Heymock castle is typical of small late medieval
castles: rectangular in shape with high round corner towers and
central interval towers, connected by a high curtain wall; all
topped with crenellations. The plan of the castle has similarities
with Bodiam Castle,
which was built some 5 years later in Kent.
The castle was in use from 1380 until the 1660s and according
to local tradition, the castle was slighted — ie. partly demolished
— soon after the restoration of King Charles II.
The two towers at the front of the castle, about 13
metres (40 feet) high, formed the entrance gate house. This housed
the portcullis and the drawbridge over the moat. The curtain
walls, about 7 metres (20 feet) high, were pierced by putlog
holes through which wooden beams projected to support the roofed
galleries. From the safety of these, defenders could fire
arrows and missiles, or pour noxious liquids onto any attackers who
crossed the moat.
By the 1600s, Hemyock castle belonged to Sir John
Popham, who as Lord Chief Justice and as history tells us, also had
the distinction of sentencing Sir Walter Raleigh, Mary Queen of
Scots, and Guy Fawkes to death. According to local
legend, Sir John is reputed to have been rewarded for his
controversial life by being thrown from his horse into Popham's Pit,
a deep local bog, dying horribly, and descending to Hell.
During the Civil War the castle was
garrisoned by the Pophams for Parliament and used to
imprison Royalists. Eventually, after a short brutal siege in
1644, it was captured. 200 prisoners were released and 3 of the
garrison were hanged immediately. The remainder where marched off
to prison in Exeter. Not long
afterwards, it was retaken and held until the Restoration in
1660, when King Charles II ordered that it be slighted - ie.
Partly demolished to destroy its military value. From then, the
manor house became a farm, and the castle was used as a stone quarry
for local buildings.
During the last decade of the 1700’s, General John
Graves Simcoe, who had visions of restoring the Castle to its former
glory, bought Hemyock
Castle following his distinguished
career in the New World.
The house was sold in the early 1970s, without the
farm land and work continues to this day to stabilize the castle
remains. Substantial fragments remain of the massive gate house,
several towers, walls, and part of the moat. The manor house is a
private house
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2. Recipe Corner
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Blawmanger - traditional medieval rice dish.
INGREDIENTS:
·
1 cup rice
·
3 cups Almond Milk
·
1 cup
ground cooked chicken, dark meat only
·
dash salt
·
1/4 cup
fried slivered almonds
·
sugar to
garnish
Method
:
1.
Bring to a boil the rice, milk, & salt. Reduce heat, stir in
chicken, & cover; allow to cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid
is absorbed and rice is fluffy.
2.
Garnish with almonds and a sprinkle of sugar.
Almond
Milk
1 cup
ground almonds
2 cups boiling water
1·
Combine almonds and water. Steep for 5 minutes, stirring
occasionally.
2·
Sieve the mixture to remove coarse grains OR (preferably)
blend mixture in electric blender until grains are absorbed.
3·
Yield - 2 cups almond milk.
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3. Travel Tips
****************************
Foods & Wines on the Amalfi
Coast
by Orson Johnson
Amalfi Coast is a stretch of coastline on the southern side of the
Sorrentine Peninsula of Italy extending from Positano in the west to
Vietri sul Mare in the east. It is known as Costiera Amalfitana in
Italian.
Amalfi Coast is known for its rugged terrain, scenic beauty, and
picturesque towns. Vietri sul Mare, Cetara, Maiori, Minori, Ravello,
Atrani, Amalfi, Praiano, Scala and Positano are beautiful towns
lying on the Amalfi Coast. The charming Coast is listed by UNESCO as
a World Cultural Heritage site.
Major
attractions of the Amalfi Coast include Duomo, the church of Santa
Maria Assunta in Positano, the churches of San Salvatore del Birecto
and of Santa Maria Maddalena in Atrani, Villa Cimbrone and Villa
Rufolo in Ravello, the churches of San Luca and San Gennaro in
Praiano, the church of San Pancrazio in Conca dei Marini, and the
church of Santa Trofimena and the ancient Roman villa in Minori.
Amalfi Coast is a great tourist destination known for its wide
variety of delicious cuisine and culinary. If you looking for a
vacation destination with fine foods and wines, Amalfi Coast is your
perfect destination. You can enjoy eating and drinking by the
seaside. Some of the famous foods and wines of Amalfi Coast are
listed below.
Fior di latte: It’s
mozzarella like fresh cheese made from cow milk from the nearby
Monti Lattari (Milk Mountains). Fior di latte features a rich creamy
color and is often found in the shape of treccia (plait).True
mozzarella is made from buffalo and cow milk that comes from the
plains South of Salerno, towards Paestum and Battipaglia.
Provola: It’s smoked
fior di latte that can be enjoyed on its own or in parmigiana di
melenzane, or even on pizzas.
Fresh caciotta: It is
daily made fresh cheeses served plain or stuffed with basil or
rocket leaves. You can also enjoy it wrapped in lemon leaves and
grilled.
Vegetables: Fresh
vegetables grown near Amalfi have a rich ripe flavor. Corbara’s
small tomatoes are distinctively sweet. Eggplant (or aubergines) is
a staple of the local cuisine. Eggplant patties and involtini are
highly popular on the coast. The deep fried or baked Eggplant
patties, and the involtini, the deep fried slices of eggplant rolled
and stuffed with fior di latte and basil leaves are mouth wateringly
delicious.
The
delicious pie Melenzane al cioccolato is made from aubergines and
chocolate (deep fried aubergines, covered in dark chocolate, candied
fruits and orange peel). Zucchini (or courgettes) are also used in
many local dishes.
Scialatielli (Pasta):
It’s fresh local pasta consisting of thick and short strips made out
of just flour and water, sometimes with the addition of parsley.
Scialatielli looks similar to spaghetti or fettucine and it’s served
with seafood or other traditional Italian sauces.
Fish and seafood:
Amalfi Coast offers an extensive variety of seafood including
locally caught and served fresh pezzogna, sarago, orata and spigola.
Locally seafood is served all’acqua pazza that is a light broth made
with oil, garlic, parsley and pomodorino (a small tomato grown in
the mountains). Totani e patate is a typical dish of the Peninsula,
It’s a dish comprising a unique casserole of potatoes and totani (a
dark member of the calamari family).
Wines: Amalfi Coast
offers exceptionally outstanding variety of wines. Some of the
popular wines include Tramonti, Costa d'Amalfi, Furore, Taurasi,
Aglianico, Greco di Tufo, Fiano, and Falanghina.
Desserts: Local cakes
and pastries are some common desserts on the coast. Some of locally
popular desserts include delizia al limone, (lemon delight), the
torta caprese, and baba soaked in limoncello.
Orson
Johnson writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing listings for
bed and breakfasts, apartments, hotels and villas in the Amalfi
Coast.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Orson_Johnson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Foods-and-Wines-on-the-Amalfi-Coast&id=404082
****************************
4. Author Profile
****************************
Annemarie
Ortega
Annmarie
Ortega is a lifetime resident of Chicago, Illinois and loves living in the city. She is
a part time student pursuing her Bachelor's Degree in Fiction
Writing. She is a member of the RWA, along with their Chicago North,
ESPAN, and Passionate Ink chapters as well. In the fall of 2005
Annmarie had her first short story published and hasn't stopped
writing since. In her spare time she loves to spend time with her
family and friends, read, and volunteer with fund raising at her
oldest sons school.
Annmarie will have her first Dark Castle Lord book, Lord
Xavier released in February of 2007. She is currently writing her
next DCL book for Lord Everest.
****************************************
5. Romance Industry News
****************************************
Meet our Latest Dark Lord -
Alex Mattie (Elan)
Alex has modeled extensively in both the
United States and Europe
for over a decade. Popular in several mediums, I have been featured
in Men's Fitness Magazine, International Male Catalog, Sears and
Spiegel to name a few.
I was showcased in the popular Men
of the West Coast calendar for four consecutive years and appeared
in several major motion pictures such as the Bird Cage, Strip Tease
and Spirit Warrior. I am active in the Make a Wish Foundation and
have made several terminally ill children happy over the years by
fulfilling their wish to meet a male model. I am one of fourteen
children.
I am also a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and believes in a no kill
policy and has a passionate love for animals. In 2004, I was part
of an international rescue effort to save animals in war torn Iraq where I spent six months far
away from the cameras. Based in Colorado these days, in what little spare
time I have I enjoy body building, skiing and playing in the snow.
****************************************
6. Reader
Corner
****************************************
*********************************
7. Next Months Issue
*********************************
1. Castle of the Month – A Short History - Bodiam Castle, England
2. Recipe Corner - Tornep with Chestenne
3. Travel Tips - Get A Cheap Flight - 3 Tips To Getting A Cheap
Flight
by Michael Kohler
4. Author Profile – CH Admirand
5. News from the Romance Industry – Meet our latest Dark Lord -
Mark Johnson
6. Readers Corner – Photos of Bodiam castle submitted by Innes Din
