edward IV.
You will see them later in my photographs from the inside, in all shapes/ decorations and sizes. Rather fascinating to see.
A maquette placed outside, shows you how it used to be. They even depicted the moat and towers around the castle walls. You see also that the grounds are higher up than the surroundings. The fields and vineyards laying lower and outside of the castle grounds. Or better say the Manor House. The church to the left.
Now we are close to the gate, the van left.
Let’s walk closer to the castle so we can admire the Norman architecture and all the details.
Sculptures are to be found in the outside walls.
The windows in the well known arches. Remarkable conserved, but also restored.
As we enter we see this: THE GREAT HALL.
And every where the horseshoes.
The high seat of the court.
Let’s look at the roof construction.
Fascinating to see.
I turn and look at the entrance. You see they shielded it off, so the insides are better protected in any weather conditions.
Looking at the columns and the arcaded aisles.
They even thought about access for the less mobile under us.
One of the back walls.
Let’s look at some intricate details:
Do you see the Lion and rams head? A sculpture that was placed on the outside wall.
Look at the details, the animals and other heads around. Don’t miss the 2 heads in the top! Peaking around the corner.
A sign from the recent restoration.
Let’s look at the windows.
The other wall opposite the one from before. Here you see the court seats again.
Another window on the side.
You know what… I do love history and architecture. But somehow I’m just overwhelmed inside of this building. You have the architecture and details of the Great Hall… and I would like to see this. Focus on it.
But than…
you have all these horseshoes… everywhere.
I think my senses are in overload. It receives too much information inside here, for me to focus only on the architecture.
Ok, I could have left the horseshoes out for you now and don’t tell, but this is a real visit with me and you will see it as I perceived it, you never see the building from the inside if I left the photos out, that include the horseshoes... hehehe 🤭 I want that you experience what I experienced.
And of course don’t forget to add the court and prisons to it and a few other visitors.
Ok ok, I try to focus again. 🤓😊
Let’s show you the information pamphlet I received by entering.
Let’s focus for a moment on this window with the view outside…
I walk in the back and have a look inside the prison cells, as this is still a court too.
Information about it:
The doors of the cells. Both next to each other.
Walking back we see the Great hall again.
Another wheelchair access from the other side.
A picture of how the Great Hall must have looked back in the days. Wonderful, I prefer that image.
You can read more about it too. I must say the information provided is superb! Cudo’s to the organisation that runs it.
I start to focus on the structure again. The columns with their intricate details. A figure missing it’s head. Do you see it?
The roof construction… can you see the smallest horseshoe in here? Look carefully… don’t miss it 🤓😉😎
Column and more details.
Window decoration…
Close up
To think this is so old. Wonderful.
Talking about old. The large darker brown coloured horseshoe in this photograph is the oldest one they have. From Edward IV, 1461-1483.
Let’s exit the building and have a look on the outsides: we see here the back.
And the side again with entrance.
Stunning structure, and so “peaceful” on the outside.
As we leave the grounds we pass the gate.
Looking back into the grounds.
And a little bit further.
Here I want our visit to end. I hope you enjoyed the views and information. What did you think about the insides? Was it just me that thought it was too busy?
I thought certain things did distract from the amazing structure of the building, and all the intricate details found on the walls, windows, arches, and columns or didn’t it?
Let’s talk about it 😁
And that’s all for todays #Architecture and #design post. Until the next one! 👋🏻😎
Hope you enjoyed my photos of this Castle.
Thank you for looking and reading 😊 🙏🏻 Stay tuned for more… 😉
Any questions or comments, let me know. Always happy to help.
Have a great day all 😎
Grtz Jackie
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!pinmapple 52.671381 lat -0.727411 long NORMAN ARCHITECTURE - THE GREAT HALL AND HORSESHOES OF OAKHAM CASTLE ~ UK 🇬🇧 d3scr
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These photos are great. I really don't know how else to explain it. It's great to know that there are still such beautiful buildings in the world. My favorite is the one you used as a thumbnail. I would love to visit this place one day. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
Thank you so much @incublus 😎 that’s nice to hear 👋🏻
It’s my favourite too, the thumbnail.
It was a perfect day, fresh, dry… not to warm or cold. Hope you can visit it one day.
You are welcome, happy to share 😁 enjoy your day further!
Wow this castle has so many beautiful and incredible architecture, amazing, it really is amazing.
The environment of the castle is so beautiful and it really is peaceful outside. Everything is just so beautiful to behold. Thank you so so much for sharing this with us, now I know a little of how the castle looks like.
Thank you so much for your visit @hopestylist 😁👋🏻 It was beautiful to see and I’m happy you appreciate it too. The details… and surroundings.
Have a wonderful Friday today and may your weekend be great 👋🏻☀️💃🏻🌺🌸🌼🐝
You're welcome Ma'am, you too have a beautiful day ahead 😘❤️.
Thank you kindly dear @hopestylist 👋🏻😁🤗
❤️💙💙❤️
Congratulations @littlebee4! We're delighted to specially curate your awesome publication and award it RUNNER-UP in Architecture Brew #77. More power!
Thank you for subscribing to Architecture+Design, an OCD incubated community on the Hive Blockchain.
Thank you so much @aplusd for the runner up 😁🤩🥳😎 much appreciated!
Have a wonderful week👋🏻☀️🌹more power…
You are most welcome dear @littlebee4. Keep up the cheerful vibes, passionate stories, and wonderful camaraderie. Have a fantastic week! 😀👍
Thanks 🙏🏻 @aplusd I sure will…
You too have a fantastic week 😁👋🏻
This is the stuff I Love!
🤩🤩🤩
Thank You so much for posting and the absolutely awesome tour through the grounds and building!
👍🏼🤓👋🏼🤩👋🏼🤓👍🏼
Cool to hear @lesmann 🤓😎 me too, but you know that already hehehe 🤭 and saw.
It was a nice day out with hubbies dad and wife. We were visiting his family earlier this year as we had not seen them in 2 years. So it was great. And they are showing me England a bit 😎 as I dint know much from there.
Glad you liked it 😁 happy to share my travels and adventures!
Happy Friday 👋🏻☀️
Yes the stuff that gets my interest!
🤓😎🤓
Good to see Family, whenever You can - and this is as Awesome a place as it gets! 👁️👁️
You have an Amazing Saturday,
And I hope they did something with Your air conditioner!
🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
Stay Safe!
It is good to see family, mine isn’t large… almost none existing. And it was good to go out after the lockdowns. We do miss traveling. Especially further away. Not on the agenda yet. But I hope soon. ✈️
Nope, of course not. We are going out in a bit, in search of a cool mall hahaha 🤣 to get some relieve from the heat. 🥵🥵🥵
Thank you kindly! Have an amazing Saturday @lesmann take care and stay safe 👋🏻😊☀️☕️🕺🏻
Absolutely! I always respected people with close (good) family ties. I wish that mine were better, they aren't - but I do understand what family does mean (supposed to mean).
So sorry to hear that! 😲😳😞
I will leave "Spain to the Spanish"!
The Mall is a good idea, like I said here they keep "the wind blowing"! 🌬️❄️🌬️❄️🌬️
So I am sure that they are keeping it cooler, I would do the same at this point!
It is funny, until talking to You I had a different Image of Spain.. I see that is dangerous!
Wishing You the Best Sunday Possible!
@littlebee4
Me too @lesmann me too, I never had that “family” thing… just the last few years since I met hubby.
But because they live far away, it is still different.
Most are nice, but no where was cold… but a lot better than our house hahaha 🤣 so all good. We came late back last night. Not sure what we do today. We will see.
It could be dangerous, as you think it is like one way, but it turns out to be the opposite. But that is with many more places. People don’t realise it. Holiday visits are sure not even close to living there.
Thank you 😊 and to you too, I wish you all the best for this Sunday, hope it was great 👋🏻☀️😁
Yeah, I think I can forget it in this lifetime.. Too old now, if course My life has been full of shockers, but I doubt it...
Well I am glad for You it was cooler at least. The heat 🔥🥵🔥 is unbearable. OK, if you want to lay around and drink beer or something it might work, but otherwise it's too hot to think!
😳🤯😳
Yeah actually Your right, moving around us always dangerous! Some have eyes trained to pick you out of a crowd. When I was in Europe I could tell Americans by their shoes..😉😎😁
Wishing You a much better Monday @littlebee4 !
Maybe someone will find a sense of urgency!
Hope at least the Cappuccino's are Good!
👋🏼☕👍🏼🌄🤞🏻🙏🏼🤞🏻🌄👍🏼☕👋🏼
Being there brings history to life, I enjoy history.
Q; Were there any ghost stories or a known haunting? 👻 @littlebee4
Yes, it felt definitely old there… being surrounded by such a vast history. You know what @kerrislravenhill I check that first… always! 😎 I love good ghost 👻 stories. But here there were none. At least not told further.
Have an amazing weekend!
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OMG! So many horseshoes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner...lol 🤣 Plus. this is also the very first time I've witnessed a castle that does not look like a typical castle! 😁 Any passerby definitely wouldn't expect its royal connection to the past unless they had prior knowledge of its interesting history. Those roof trusses of the Great Hall are simply fascinating due to their contrasting colors to the building's overall finishes. 😊
Are there still any traces left of the original castle fortifications? Were you able to capture close-up photos of them @littlebee4?
I know… so much @storiesoferne a bit too much hahaha 😂
I have also not seen a castle like this before that doesn’t look like any. It was fascinating to see.
You are right. They just popped out of the surrounding white finishes.
No, a shame actually, we looked around the grounds and there where no traces left of them. I know there were archeological diggings but they covered all up. We went all the way along where the fortifications should have been. Besides a small hill, plants and grass nothing was there. (At least for the eye) not sure when they found some remains why they didn’t leave it unearthed. Maybe for a later time?
We also walked past the church and looked from that (lower) side. Just a mount of earth we looked at, at eye level.
Oh okay, I see @littlebee4. It's such a pity that no historical remains of the original castle were left as museum pieces. These important architectural relics could have stirred more interesting discussions and explorations from the concerned scientific communities. Anyway, that was such a fun adventure you had, and thank you for showing us around this remarkable heritage of architecture. P.S. I sent you a message on Discord for some updates. 😊
It is a pity @storiesoferne indeed.
I think their biggest draw is focussed on the horseshoes. Maybe they should create another building for them and truly represent the great hall for it’s architectural marvel it is. As it was fully under shadowed now by them. I couldn’t even fully focus as it was busy.
Thank you so much, happy to share.
I will have a look.
Have a wonderful weekend 👋🏻😁
Thank you @hopestylist for your kindness 🥰🥰🥰🤗🤗🤗 bigggg huggggg
Mua 😘😘😘😘, you're always welcome 🤗🤗🤗🤗.
Muah 😘 🤗🤗😘
Thanks 😘🤗
How are you doing Ma'am? 🤭
Ohhh what a gorgeous castle, amiga! I am a huge fan of castles. Beautiful photos. I bet you had a great visit out there!!!
Thanks so much amiga 💃🏻💃🏻😉🤗 I did… it was mainly family visit of hubbies side 😉 but we visited some places with them. After not seeing each other for 2 years it was great!
Xoxoxoxoxox
I am here again with my late response, amiga hehe.
But I bet you had a great time. Splendid shots as always :)
No worries… all good amiga xoxoxoxoxo
We did, thank you so much!
Enjoy your Friday and that the weekend be great 🥰👋🏻🤗🤗
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Thank you so much for the information @stemsocial 👋🏻😁 and support! Much appreciated!
Will have a look around. Have an awesome Friday ☀️💃🏻
Spectacular work, I love the works made of stone, it would be good to apply a more severe conservation technique so that it stops in time and does not have more wear due to the conditions.
Greetings.
Thank you so much @jhonnygo 👋🏻😁 you are right. Something that should be applied to these kind of structures to keep them standing and protected by time.
Have a wonderful Friday!
Hiya, @LivingUKTaiwan here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Daily Travel Digest #1624.
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Thanks a lot @livinguktaiwan 😁😎👋🏻 That’s cool my post made it into the honourable mentions 🥳🥳 much appreciated! Have an awesome Friday 👋🏻☀️
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Enjoy your day further.
Dear @littlebee4. You might not be aware yet, but we have made modifications to our community rules, particularly rule no. 3. Please take note of the post requirements below for your future publications. We are grateful for your attention.
3 - Content structure with a mix of A) Data of featured architecture or design such as Architect or Designer of work, name, location, history, style, technical details, etc. and B) Author's observations, analyses, reflections, critiques, and experiences of featured architecture or design is desired unless posts are written as educational tutorials or creative narratives, essays, or articles due to unavailability or lack of information.
Moreover, data, information, and facts stated in your publications must not contain written texts that are literally copied, retold, spun, recycled, repurposed, or translated directly from different sources such as physical books or Internet sites like Wikipedia and other similar references. Instead, we absolutely prefer original compositions of words published by our community authors.
We have also included this important reminder in our latest edition of Architecture Brew.
We highly encourage you to remove/delete the copy-pasted texts in your publication from the Wikipedia website and other online sources and rewrite the particular content using your own composition of words. We apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Thank you dear @aplusd for the information, I wasn’t aware of the change indeed.
I understand the change of rule and what is required.
I did reword and change most of the text I quoted and stated that, it isn’t a copy and paste as stated. Do you still want me to remove it? Or is next time ok?
I will remember the new rules.
Have a wonderful Thursday 👋🏻😁
Okay, we understand. Now that you are aware of our modified community rules, we hope to see these new content standards reflected in your future publications.
On the other hand, kindly proceed and remove/delete the rewritten (spun) texts from Wikipedia and others in this post, and appreciate you rewriting them using your own original style in the next few hours. Thank you for your cooperation. 😀
Just one question on a confusion.
If I add dates, names of architects, builders etc. like specific data from the building… I do need to source them. I don’t want any problems when I remove the source. As some things can’t be written in own words they need to come from somewhere.
How can I not include other websites for this?
Indeed, all the necessary information like the Architect or Designer of work, name, location, history, style, technical details, etc. of the featured architecture are required to be stated/indicated in your post. And yes, you can include the sources of your data, and these online links are usually placed at the end of publications as "notes" or "references" like some typical articles, as long as you use your original word compositions. Hope that helps.
Ok, understand.
I just changed everything and it is in my own words now. 😉
Will keep it in mind for further publications. Thank you so much for the further information.
Have a wonderful day further!
Great! We are glad that you have understood our explanations. Thank you very much for your compliance. All the best dear @littlebee4. 😀
Thanks a lot @nnurdiani 😁 have a wonderful day today!