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Invasion defences from 1940, nestling in the dunes at the back of Dunnet Bay, some 75 years later these hastily constructed lumps of concrete and stone have passed from eyesores on the beach to a important pat of the beach landscape.
Dunnet Beach, Dunnet Bay, Caithness, Scotland.
Given to my grandfather, James Cross, for his work during WWII. He was a volunteer fireman (or something like that) so he wasn't called up.
According Wikipedia, this probably isn't the original ribbon.
Tchoukball Geneva Indoors 2019 • Nations Cup • Semi-final • Women • Switzerland - Germany
Photo by David Sandoz
3U9A8418
The winning DCD unit that came First place in the Regional Civil Defence Competition, Cavan, 16th October 2011
Now I'm ready to close my eyes
And now I'm ready to close my mind
And now I'm ready to feel your hand
And lose my heart on the burning sands
And now I wanna be your dog
And now I wenna be your dog
Now I wanna be your dog
Well c'mon
I Wanna Be Your Dog - Iggy Pop
Exper - www.hobosedizioni.it
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg meets with the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Rui Machete.
Soldiers from the Israeli Army Nahal Brigade during a large scale training exercise on the Golan, November 2010
Israeli soldiers patrol along the border fence between the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights and Syria on May 20, 2011 near the Druze village of Majdal al-Shams, Israel. The Golan Heights area was captured from Syria by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War.
Amsterdam, 5 februari 2016 / Amsterdam 5th of Februari.
Minister van Defensie Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert en Frederica Mogherini tijdens de persconferentie in het Europagebouw.
Dutch minister of Defense Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and Frederica Mogherini during the press conference in Amsterdam.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the third week of August 2014.
Work is now on-going in this area of the The Slang/Dargle River, involving: -- Site preparation and mobilisation comprising sheetpile flood defence walls.
The site preparation required the removal of mature trees and vegetation along the riverbank. Section-by-section, long lengths of steel sheet piling are aligned within a frame, and then driven partially into the bedrock by crane-suspended hydraulic hammers.
The guys were now working to reinforce the riverside of the sheetpiling, buttressing with large boulders, and an overlay of smaller gravel.
Work also started on the other side of the river, again driving sheet piles.
A new access ramp down to the riverbed was carved out to accommodate the extra pile driving. Other sub-contractors are now engaged in securing the riverbanks+sheet piles by drilling and securing rock anchors.
Defence Forces Triathlon took place in Lilliput Adventure Center in Mullingar on the banks of Lough Enell
Protesters sit chatting outside the Ministry of Defence with a large "Labour CND" banner.
Anti-Trident protesters encircle Ministry of Defence with giant "Peace Scarf" : London 24.01.2015
All photos © Pete Riches
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Israeli Soldiers from the NAHAL Infantry Brigade during the Beret March at the end of their Basic Training, 9th September 2011
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken on the fourth/last week of July 2014. JONS Civil Engineering are engaged in the preparation and construction works - progressing steadily in this area of the The Slang/Dargle River. Sheet piling is a form of driven piling using thin interlocking sheets of steel to obtain a continuous barrier in the ground. The current work involves the construction of a protective wall structure, at the edge of the riverbank adjacent to the La Vallee complexes. Having erected the steel cross-beam frames, sections of which are welded for added rigidity, and then used to position/align the slotted 'Z' sheet piles, the guys then use what is known as a 'Dawson Sheet Pile Threader' to neatly interlock the wall of steel lengths. Progress is steady and relentless -- the steel wall would eventually measure approx. 270 metres.
Finally -- the weather turned, the rains fell, the water levels rose, and work was temporarily halted in the riverbed. It changed just as quickly.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the fourth+ week of September 2014. The guys were now working to reinforce the riverside of the sheetpiling, buttressing with large boulders, and an overlay of smaller gravel. Most of the sheet piles were driven into place. Work now involved re-inforcing the base of the sheet wall. On this side of the river, that work required the placement of steel-rod reinforced concrete pouring. They also finally got around to 'topping' the steel piles -- using hand-held oxy-acetylene torch. I was kinda hoping they'd have a plasma cutter. However the work was done quickly, neatly and with little inconvenience to local residents. Weekend stroll along the riverbank to get a closer look at the structures.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg meets with the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Rui Machete.
Israeli soldiers stand guard near the Qalandia crossing between the West Bank and Jerusalem during clashes on March 17, 2010 with Palestinian protesters. Tensions over Jerusalem sparked the worst riots in years but are unlikely to ignite a new intifada, or uprising, as the Palestinian Authority appears determined to preserve calm. Graffiti on Israel's controversial separation barrier in the background includes a portrait of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
Israeli Soldiers from the NAHAL Brigade during a large scale Field Training Exercise – May/June 2012
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken on the second week of July 2014.
JONS Civil Engineering are engaged in the preparation and construction works - progressing steadily in this area of the The Slang/Dargle River. Sheet piling is a form of driven piling using thin interlocking sheets of steel to obtain a continuous barrier in the ground.
The current work involves the construction of a protective wall structure, at the edge of the riverbank adjacent to the La Vallee complexes. Having erected the steel cross-beam frames, sections of which are welded for added rigidity, and then used to position/align the slotted 'Z' sheet piles, the guys then use what is known as a 'Dawson Sheet Pile Threader' to neatly interlock the wall of steel lengths.
Another delicate, and dangerous task: back-filling the foundations of the driven piles with crushed hardcore to prevent any undue movement. The CAT operator, working blind to hand signals, has only a narrow space into which to unload.
Good teamwork.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the first week of July 2014. Preparation and constructions works are now underway in this area of the The Slang/Dargle River.
JONS Civil Engineering are the approved contractors to - devise/construct/complete a retaining wall along the La Vallee office+apartment stretch of riverbank. Much of the early work involves removal of plant material along the riverbanks, adjacent to the office-apartments complexes. Heavy machinery now appears on site, rows of sheetpile steel lengths are trucked in, and carefully laid out, access ramp down to the riverbed is cut and graded, and hard-core of varying grades is stockpiled. Crawler cranes are assembled, mounds of varying hard-core are stockpiled, hydraulic hammers and coupled generators are readied, and frames+girders are assembled prior to the task of inserting the steel sheet piles. The continued dry, sunny weather is a welcome relief for this production work.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken on the third week of July 2014. JONS Civil Engineering are engaged in the preparation and construction works - progressing steadily in this area of the The Slang/Dargle River. Sheet piling is a form of driven piling using thin interlocking sheets of steel to obtain a continuous barrier in the ground. The current work involves the construction of a protective wall structure, at the edge of the riverbank adjacent to the La Vallee complexes. Having erected the steel cross-beam frames, sections of which are welded for added rigidity, and then used to position/align the slotted 'Z' sheet piles, the guys then use what is known as a 'Dawson Sheet Pile Threader' to neatly interlock the wall of steel lengths. Progress is steady and relentless -- the steel wall would eventually measure approx. 270 metres.
Finally -- the weather turned, the rains fell, the water levels rose, and work was temporarily halted in the riverbed.
River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme.
These images were taken during the first week of October 2012, tracking the on-going river bank alterations and excavation of the river bed.
In preparation for the river-bank strengthening/protection along this stretch of the river, a 2nd channel was created -- with the intention of diverting the river.
Having endured a similar flooding only days earlier, another heavy fall of rain caused the channels to fill up again.
It meant starting all over again - draining this road/bank side channel, cutting a release channel near the bridge to release the volume, and activating pumps to assist with the repeated drainage.
Matters were never helped by the overflow pipe which siphoned run-off from the adjacent motorway!
Always quite amazing to see how water levels could drain away within a few days.
The question would always be -- how much work could be completed before the (inevitable) next run of water?
As we can see, one or two day's intense rain could produce rapid flooding of channels, swamping on-going works, and causing temporary vehicle access paths to have to be repaired. And these access ramps were proving difficult to navigate for the fully-laden dumpers/trucks.
One hell of a wet and messy place to be working, especially for the guys on foot.
Gabions consist of steel ‘baskets’ filled with rock pieces.
They are filled and then fixed together to provide protection and strength to the existing river bank.
They allow ground water to flow through them which helps prevent waterlogging of the bank behind them. Existing examples of these can be seen (here) on the North bank to the rear of the La Vallee Apartments.
Long shallow versions of gabions, known as ‘mattresses’, are used to protect the edges of the river channel, particularly at bends in the river.
Reconnaissance Platoon Trains in combat
The Reconnaissance Platoon of the 601st Brigade is a small unit in the Combat Engineering Corps. Last week, they held an exercise in a densely wooded area, where they practiced combat fighting, reconnaissance and evacuating injured soldiers. They also practiced fighting underground. February 6, 2013
Photo by Sgt. Shay Wagner, IDF Spokesperson Unit.
The black and crimson tide of Fellblades breaks on the thin red line of Angels Sanguine and Blood Drinkers.
Soldiers begin to move forward after getting out of the Griffon. Soldiers from the Defence and Security Platoon (D &S) practice helicopter load and unload drills on the Griffon helicopter. 427 Squadron provided the Griffon's for the exercise. The D&S Pl is made up of soldiers from The Lake Superior Scottish Regiment.
Soldiers from 38 Canadian Brigade are training in Winnipeg on Exercise Charging Bison 06 from 30 April to 6 May. The purpose of Exercise Charging Bison 06 is to expose 38 CBG soldiers to the intricacies of conducting operations in an urban environment such as they may encounter if they are deployed on operations outside of Canada. Specifically, 38 CBG needs to train its soldiers on how to interact with a local civilian population while, at the same time, remaining focused on a military mission.
38 CBG consists of Reserve soldiers from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northern Ontario. Approximately 630 soldiers from 38 CBG, 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group from Northern Manitoba and Minnesota National Guard soldiers from 14 Infantry Division also took part in Exercise Charging Bison.
Harvard University Crimson vs. Union College Dutchmen - Messa Rink - Schenectady, New York - January 24, 2014
The castle has been the seat of the Percy family since Norman times. By 1138 the original motte and bailey castle, with wooden buildings, was replaced with stone buildings and walls. In 1309 the keep and defences were made even stronger by Henry de Percy. The castle then stayed unchanged for 400 years. By the 18th century it had fallen into ruins. The keep however was then turned into a gothic style mansion by Robert Adam. In the 19th century the Duke of Northumberland carried out more restoration of the castle.
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ALNWICK CASTLE, THE CASTLE, STABLE COURT AND COVERED RIDING SCHOOL INCLUDING WEST WALL OF RIDING SCHOOL
Heritage Category: Listed Building
Grade: I
List Entry Number: 1371308
National Grid Reference: NU 18685 13574
Details
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 05/10/2011
NU 1813 NE 2/1 NU 1813 SE 1/1 20.2.52. 5330
Alnwick Castle The Castle, Stable Court and Covered Riding School including West Wall of Riding School
GV I
Alnwick Castle has work of every period on the line of the original motte and bailey plan. By 1138 a strong stone built border castle with a shell keep in place of the motte, formed the nucleus of the present castle with 2 baileys enclosing about 7 acres. The curtain walls and their square towers rest on early foundations and the inner gatehouse has round-headed arches with heavy chevron decoration. The Castle was greatly fortified after its purchase by Henry de Percy 1309 - the Barbican and Gatehouse, the semi-circular towers of the shell keep, the octagonal towers of the inner gateway and the strong towers of the curtain wall date from the early to mid C14. Ruinous by the C18, the 1st Duke had it rehabilitated and extended by James Prince and Robert Adam, the latter being mainly concerned with the interior decoration, very little of which remains except for fireplaces in the Housekeeper's and the Steward's Rooms and for inside the present Estates Office range. Capability Brown landscaped the grounds, filling in the former moat (formed by Bow Burn). The 4th Duke employed Anthony Salvin 1854-65 at the cost of £1/4 million to remove Adam's fanciful Gothic decoration, to restore a serious Gothic air to the exterior and to redesign the state rooms in an imposing grand Italian manner. The Castle is approached from Bailliff gate through the crenellated Barbican and Gatehouse (early C14): lion rampant (replica) over archway, projecting square side towers with corbelled upper parts, fortified passage over dry moat to vaulted gateway flanked by polygonal towers. Stone figures on crenellations here, on Aveners Tower, on Record Tower and on Inner Gateway were carved circa 1750-70 by Johnson of Stamfordham and probably reflect an earlier similar arrangement. In the Outer Bailey to the, north are the West Garrett (partly Norman), the Abbott's Tower (circa 1350) with a rib vaulted basement, and the Falconer's Tower (1856). To the south are the Aveners Tower [C18], the Clock Tower leading into the Stable Yard, the C18 office block, the Auditor's Tower (early Clk) and the Middle Gateway (circa 1309-15) leading to the Middle Bailey. The most prominent feature of the Castle on the west side is the very large Prudhoe Tower by Salvin and the polygonal apse of the chapel near to it. In the Middle Bailey, to the south are the Warders Tower (1856) with the lion gateway leading by a bridge to the grand stairs into the walled garden, the East Garrett and the Record Tower (C14, rebuilt 1885). In the curtain wall to the north are 2 blocked windows probably from an early C17 building now destroyed and the 'Bloody Gap', a piece of later walling possibly replacing a lost truer; next a small C14 watch tower (Hotspur's Seat); next the Constable's Tower, early C14 and unaltered with a gabled staircase turret; close by is the Postern Tower, early C14, also unaltered.'To the north-west of the Postern Tower is a large terrace made in the C18, rebuilt 1864-65, with some old cannon on it. The Keep is entered from the Octagon Towers (circa 1350) which have 13 heraldic shields below the parapet, besides the agotrop3ic figures, and a vaulted passage expanded from the Norman gateway (fragments of chevron on former outer arch are visible inside). The present arrangement of the inner ward is largely Salvin's work with a covered entrance with a projecting storey and lamp-bracket at the rear of the Prudhoe Tower and a corbelled corridor at 1st floor level on the east. Mediaeval draw well on the east wall, next to the original doorway to the keep, now a recess The keep, like the curtain walls, is largely mediaeval except for some C18 work on the interior on the west and for the Prudhoe Tower and the Chapel. The interior contrasts with the rugged mediaeval exterior with its sumptuous Renaissance decoration, largely by Italians - Montiroli, Nucci, Strazza, Mantavani and inspired from Italian sources. The chapel with its family gallery at the east end has 4 short rib vaulted bays and a shallow 3-light apse; side walls have mosaics, covered now with tapestry. The grand staircase With its groin vaulted ceiling leads to the Guard Chamber from which an ante-room leads west into the Library (in the Prudhoe Tower) and east into the Music Room (fireplace with Dacian captives by Nucci). Further on are the Red Drawing Room (caryatid fireplace by Nucci) and the Dining Room (ceiling design copied from St Lorenzo f.l.m. in Rome and fireplace with bacchante by Strazza and faun by Nucci). South of the Middle Gateway are Salvin's impressive Kitchen quarters where the oven was designed to burn a ton of coal per day. West of the Stable Courtyard, with C19 Guest Hall at the south end, is the C19 covered riding school, with stable to north of it, and with its west wall forming the east side of Narrowgate. The corner with Bailliffgate has an obtuse angled tower of 2 storeys, with a depressed ogee headed doorway from the street, and merlons.
Listing NGR: NU1863413479
historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/137130...
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ALNWICK CASTLE
Heritage Category: Park and Garden
Grade: I
List Entry Number: 1001041
National Grid Reference: NU1739315366, NU2254414560
Details
Extensive landscape parks and pleasure grounds developed from a series of medieval deer parks, around Alnwick Castle, the seat of the Percy family since the C14.
Between 1750 and 1786, a picturesque landscape park was developed for Hugh, first Duke of Northumberland, involving work by James Paine, Robert Adam, and the supervision of work by Lancelot Brown (1716-83) and his foremen Cornelius Griffin, Robson, and Biesley in the 1760-80s, working alongside James and Thomas Call, the Duke's gardeners. During the C19 each successive Duke contributed and elaborated on the expansive, planned estate landscape, within which the landscape park was extended. This was accompanied by extensive C19 garden works, including a walled, formal flower garden designed in the early C19 by John Hay (1758-1836), and remodelled mid C19 by William Andrews Nesfield (1793-1881).
NOTE This entry is a summary. Because of the complexity of this site, the standard Register entry format would convey neither an adequate description nor a satisfactory account of the development of the landscape. The user is advised to consult the references given below for more detailed accounts. Many Listed Buildings exist within the site, not all of which have been here referred to. Descriptions of these are to be found in the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest produced by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT
In the C13, Hulne Park, West Park, and Cawledge were imparked within the Forest of Alnwick. Hulne Park lay to the north-west of Alnwick Castle and Cawledge to the south and south-east. By the late Middle Ages, Hulne Park extended to 4000 acres (c 1620ha) enclosed by some 13 miles (c 21km) of wall. It was stocked with some 1000 fallow deer and a tower at Hulne Priory served as a hunting lodge. The parks formed the basis of Alnwick Park, landscaped by Sir Hugh Smithson (1714-86) who in 1750 became Earl of Northumberland, inheriting his father-in-law's northern estates. Prior to this, from 1748 he and his wife, Elizabeth Seymour (1716-76), had lived at Stanwick, Yorkshire (qv) and at Syon Park, London (qv), where they had already established a reputation for gardening, attested by Philip Miller's dedication, in 1751, of his Gardener's Dictionary to the Earl.
Together they embarked on an ambitious scheme to restore the Castle, develop the grounds and estate, and restore the Percy family traditions and identity at Alnwick. Those employed at Alnwick were also involved elsewhere on the Northumberland estates: James Paine, architect at Syon House, Daniel Garrett, architect at Northumberland House, the Strand (1750-3), Robert Adam, architect at Syon (1762-9), Lancelot Brown, landscape architect at Syon Park (1754-72).
In 1751, Thomas Call (1717-82), who had been the Earl's gardener at Stanwick, prepared a scheme for the parklands and pleasure grounds, including a plan for Brizlee Hill (the south part of Hulne Park). Call and his relation James, working at Alnwick by 1756, were responsible for the development of Hulne Park over twenty years. The date and extent of Lancelot Brown's involvement at Alnwick is uncertain, although his foremen Griffin, Robson, and Biesley worked at Alnwick with teams of men between 1771and 1781 and records shown that they also worked alongside Call and his men (in 1773 for example, Call had a team of sixty men and Biesley one of seventy-eight).
Hulne Park was developed as a picturesque pleasure ground with extensive rides, follies, and the enhancement of natural features. A characteristic of the Duke's scheme was his recognition of antiquarian sites within the landscape, which were embellished. Thus in 1755, Hulne Priory was purchased to become the focal point of Hulne Park. A garden was made within the cloister walls and, from c 1763, the priory became the gamekeeper's residence, with a menagerie of gold and silver pheasants. Statues of friars cut by the mason Matthew Mills were set in the landscape. In 1774, a medieval commemorative cross to Malcolm Canmore (listed grade II), situated at the northern entrance to the North Demesne, was restored.
Following the Duchess' death in 1776, the Duke decorated all her favourite locations with buildings, some being ideas she had noted in her memoranda. Work also included other notes and ideas the Duchess had had, including the ruin at Ratcheugh Crag and some ninety-eight drives and incidents.
Plans for the parklands at the North Demesne, Denwick, and Ratcheugh Crags were developed in the late 1760s, although in the case of the North Demesne some parkland planting had been undertaken by 1760, and the major work undertaken in the early 1770s is that attributed to Brown, mainly on stylistic grounds.
During the C19, under the second Duke (1742-1817) the parks were extended, this including the purchase of Alnwick Abbey and part of its estate. The complex of drives was also extended and this was accompanied by extensive plantations, including the large Bunker Hill plantation central to the north area of Hulne Park, named to commemorate the Duke's action in 1775 in the War of American Independence. Most significantly, between 1806 and 1811, building centred on construction of a perimeter wall, defining the boundary of Hulne Park, and lodges and gateways at entrances to the parks. The carriage drives were extended, necessitating the construction of bridges over the River Aln. These schemes were implemented by estate workers, local masons, and David Stephenson, the Duke's architect.
As the Castle had no formal flower gardens, John Hay was commissioned between 1808 and 1812 to design pleasure gardens to the south-east of the Castle, linking it with a new walled garden at Barneyside, furnished with a range of hothouses, glasshouses, and pine pits. These were extended in the 1860s when Anthony Salvin, employed in the restoration of the Castle, built a gateway between the inner bailey and the pleasure gardens. Nesfield designed a scheme for the walled gardens to be developed as an ornamental flower and fruit garden, with a large central pool, conservatory, and a series of broad terraces and parterres. The Alnwick scheme can be compared to Nesfield's in the precincts of Arundel Castle, West Sussex (qv), in 1845.
Alnwick Castle, parks and estate remain (2000) in private ownership, the latest significant developments being the replanting and restoration of the North Demesne (1990s) and plans to completely remodel the walled garden.
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
Alnwick Castle parks cover a tract of countryside encircling Alnwick town on its west, north, north-east, and south sides. The land is a mixture of contrasting landscape types, with high heather moorland and the rough crags of the Northumbrian Sandstone Hills sweeping down to the improved pasture lands along the wooded Aln valley. The parks exploit the boundaries of these distinctive landforms where the rugged moorland gives way to the pastoral, rolling landscape of the Aln, on its route to the sea. In the west parklands the river is confined between hills, and in places has incised deep, narrow valleys while in the east the landscape is more open.
The registered area of 1300ha is bounded on its north-east side by the Hulne Park wall, west of the Bewick to Alnwick Road (B6346). The west side of the area here registered follows field boundaries to the west of Shipley Burn, starting at Shipley Bridge, and then turns south-west at a point c 1km south of the bridge. It then runs for south-west for c 2.3km, to the west of Hulne Park, before crossing the River Aln and running parallel to Moorlaw Dean for c 1.2km, on the west side of the burn. The southern area is defined by Hulne Park wall running around the south point of Brizlee Wood then in a line due east, south of Cloudy Crags drive, to cross the Stocking Burn and reach Forest Lodge. The boundary then defines the north-western extent of Alnwick town and, crossing the Canongate Bridge, the southernmost extent of the Dairy Grounds.
To the east of the Castle the registered area takes in the entire North Demesne bounded on its north by Long Plantation, a perimeter belt which lies on the south side of Smiley Lane and then extends eastwards to meet the junction of the B1340 and A1 trunk road. The A1 has effectively cut through the North Demesne from north to south and, although physically divorcing the two areas, they are still visually conjoined. Defined on its north side within the hamlet of Denwick by tree belts, the park extends eastwards for 1km before cutting across southwards to meet the River Aln at Lough House. This latter stretch is bounded by a perimeter belt. The south boundary of the North Demesne follows the river in part, before meeting the Alnwick to Denwick road (B1340). To the south, the Castle gardens are delimited from the town by property boundaries along Bondgate. An outlying area of designed landscape at Ratcheugh is also included.
A complex series of drives is laid throughout the parks, particularly in Hulne Park. A series of thirty standing stones stand at the beginning of the drives or where they converge. These are inscribed with the names of the drives and act as signposts.
Alnwick Castle (1134 onwards, c 1750-68 by James Paine and Robert Adam, 1854-6 by Anthony Salvin, listed grade I) lies on the high ground on the south side of the Aln valley, commanding views to the north, east, and west. To the south is Alnwick town but the landscape is designed so that the town is not in view of the Castle. The principal views from the Castle lie over the North Demesne.
The North Demesne originally included Denwick Park (they have now been divided by the A1 road), and together these 265ha form the core parkland designed by Brown. Perimeter tree belts define the park, and clumps and scatters of specimen trees ornament the ground plan. The Aln has been dammed to give the appearance of an extensive, natural serpentine lake, with bridges as focal points: the Lion Bridge (John Adam 1773, listed grade I) and Denwick Bridge (1766, probably also by Adam, listed grade I). A programme of replanting and restoration of the North Demesne is under way (late 1990s).
The medieval deer park of Hulne extended to the north of the Shipley Road (outside the area here registered). Hulne Park is now 1020ha and is in agricultural and forestry use. The principal entrance from Alnwick town is Forest Lodge, the only extant part of Alnwick Abbey. Hulne Park is completely enclosed by an early C19 perimeter wall, c 3m high with shaped stone coping and buttresses every 20m. Nearly 5km of wall lies alongside roads, 5km across fields, and 5km defines perimeter woodland and moorland from the enclosed park.
The park design consists of a series of oval-shaped enclosures, defined by tree belts vital for shelter. The highest point is in the west area of the park, from where there are long-distance views east to the sea. The River Aln winds its way through the park via a series of contrasting steep valleys and flatter lands. The valleys are emphasised by planting on the upper slopes, while the lower areas are encircled with designed plantations to emphasise the river's meanders and ox-bow lakes.
Picturesque incidents survive at Nine Year Aud Hole, where the statue of a hermit (late C18, listed grade II) stands at the entrance to a natural cave along Cave Drive, and at Long Stone, a monolith standing high on the west side of Brizlee Hill, with panoramic views over Hulne Park to the north-west. The picturesque highlight is Hulne Priory (original medieval buildings, C18 alterations and enhancements, all listed grade I), which includes a summerhouse designed by Robert Adam (1778-80, listed grade I) and statues of praying friars erected in the Chapter House (late C18). The Priory's picturesque qualities are well appreciated from Brizlee Tower (Robert Adam, listed grade I), built in 1781 to commemorate the creation of the Alnwick parks by the first Duke and Duchess, a Latin inscription stating:
Circumspice! Ego omnia ista sum dimensus; Mei sunt ordines, Mea descriptio Multae etiam istarum arborum Mea manu sunt satae. [Look about you. I have measured all these things; they are my orders; it is my planning; many of these trees have been planted by my own hand.]
Brizlee is sited on a high point which can be seen in views north-west from the Castle, mirroring views north-east to the 'Observatory' on Ratcheugh Crag, a sham ruined castle sited as an eyecatcher on high ground and built by John Bell of Durham in 1784 (plans to further elaborate it were designed by Robert Adam).
Another principal feature of Hulne Park is a series of regular, walled enclosures (the walls set in ditches with banks cast up inside the compounds) which line Farm Drive, the central road through the park, north-westwards from Moor Lodge. This functioned as the third Duke's menagerie, and is still pasture.
The 15ha Dairy Ground links Hulne Park and the North Demesne. It principally consists of the Aln valley north-west of the Castle, stretching between Canongate Bridge and Lion Bridge, laid out as pleasure gardens. Barbara's Bank and the Dark Walk are plantations laid out with walks on the steep slopes with a Curling Pond to the north of the Aln.
The walled garden of 3ha lies to the south-east of the Castle, reached by the remains of C19 pleasure gardens laid out on the slopes above Barneyside. After the Second World War use of the glasshouses ceased, and until recently (late 1990s) the Estate Forestry Department used it. The earthwork terraces and remnants of specimen planting of Nesfield's scheme survive.
REFERENCES
Note: There is a wealth of material about this site. The key references are cited below.
The Garden, 5 (1874), pp 100-1, 188; 20 (1881), pp 155-6 Gardeners' Chronicle, ii (1880), pp 523-4, 587; ii (1902), pp 273-4 J Horticulture and Cottage Gardener 15, (1887), pp 296-8 P Finch, History of Burley on the Hill (1901), p 330 Country Life, 65 (22 June 1929), pp 890-8; 66 (6 July 1929), pp 16-22; 174 (4 August 1983), p 275 D Stroud, Capability Brown (1975), pp 103-4 Garden History 9, (1981), pp 174-7 Capability Brown and the Northern Landscape, (Tyne & Wear County Council Museums 1983), pp 19, 22-3, 27, 42 Restoration Management Plan, Alnwick Castle, (Land Use Consultants 1996) C Shrimpton, Alnwick Castle, guidebook, (1999)
Description written: August 2000 Resgister Inspector: KC Edited: June 2003
historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/100104...
See also:-
16/03/2033. Tokyo, Japan The Defence Secretary Ben Wallace after a trilateral meeting with the Defence Minister for Japan, Yasukazu Hamada and the Defence Minister of Italy, Guido Crosetto at the Japanese MoD Headquarters in Tokyo
Israeli Soldiers from the NAHAL Brigade during a large scale Field Training Exercise – May/June 2012
Defence of Mr Thomas Lubanga Dyilo in ICC Courtroom I for his sentencing hearing on 10 July 2012 © ICC-CPI/Jerry Lampen/ANP
Western tower, remains of the Hellenistic and Islamic city wall.
One of the defensive towers of the city wall in the Islamic Period, with Roman remains.
Alexandria, Shallalat Gardens-Egypt.
Brean Down Fort forms part of a line of defences, known as Palmerston Forts, built across the channel to protect the approaches to Bristol and Cardiff. It was fortified following a visit by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to France, where they had been concerned at the strength of the French Navy. The Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom, under direction of Lord Palmerston, recommended fortification of the coast. Brean Down Fort formed part of a strategic coastal defence system covering the channel between the mainland and the islands of Steep Holm and Flat Holm.
Four acres of land at the end of Brean Down were requisitioned in 1862,[5] with construction beginning in 1864 and completed in 1871.
The fort was originally armed with seven 7-inch (18 cm) rifled muzzle-loading guns, which were among the last of this type to be made at the Woolwich Gun Foundry. These sited at three main gun positions, including W battery containing two guns on 'C' pivots (rotating around a reused Georgian cannon set upright in the ground). Each gun weighed 7 tons and had a 30-pound (14 kg) charge of gunpowder able to fire a 112-pound (51 kg) Palliser shot at 1,560 feet (475 m) per second. This could pierce 8 inches (20 cm) of armour at 1,000 yards (910 m).[6] It was proposed to replace the 7-inch (18 cm) guns with larger 9-inch (23 cm) versions in 1888 but this was never put into action. It had a large, underground, main gunpowder magazine, 15 feet (4.5 m) by 18 feet (5.5 m) by 20 feet (6.1 m) high. The fort was staffed by 50 officers and men of the Coast Brigade, Royal Artillery, but no shots were ever fired in action.
The end of the fort's active service came at 5 a.m. on 6 July 1900 when the No. 3 magazine which held 3 tons (3 tonnes) of gunpowder exploded.[7] An inquiry found that Gunner Haines had fired a ball cartridge down a ventilator shaft causing the explosion, after being put on a charge for returning late to barracks, however this explanation has been challenged.[8] The wall separating the fort from the moat on the south west corner was demolished and wreckage thrown up to 200 yards (183 m).[6] No one knew why the gunner had blown up the fort, but it has been speculated that it was an act of suicide.[5] The cannons were hauled away by traction engines.
It was then used as a café, owned by the Hillman family from at least 1907 until sold in 1936 to the 'bird sanctuary people'.
GOLAN HEIGHTS - DECEMBER 10: Israeli army paratroopers advance as their brigade completes a week-long live-fire training exercise December 10, 2009 on the Golan Heights. The Israeli Knesset approved yesterday the first readings of a bill that would require a referendum on any withdrawal from sovereign Israeli territory, such as the Golan Heights, which the Jewish State annexed after capturing the strategic plateau from the Syrians in the 1967 Six Day War.
Taken at the end of the 2nd Gainsborough Group Flickr Meet this Sunday a shot of the river just outside the old Rowing Club showing the structure that supports the Riverside Walk and what is part of the new flood defences at Gainsborough.
The River Trent that runs alongside the town is tidal for a stretch of 25 miles and on each tide produces one of the few tidal bores in the country. Known as the Aegir and named after the Norse God, King of the Sea, he was said to have nine daughters known as the billow maidens and these are supposed to be the smaller waves that follow the main one.