From the Castle Ramparts, a photo from Dorset, England

Photographer's Note

Good Morning Everyone,

I think this will be my last post from Corfe Castle, for a while.

I have shown you the castle and the station, so I thought I would end with a bird's-eye view of the village, from the castle walls.

From this view, you can understand why the castle was built here. The views over the surrounding land are vast!

Just below the castle is the church of St. Edmund the Martyr. It has a very long and dramatic history:-

In AD 978 Queen AElfrida (or Alfthryth) of Mercia was staying at the royal fortress of Corfe Castle with her stepson Edward and her own ten-year-old son, AEthelred. Aelfrida had her stepson murdered to put her own son on the throne. The murdered boy-king became known as St Edward the Martyr, and Aethelred is better known to history as Aethelred the Unready, from the Saxon words un-raed, or 'ill-counselled'.

According to one tale the king's body was found by a blind woman, lain in a cottage and was later thrown into a nearby marsh. A supernatural light appeared over the marsh, and Edward's body was recovered and buried at Wareham. The dead king's supporters at court spread tales that miracles could be attributed to the murdered king, who was duly declared a saint.

Much later the cottage where his body had lain was replaced by an early medieval church, dedicated, not surprisingly, to St Edward the Martyr. The first church was probably built in the early or mid-13th century, and the first recorded vicar comes from 1280. That first church was composed of a nave, chancel, north aisle, and north porch. In the late 13th century a second aisle was added, with later, Victorian extensions. - History has many such tales about the route to kingship!

Between the castle and the church is a lovely pub; I think it is the Greyhound Inn. Incorporating a visit to the castle with a meal here entitles you to a 10% discount. (Maybe when lockdown ends!!)

In the distance, you will be able to see the smoke from the Heritage Steam Train. See it closer in my workshop.

Thank you for your interest, Bev :-)

Fis2, pierrefonds, holmertz, ChrisJ, jhm, jean113, ikeharel, foxy, PaulVDV, COSTANTINO, burmaman, adramad has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Fis2 (170945) 2021-02-26 2:00

Witaj Bev!
A very nice POV, view makes impression.
It is a pity that the tower did not fit into the frame.
Good colors and sharpnes.
Interesting work from Your archive.
Have a nice day.
Krzysztof

Silvio1953 (221781) 2021-02-26 2:17

Ciao cara Bev, great POV from castle, lovely composition with parade of boaof roofsts, wonderful colors, excellent clarity, fine details and splendid light, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

pierrefonds (114608) 2021-02-26 5:17

Hi Bev,

The length of the street is creating depth. The point of view is showing the details of the church and of the houses. The light is giving nice tints to the colors of the picture. Have a nice day.

Pierre

holmertz (102846) 2021-02-26 5:51

Hello Bev,
I like the contrasts between various green tones of nature and the grey buildings. I would probably have located this in England even without your assistance. It is a very pretty view, and the WS is a good complement. The train looks really nice in those green surroundings. Travelling all across India by steam trains in the 1970's, with the windows always open (with iron bars preventing people from leaning outside) I needed too wash carefully efter every long journey. The steam was dirty!
Kind regards,
Gert

ChrisJ (171888) 2021-02-26 6:16

Hello Bev,

The central road adds good linear perspective and the modern cars are a striking contrast to the timeless old stone cottages of this charming village. It was well worth the walk up to the castle ruins for this splendid panoramic view. Tfs!

jhm (211736) 2021-02-26 6:30

Hello Bev,

I like your colours and lovely panorama image, photographed out of the height
We see very much details generally.
Composition and presentation are soft and attractive.
Very well done, TFS.

Kindest regards,
John.

foxy (3461) 2021-02-26 8:52

Hello Bev,
With a view like that....a perfect spot 'watching the world go by' or 'recollecting my fondest memories'.
Such a beautiful serene village and ever-green vast landscape. Occasionally, the sound of a Steam Train can be heard choo choo in the distance with a long puff of smoke gradually disappearing in the trail.

As beautiful as it is , it has the 'Tale from the Darkside' from the history. It's a very compelling read ( the note here ). Now, it's a 'fairytale' castle :-)
The WS1, the names also appealed to me as, 'The Murder on the Orient Express' :-)

Thanks for sharing this 'Ramparts' scene.
Loong

I do understand now how I felt. What I gathered that 'female stone-age' were more intelligence than the 'male stone-age'. Maybe , it's true :-)

jean113 (27899) 2021-02-26 9:02

Hello Beverley, a wonderful view from the heights of the castle.
We can see the stone built cottages and church of the village, and what is clear is that the village is surrounded by some beautiful scenery.
The smoke from the steam engine is a nice extra.
Kind regards, Jean.

ikeharel (113501) 2021-02-26 9:57

Good evening Beverley,
A marvelous view from the height of the castle down to the village, green trees and fields beyond.
The train in the WS photo worth a main post by itself - in my humble opinon, a vibrant scene it is.
My best regards,
Ike

PaulVDV (63024) 2021-02-26 11:46

Hello Beverley,
I can see the smoke of the train but I cannot find the station.
In your previous photo taken at the station, however, the ruin of Corfe Castle looked relatively close.
It's a beautiful green landscape in which the steam train puffs on. Also on this bird's-eye view.
I like the uniformity of grey roofs and facades in contrast to the green nature. The church joins in nicely with this.
Best regards, Paul

jmdias (115342) 2021-02-26 12:22

bev

looks like there is a church at right, it would be interesting to see it completely. but I guess you were concentrated in the beautiful street and the rural landscape ahead. if my town where in europe probably they had build a castle here. haha. we have a wider view of the areas around. a very beautiful place and photo.
here governor of my state put the whole state in lock down because the second wave of covid is arriving..

take care

jorge

Tue (92548) 2021-02-26 12:26

Hello Beverley,
The castle offered a fantastic vantage point to overlook the town and the green hills around it. I like how the road is placed in the middle of the composition with the many roofs of the houses and the church at right around it.
Lars

lousat (139362) 2021-02-26 13:40

Hi Bev,fantastic pics from the castle ramparts,the view of old village is a great jump in the past and in the history of this Devon village like your recent post showing the ruins. And what a lucky meeting with the train,you caught in a great way a scene that reminds me a lot my trip in Scotland with the train 30 years ago. Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

ifege (48253) 2021-02-26 19:45

Hi Bev
A good view from on high over the village with its winding main street.
cheers
Ian

jemaflor (147300) 2021-02-26 23:23

Hi Bev,
a good POV, interesting architecture with these traditional architecture style, perfect sharpness, I like the depth given by the view of the street in the center of your shot, tfs.

abmdsudi (95869) 2021-02-27 0:50

Hi Beverley
I am now suffering serious vertigo but a fabulous opportunity well taken and so picturesque as seen here and tis looks like a good historical reference. Excellent image of this wonderful location and very interesting write up, Congrats
Best regards

COSTANTINO (116674) 2021-02-27 23:02

Hello my friend
wow!!!!so many castles down there
dominating this landscape...
this seems like a scenery
from a movie film...
regards
Costantino

burmaman (1336) 2021-02-28 7:56

Hello Beverly!
Your high POV worked well and it is a nice view at these old houses.I hope the pub can reopen soon.
Maybe it would have been better to pan the camera a little to the right to see the whole church tower. Just a suggestion. Anyway a nice photo.It is nice top see the steam of the old train.
Regards,Ronny

mkamionka (74637) 2021-02-28 12:16

Hi Bev,
beautiful area indeed. The village seems to kept in same style , without the cars it could pretend to be an ancient drawing.
Good idea to limit the sky to the minimum.
The road in the centre adds a nice touch,
very well done,
M

adramad (73030) 2021-03-02 10:45

Hi Bev.
A great panoramic view of the town and the valley from the castle, I love the style of the houses, all in the same stone style, the valley in the background is beautiful, everything so green alternating cultivation areas or meadows, with other wooded parts.
Very good color that increases the attractiveness of the image.
Superb brightness and sharpness management, to enjoy the details.
Well seen and done. I like it.
Have a nice day.
Very best regards.
Luis.