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Rochester Castle


Rochester Castle
Photo Information
Copyright: David Holliday (hifimusicdai) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 678 W: 346 N: 830] (5243)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-05-11
Categories: Architecture
Exposure: f/8, 1/350 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-06-27 5:14
Viewed: 147
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Another castle today this time it is Rochester Castle on the River Medway, in Rochester, Kent. It is one of the best-preserved castles of its kind in the UK. There has been a fortification on this site since Roman times (c AD43), though it is the keep of 1127 and the Norman castle which can be seen today. With the invention of gunpowder other types of defence became more appropriate, and the military centre of the Medway Towns moved to Chatham.
In 1206, King John spent £115 on repairs to the castle and moat. He even preemptively held it during the year of the negotiations leading up to Magna Carta, but its terms forced him to hand it back into the custody of Stephen Langton, archbishop of Canterbury, in May 1215. The rebel barons then sent troops under William d'Aubigny to the castle, to whom its constable Reginald de Cornhill opened the castle's gates. During October, marching from Dover to London, John then found Rochester in his way and on 11 October began besieging it in person.
The castle was only taken (on 30 November) by starvation and not by force. John set up a memorial to the pigs and a gallows with the intention of hanging the whole garrison, but one of his captains (Savari de Mauleon) persuaded him not to hang the rebels since hanging those who had surrendered would set a precedent if John ever surrendered - only one man was actually hanged (a young bowman who had previously been in John's service). The remainder of the rebel barons were taken away and imprisoned at various royal-held castles, such as Corfe Castle. Of the siege - against only 100 rebels, and costing over a thousand pounds a day - the Barnwell chronicler wrote "No one alive can remember a siege so fiercely pressed and so manfully resisted" and that, after it, "There were few who would put their trust in castles".

King John died on October 19, 1216, so it fell to Henry III to repair the castle. He spent over a £1000 on rebuilding, with new stables and gateways, and a further ditch to strengthen the defences. A new chapel was built next to the Royal apartments in the bailey. The most notable surviving feature is the new south-east tower, which was rebuilt according to the latest defensive design and is three-quarters round better to deflect missile attack and work against attempts at undermining.
informaion courtesy of Wikipedia
dareco, BTCozer, chrisJ, gnada has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To gnada: hello Georgehifimusicdai 1 07-06 15:44
To chrisJ: hello Chrishifimusicdai 1 06-29 13:44
To BTCozer: hello Elisabetehifimusicdai 1 06-29 13:40
To dareco: hello Karenhifimusicdai 1 06-27 18:15
To Silvio2006: hello Silviohifimusicdai 1 06-27 18:15
To moli: hello JAnekhifimusicdai 1 06-27 18:15
To luckybry: hello Bryanhifimusicdai 1 06-27 05:56
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Critiques [Translate]

another realy good castle shot David nice pov and good details i might have cloned out the the black thing on the bottom wall catches the eye a little tfs
regards bryan

An interesting and informative note. I really like the composition here and nice sharp detail. TFS

Ciao David, splendid castle by great POV, beautiful composition, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • moli Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1410 W: 275 N: 1955] (12042)
  • [2009-06-27 15:45]
  • [+]

Hello David.
Well composed and well captured Rochester Castle.
I like detalis here and scale of this castle shown by people walking on the bottom.
Regards
JAnek Kloss

Hi David,
Wonderful castle with great definition, great details very sharpness. Nice POV and colours and shadows of the trees.
Well done.
Elisabete

Hi David

Missed this one. Superb colour, sharpness & framing on the old stone castle, with the people adding scale. Tfs!

  • Great 
  • gnada Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2662 W: 74 N: 4763] (21687)
  • [2009-07-06 2:52]
  • [+]

Hi, hi ...

It's great pleasure to see your all photos...
Very tasty, beautiful composition and colors
including this one, with very nice informative not.!
Well done...
Rgd. George

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