UK or Bust!

Well my friends the time has finally come! We are on our way. I can not even begin to tell you how excited I am! I'm a bit nervous too as I don't like to fly. And the thought of being cooped up in a plane for just over 10 hours is not exactly my idea of fun. But I have been working on my meditation and have some movies downloaded to my Ipad as well as some nice relaxation music.  I am keeping my eye on the prize so to speak and that will get me thru!

 I cant wait to walk off the plane and actually get to finally, after all these years see Dawn face to face and be able to hug her! It has been a long time coming. Dawn did tell me that on the 3rd we are schedule to meet up with some other friends at Weeting Castle for an nightly Ghost investigation.  I am really looking forward to that!!!  I know that some of my friends here wish they were going too. But I will be sure to write all about my adventures the next day! And  am sure I will have tons of pictures.  There are so many wonderful adventures she has planed for us. So have no fear there will be plenty of pictures to keep you all entertained.  And that is BEFORE we get to Ireland!

So, keep coming back and seeing what new and fun things we have been up too!!!!!  But now its time for Dan and I to sail off into the sunset as our adventures await!

Castle Rising

Well here we are with 22 days to go! I am getting really excited. I know that my lovely and amazing "Sister across the Sea" Dawn has all kinds of wonderful places lined up for us to see. I know that we will be going on ghost hunt at Weeting Castle while we are there. She did just recently tell me that she has Castle Rising on the agenda. I got pretty excited about that! As I have heard about Castle Rising and am very intrigued by it. It is reportedly Haunted by Queen Isabella of France. In fact Castle Rising was just on a recent episode of Ghost Hunters International.  So I hope you enjoy reading some of the history of Castle Rising! ~

Castle Rising is one of the most famous 12th century castles in England. The stone keep was built around 1140 AD, and is amongst the finest surviving examples of its kind anywhere in the country.  The magnificent keep at Castle Rising was built by William D'Albini II to celebrate his marriage to he widow of Henry I and his acqacquisition of the earldom of Sussex and was modeled on the keep at Norwich, built by Henry I. It soon became one of the most important keeps in East Anglia, boasting a large list of several Lords and Ladies, from the D'Albigny Earls of Sussex to the Howard Duke of Norfolk, with Isabella Queen of Edward II, being its most famous resident.

Queen Isabella

In fact the castle is reportedly haunted by Queen Isabella of France. She was known as the "She-wolf of France". She married Edward II in 1308, but soon found he preferred the company of men. She became the mistress of Roger Mortimer and in 1326 they took the throne from Edward II. They imprisoned him in Berkeley Castle and in 1327 had him murdered. They enjoyed a brief period in power but Isabella's son, Edward III, took control in 1330 and had Mortimer executed. They say she went mad with the loss of her lover. And you can hear her screams through out the castle.

Early in its life, at about 1140, a mint was established ad continued to produce coins for several years. Rising remained within the D'Albigny family for the next 200 years, after which, several leading families held it until it came into the hands of the Crown by its sale. A royal ownership followed lasting until he 16th Century.  This was to be the brightest period in the castle's history with Kings, Queens and Princes all staying at the Keep.

In 1337, By Charter dated October 1st and enrolled upon the Charter Rolls, Edward III altered the terms of the original Montalt conveyance of 10 years before. He granted the Castle and Manor to Edward, Black Prince of Wales, along with the newly created Duchy of Cornwall. Ownership of the Castle was to take effect after the death of Isabella, and remain, with the Duchy, to be passed on to its heirs, or in the event of no heirs, reversion to the Crown. Edward, Black Prince of Wales, added it to his vast possessions and retained it until his early death in 1376. During his ownership, and after much money was spent strengthening the fortifications in case of a landing from the French, and were several times put on a state of alert.

Over the next few years it changed hands several times whilst being held by Richard II. Its owner include John, Duke of Brittany, Husband of King's sister Joan,the Fair maid of Kent. Thomas, Duke of Gloucester, the King's uncle, and Uncle, Edmund, Duke of York. from 1403 until 1544 the Castle was again back in the hands of the Duchy of Cornwall, held by the Duke and Prince when there was one, and by the King when there was not.

In 1461 during the War of the Roses, the Castle was once more put on a state of alert, when Yorkist Edward IV was about to displace the Lancastrian Henry VI. The King' men of Norfolk were ordered to take over the Castle and hold it with sufficient Men-at-Arms. This was to be the start of the decline of Castle Rising.

Well Friends, do keep an eye on my blog as while we are on our vacation I will be keeping you up on whereabouts. I will try and post pictures and updates  as often as I can or at least as often as we can get an Internet connection.  Much love!