We were a little too late - the gate was closed for the day, and so we could only walk around the old walls and admire them from outside.
There is not much I know about this castle; J and B told us it was supposed to be Richard III.'s favourite home and where he spent his childhood and youth. The rest I have looked up on wikipedia: Work began in 1190 (although there had been a fortification at this site before), and most of the walls we still see today are 13th century.
In the 1500s, the then occupants of the castle turned it into a splendid residence with all "mod cons" of the time, aiming for comfort rather than for security.
It will be interesting to return one day and take a proper look round.
Back in Ripon, we went for a meal at the Royal Oak (where I'd been for some really good food and friendly service before). On our way home across the market square, we spotted a group of Mummers. This was the first time ever I'd come across them in real life, but I knew what they were because I'd read about them.
Actually, I found them a little scary and didn't want to get close, but Aunt J is not so faint-hearted and went right up to listen to their short rendition of how Ripon came to have a Wakeman and Hornblower.
We then chatted a little with the group, and they told us that they had been in Ripon for 2 or 3 days to catch the crowds coming in for St. Wilfrid's Parade.
By now, I was getting really cold, and we were all rather tired (in a pleasant way) after our great day out and good meal, and so we all said good-night - we had another full day with J and B to look forward to tomorrow!
Oh my goodness, you have astonishing stamina to do so many things in one day. You and Aunt J, too! And now you have something to look forward to for next time, seeing more of Middleham Castle when it's open. I've never seen a photo of Mummers. Good luck to have seen them.
ReplyDeleteAunt J and Uncle B, although both in their 70s, are very fit and active, and so interested in everything! It is never boring with them, not one minute, and we are very grateful to them for driving up from South Yorkshire every year just to meet us and take us on such great days out!
DeleteI was going to say I don't think I ever heard of Mummers before - and then it hit me that I probably did, but heard it as "mimer" (and can't say now which of those words was actually used). I also know I've been to one English town where they had a Hornblower tradition, but I'm not sure whether it was Ripon or somewhere else. - And as it happens, only last weekend I watched the last part of a British TV series The Hollow Crown based on Shakespeare's plays, and the last part = Richard III...
ReplyDeleteThat's quite a lot of connections, Monica!
DeleteAs for other English towns with a Hornblower tradition, I only know of Ripon. By the way, the Hornblower will come up again in a future post :-)
I don't think I'd ever heard of Mummers before either.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know, they are just as much part of English tradition as Morris dancers.
DeleteI loved Middleham but haven't got round to writing it up yet. Great shots - and you were lucky with the Mummers! I think.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am looking forward to reading your post about Middleham.
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