Pilloried!....and in Jail

Today seemed like a good day to visit what SK refers to as "The Neighborhood Castle."  We went in the afternoon....a walk of possibly four minutes, maybe three.  The entrance is in the gift shop (a shop I might add that I quite like) - which immediately made me think it was kind of a rinky dink show.  I don't know why.  I was pleasantly surprised with the marvelous tour.

We were very fortunate that the tour began within 5 minutes of our arrival and purchase of tickets.  Esther, our guide stood in the entrance to the castle with an old-fashioned cape.  She was very British and looked and sounded the part for our one and a half hour tour.  She was delightful as she regaled us with the history of Oxford, the castle and England itself.



This is the hole through which one aimed a cross bow.



From atop the Motte.


Do you see in the lower center a road?  It is the road The Lion Brewery is on - St. Thomas.  The red brick building is the Marriot Courtyard and it is just back of our apartment complex.

We walk this road all the time going towards the mall in the mid right part of the picture.  

Convicted criminals climbed this hill to be hanged or executed.  Look at all the pretty daffodils!  They are coming up everywhere.









Very soon we found ourselves in jail!  Our photos were snapped and we were pronounced guilty of setting fire to a haystack....the punishment for which was 7 years transportation...meaning we'll get shipped off to the colonies.  Hopefully they will wait about a year.

SK looks suitably solemn as a convicted felon.  I looked like I was having far too good a time!


The tour was fantastic!  This castle started out over a thousand years ago as a defense against marauding enemies.  It has had an amazing history.  For several hundred years it has served as a prison and jail, closing its doors just 24 years ago, and reopening in 2006 as a complex of restaurants and businesses - as well as a delightful place to tour.

At one point I was able to snap a picture of SK in the pillory (falsely called the stocks in America).

At one point in the crypt, the guide told us that a ghost had been seen in the far back corner, where the air was a few degrees cooler and occasionally a faint smell of alcohol.  She said if you want to get the willies go back when you are alone and stand in the corner.  At that point, we all smiled and began to follow her out.  It was a very small group of 8 or 10.  I was second to last out and SK was behind me.  When I got to the door, I turned around, and there SK was standing in the far back corner!

He had nothing to report. 

It is a charming place to visit, and I am certain that we will be taking all visitors to our friendly - and haunted neighborhood castle.

p.s.  We got the third picture from our kids up today.  Pretty magnificent!



Comments

melissa said…
Oh, of course dad went back to the corner! What a hoot to be in jail and pilloried AND walk the road to be hanged all in one day. To the colonies!! Haha! What an amazing thing to get to do something so interesting so close to your house!
March 4, 2020 at 2:14 PM
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