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Author
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Topic: Food for thought
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wurdsmiff
unregistered
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posted 11-15-99 05:53 AM
Referring back to the discussion line 'What is a Castle?', can you really build a castle?
I live in a castle. It was built by a well known Scottish house builder in 1997. It has all the modern conveniences, three bedrooms, en-suite wc, bathroom, shower, central heating, double glazing etc. It's not really a castle, but to me it is, with a little imagination. It is my home, it has security features such as locks on the doors, burglar alarm, security lighting, and my desire to protect my property from unwelcome visitors. But these are to deter intruders, not true defensive features. It could not deter a siege. If I were to build such features into the house they could be fully functional, but who would want to besiege it?, and if a war broke out, could it withstand modern weaponry? The answer is of course no, and the whole thing would be pointless unless it were done simply to enhance my imagination, and a desire to live in a fantasy world where the atmosphere and history were derived from my own thoughts and escapism.
The point is that if a castle were to be built nowadays, complete with functional features such as gunloops, machiolations, ditches, etc. it would be a mock castle rather than a true castle. The most important feature which could not be replaced is a true history. Events from the past or the atmosphere generated by them cannot be replaced, and this is what makes a castle so interesting. These places actually stood through the events we find so stimulating, or were built with the intention that they would. We cannot replace that.
So can we really build a castle? the answer must be no.
As an alternative, my suggestion to would be castle builders is, why attempt what you cannot achieve? Why not renovate the genuine article and achieve a sense of realism? You would be doing a great service to world heritage and preserving what inspired you in the first place, allowing future generations to appreciate what otherwise is a disappearing resource.
It is also more likely to be more viable from an economic point of view. In reselling a renovation you are selling history, and that has a high price. In reselling a mock castle you are selling your own fantasy, how many would pay for that?
I hope not to have destroyed anyones dreams, but to have inspired those of you with the finance to adopt a much more worthwhile cause.
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Philip Davis
unregistered
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posted 11-16-99 11:56 AM
There are several good reasons why someone might want to build a brand new 'castle' rather than restore an existing ruin.
Firstly if you live in Alaska, for example, there are no medieval castles to restore and it seems unreasonable to move to another country.
Secondly if, like me, you wish to build a castle of a particular design the chance of finding a restorable castle are less. There are very few restorable Norman square keeps around and none likely to be on the market.
Thirdly contemporary needs my make a restored castle inappropriate. If your swimming pool is going to be an ugly cabuncle on the face of a old castle it may well be better to build a new 'castle' where it can be incorporated in a pleasing manner.
Personal if I had the money and Castle Hedingham was on the market I'd buy it rather than build new, but I don't feel I can suggest that everyone should do this.------------------
Neurotics build castles in the air, psychotics live in them, Psychiatrists charge the rent, art therapists do the interior design and nurses clean out the garderobes!
To find out about me see www.castlesontheweb.com/members/philipdavis/index.html
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duncan
Senior Member
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posted 11-23-99 01:01 PM
 
As a CASTLE builder, I agree with Philip.
A castles history starts, I believe, with its conception. Ours won't see the history that others have, but it will exist through as interesting of times.
SELL? You would be surprised at the amount of people who are interested in buying. But for us that has never been an option.
FANTASY? You might check Trevor Hayward's post of 8-10-99 He owns castle Leven. His home page is http://www.kirkburn.com/castleleven/
index.htm
MOCK? The stone, building materials, and timber framing going into ours also made up the construction of what you refer to as real castles.
There are many reasons to build or renovate a castle. Business, history, or the joy of living in one are just a few.
Every day, a small or large item comes along that is added to make our project more authentic. We have no interest in makeing a mock castle, but in preserving the traditions and many of the arts and crafts of the past that has almost been lost. {You can check some of my other posts to learn more}. When our CASTLE gets further along and time allows I'll bring our web site on line and we hope then that we can help those with questions more than we are able to now.
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wurdsmiff
unregistered
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posted 11-24-99 03:43 PM
Whilst I appreciate what you say about building your castle to suit your own needs, and I have said elsewhere that I would not deny anyone the right to build their own 'Castle', I still believe that to be a true castle a building has to be built primarily for defence, and have excluded hundreds of such buildings from my lists on this tenet. There are authentic structures crumbling all over the world which could be adapted ,and again I repeat what I have said elsewhere that I believe it would be a worthwhile exercise to transport these if there were no other option (since by that stage we would be losing them).
If you want a large feature such as a pool it could be put in an authentic looking outbuilding, whilst preserving the appearance of the original structure.
I am familiar with Levan's site, indeed I have written about his home, and I applaud everything he has done, because he has saved a crumbling ruin which the rest of us will be able to admire for years to come. Indeed he proves my point, since he has a genuine castle which meets his needs. He has adapted it without destroying it.
Mock? Historically Castles were structures which were built to be defended. The term moved on to be used in large houses which were adapted, extended or replacements of such places. But there began a fashion of naming large new build houses by the term 'Castle' despite the fact that they were not truly defensive structures. It was done to imply the grandeur of the structure, and done so quite deliberately despite not meaning what was then the conceived meaning of the word. They were mock castles, in the same way as we use the term to describe modern fur coats, where an authentic look exists, but where the term now implies a functional(for castles as habitations)alternative. Mock is not intended as an insult, I used the word because it is descriptive. There is a difference of definition across the Atlantic in what defines a castle. But whatever constitutes a castle the root of the term is common, as is the inspiration to preserve and that to build. I simply believe that greater authenticity and atmosphere can be gained from the real thing, and was trying to inspire that feeling in others. If it is achieved in one person, and one castle is saved, then my comments are worthwhile. I agree with what you say about retaining dying crafts, but this can be achieved better through renovation, where the work done would have to perfectly match what was already there, and so demands the utmost skill.
Fantasy? The term is used because for many that is why they build such structures.
For Levan it is reality, because he lives a true castle and we all agree that he deserves a great deal of credit for having achieved that.
[This message has been edited by wurdsmiff (edited 11-25-99).]
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Philip Davis
unregistered
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posted 11-25-99 06:21 PM
The actual link for Castle Levan is www.kirkburn.com/castlelevan/ . This is indeed an excellant site, both in it's rich content and carefully considered layout, although I do hope the Laird Trevor Hayward will add to the section on the restoration of the castle and expand on how the decisions needed to achieve the current state were made. I did ask about the interesting ceiling paintings (see www.kirkburn.com/castlelevan/castlephotos/large/p7250073.jpg ) and got the following interesting reply. the ceiling was painted by Norman Edgar, a contemporary artist, who is quite well known in Scotland - he used to be a senior painting instructor at the Macintosh School of Art in Glasgow. Rather than copying specific images, motifs have been painted 'in the style of' a variety of examples found throughout Scotland. A particular source of inspiration has been paintings recently discovered under later plaster-work at Traquair House near Peebles. You'll also be interested to know that great care was dedicated to the selection of colours and tints used in the painting that were all blended using natural materials in the manner thought to be contemporary with the period. which says a great deal about the care taken in the restoration of Castle Levan. ------------------
Neurotics build castles in the air, psychotics live in them, Psychiatrists charge the rent, art therapists do the interior design and nurses clean out the garderobes!
To find out about me see www.castlesontheweb.com/members/philipdavis/index.html [This message has been edited by Philip Davis (edited 11-25-99).]
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wurdsmiff
unregistered
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posted 11-26-99 07:58 AM
I'd just like to mention the 'Friends of Historic Scotland' whilst this topic is receiving a lot of attention. Castle builders and renovators alike could pick up a great deal of information by joining. The web site for Historic Scotland is at
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
By joining you get a quarterly magazine which details current events (re-enactments,renovations and the like), amongst many and numerous other topics. You would also get free access to the 'Friends' page. Both of these give details on how to get involved as a 'Friend' in various renovations, archaological digs etc. They also regularly feature articles on renovation tecniques and interview their professionals on various crafts. Worthwhile stuff and interesting to all.------------------
'Give me the groves that lofty brave,
The storms, by Castle Gordon'.
Visit my web-site at
www.castlesontheweb.com/members/wurdsmiff/castles.htm
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Philip Davis
unregistered
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posted 11-26-99 02:42 PM
Historic Scotland and it's English and Welsh counterparts, English Heritage and CADW, are united kingdom statutory authorities who have legal powers to protect the UK historical heritage and are closely involved in restorations of historic properties. They have staff who help with restorations, English Heritage even has a school for train hisoric building restorers in a 19th Fort nr Portsmouth. I gather that they are usually very helpful to people undertaking restorations (including grants of money) but are very strict about historical integrety.
All these organisations also directly care for many historic properties and largest organisations looking after castles in the UK. Anyone planning to visit the UK to see castles would be well advised to join one of these organisations well before travelling.
English Heritage are online at www.english-heritage.org.uk/ . CADW (pronounce cadou) is not online but details of the organisation and the properties in it's care can be found at Jeff Thomas's excellent Castles of Wales site at http://www.castlewales.com/cadw.html ------------------
Neurotics build castles in the air, psychotics live in them, Psychiatrists charge the rent, art therapists do the interior design and nurses clean out the garderobes!
To find out about me see www.castlesontheweb.com/members/philipdavis/index.html [This message has been edited by Philip Davis (edited 11-26-99).] [This message has been edited by Philip Davis (edited 11-27-99).]
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wurdsmiff
unregistered
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posted 11-26-99 03:14 PM
Thanks Philip, I should have mentioned that.
Do the English organisations have a similar association as 'The Friends'?.
It is also worth adding that all monies raised through membership fees contribute to restoration project costs, and that as a friend you get free entry to all the properties and a discount on gifts in the visitor centres/mail order sales (plus a few other goodies). Good value for the holiday maker who is visiting a few sites.------------------
'Give me the groves that lofty brave,
The storms, by Castle Gordon'.
Visit my web-site at
www.castlesontheweb.com/members/wurdsmiff/castles.htm
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Philip Davis
unregistered
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posted 11-27-99 03:12 PM
The English organisation does not have friends as such, I suppose they think all members are fairly friendly. Life members, like me, get to take a guest. The Welsh organisation I'm not sure about.I'm very suprised at you wurdsmiff calling a welsh organisation english. The Welsh are notorious for not having a sense of humour about these things, I hope your fire insurance is up to date  ------------------
Neurotics build castles in the air, psychotics live in them, Psychiatrists charge the rent, art therapists do the interior design and nurses clean out the garderobes!
To find out about me see www.castlesontheweb.com/members/philipdavis/index.html [This message has been edited by Philip Davis (edited 11-27-99).]
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wurdsmiff
unregistered
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posted 11-27-99 03:32 PM
Yes my insurance is up to date, but with respect I had a notion that you would be the respondee to my question, so only asked about the English 'friends'.
If my comments have been picked up by any nice people in Wales and taken out of context, please accept my humblest apologies, and may England get the wooden spoon when you win the five nations next time around.------------------
'Give me the groves that lofty brave,
The storms, by Castle Gordon'.
Visit my web-site at
www.castlesontheweb.com/members/wurdsmiff/castles.htm
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