On the edge of Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire there was once a substantial royal palace. Its first buildings were erected around 1162 under the instructions of the Norman King Henry II who was England's ruler between 1154 and 1189. He was the father of King Richard I and the grandson of William the Conqueror.
Nowadays - for somewhat obscure reasons - the ancient site is known as King John's Palace. Very little remains. I guess that many of the ancient stones were taken away and used in local building projects.
There was good hunting in the area and maybe that is why the palace was popular with kings and their entourages for over two hundred years. The last king who frequently used the old palace at Clipstone was King Richard II who reigned between 1377 and 1399.
I was there yesterday, including the palace site in a seven mile walking circuit. Long after those kings of long ago were buried coal deposits were found close to the old palace and a hundred and fifty years of coal mining began - ending as late as 2003.
If you look hard enough you can still see the evidence of coal mining activity around Clipstone but like the royal palace, with each year that passes, the memory of what once was keeps fading.
I really love that first photo. And I wonder who King John was?
ReplyDeleteKing John was King of England between 1199 and 1216.
DeleteNot much is left of the old palace. It looks like it was a very rough building.
ReplyDeleteI think that its current appearance is deceptive Red.
DeleteInteresting relics...not unlike me! :)
ReplyDeleteNo comment in case offence is caused.
DeleteThe palace is 900 years old so it's pretty amazing to see anything left standing.
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought the arched section may be an oven but it's not deep enough...
If only there were time machines
In Sheffield we had a big medieval castle but when it fell into disuse local people used it as a quarry. Now there is very little left - just a few foundations.
DeleteLooks like a nice 7 mile walk in pretty surroundings and nice weather.
ReplyDeleteIt was a lovely, varied walk Kay.
DeleteReminds me a bit of Mayan ruins. The stones, I guess. And don't all ruins that old bring us a feeling of intense curiosity and a bit of sadness that we'll never know what it was like when the people who built these things were alive?
ReplyDeleteWe will never know but we can imagine.
DeleteYour first two pictures are exquisite. The third one not so much. Wonder if it will still be around in 900 years. I hope not.
ReplyDeleteFor Jennifer, don't wonder, check it out. King John was involved with the Magna Carta in 1215. Everybody knows that, or at least everybody used to know that.
Linked with Jennifer's question, could either of you tell me who George Washington was?
DeleteBy the way, the disused coal mine buildings have a preservation order attached to them.
like a set of rotton teeth ( top [pic)
ReplyDeleteLeave the cooking sherry alone John!
DeleteWhat struck me was how those two photos contrasted. Old and modern. Beautiful and ugly. Both united in their apparent state of abandon.
ReplyDeleteYou have poetry in your soul ADDY!
DeleteI wonder what that palace originally looked like. I bet it was pretty rustic!
ReplyDeleteAt the site there is an information board that explains jut how extensive the buildings were.
Delete