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North Wales is mad

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Books, not bombs
Have just spent the weekend in a cottage just outside Bangor. Whilst there we got taken to Penrhyn Castle http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/penrhyn-castle/ and Tre'r Ceiri http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tre'r_Ceiri.
Penrhyn, is a massive mock norman castle full to the brim of the most ornate decor you would ever see, just horrible and mad.
Tre'r Ceiri is a peak of about 1800ft. On the way up, the magnificient views just keep opening up and offering more and more. Once up at the top you find a massive iron age hill fort with about 150 dwellings surrounded by 14ft thick walls. Why? Whats it for, why build such a place so high, so inhospitable; just barking!
 
hash tag said:
<snip>Tre'r Ceiri is a peak of about 1800ft. On the way up, the magnificient views just keep opening up and offering more and more. Once up at the top you find a massive iron age hill fort with about 150 dwellings surrounded by 14ft thick walls. Why? Whats it for, why build such a place so high, so inhospitable; just barking!
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Think about it. Think about the type of place which is chosen when you have to make a last stand, or if you're so accustomed to living in a state of warfare or siege that security is prioritised over convenience or comfort.

Good visibility of anyone approaching, with plenty of time to get your own supplies and defences in order. Shelter from the worst of a mountain winter, and protection from attack provided by thick walls which couldn't easily be knocked through. Access to a protectable water supply. A long tiring walk (at best) which would deter casual raiders. Less trouble from biting midges and gnats than in the lower lying areas etc. 150 dwellings, when you consider how many people could have shared each one, approaches the population of a small town, large village, or fairly important trading centre.
 
hash tag said:
Have just spent the weekend in a cottage just outside Bangor. Whilst there we got taken to Penrhyn Castle http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/penrhyn-castle/ and Tre'r Ceiri http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tre'r_Ceiri.
Penrhyn, is a massive mock norman castle full to the brim of the most ornate decor you would ever see, just horrible and mad.
Click to expand...

I know Penrhyn Castle quite well from visiting it a few times years ago. When the proprietors have made a massive fortune sweating the slate quarriers :mad: , they're going to lavish the surplus value on something quite extreme in luxuriousness ... :hmm: :(
 
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Greebo said:
Think about it. Think about the type of place which is chosen when you have to make a last stand, or if you're so accustomed to living in a state of warfare or siege that security is prioritised over convenience or comfort.

Good visibility of anyone approaching, with plenty of time to get your own supplies and defences in order. Shelter from the worst of a mountain winter, and protection from attack provided by thick walls which couldn't easily be knocked through. Access to a protectable water supply. A long tiring walk (at best) which would deter casual raiders. Less trouble from biting midges and gnats than in the lower lying areas etc. 150 dwellings, when you consider how many people could have shared each one, approaches the population of a small town, large village, or fairly important trading centre.
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This, basically. Tre'r Ceiri is an awesome place. Drystone curtain wall a metre or more thick that's still standing. I love it up there
 
Penryn, i was told, was built on the back of slavery, the sugar trade. As for tre' r ceiri, the views up there are stunning, better than from the top of snowden.
 
hash tag said:
Penryn, i was told, was built on the back of slavery, the sugar trade. .
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Well that tells me how little I know :(

Because of your post hash tag , I've just done a little search and you're absolutely right -- slavery was the REAL root of that estate

I used to live not that far away from Penrhyn, and all the obvious history easily available back then was about the slate quarrying -- also hugely important, but later.

Thank you for prompting me to fill some gaps in my knowledge.
 
hash tag said:
Have just spent the weekend in a cottage just outside Bangor. Whilst there we got taken to Penrhyn Castle http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/penrhyn-castle/ and Tre'r Ceiri http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tre'r_Ceiri.
Penrhyn, is a massive mock norman castle full to the brim of the most ornate decor you would ever see, just horrible and mad.
Tre'r Ceiri is a peak of about 1800ft. On the way up, the magnificient views just keep opening up and offering more and more. Once up at the top you find a massive iron age hill fort with about 150 dwellings surrounded by 14ft thick walls. Why? Whats it for, why build such a place so high, so inhospitable; just barking!
Click to expand...
well Denbigh did used to have a mental home,,,,,,,,,
 
gareth taylor said:
well Denbigh did used to have a mental home,,,,,,,,,
Click to expand...
Denbigh-Lunatic-Asylum-10-1024x768.jpg
 
William of Walworth said:
Well that tells me how little I know :(

Because of your post hash tag , I've just done a little search and you're absolutely right -- slavery was the REAL root of that estate

I used to live not that far away from Penrhyn, and all the obvious history easily available back then was about the slate quarrying -- also hugely important, but later.

Thank you for prompting me to fill some gaps in my knowledge.
Click to expand...

Hi william, its really nothing to do with me, a mere numpty. I was with two academics and a historian, so i just keep quiet and listen. Have to say, many UK places were built on the backs of slavery or war, though some were philanthropic, like port sunlight, which is not a million miles away.
I recomend associating with academics :thumbs::thumbs:
 
William of Walworth said:
We miss out on some of the smaller/more micro/newer Welsh brewers down here (in Swansea), especially those based in the North. Will keep an eye out for that one now, though :)

I also recommend Heavy Industry (another North Wales brewery -- its beers are excellent).
Click to expand...

There's a new shop open in Caernarfon that stocks virtully nothing but Welsh ale, cider, and whisky. It's like an Aladdins cave.

I had that Bragdy Dinbych one, a couple from a micro brewery on Anglesey (Amlwch Porter was pretty nice), and a couple of Cwrw Llŷn ones - their "Saithenyn" beer is fantastic! Lucky enough te get it on draft sometimes too. The other one I tried was their "Y Brawd Houdini", which was also pretty good.
 
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