The Medieval Bothwell Castle

I had known - since a child - that Bothwell Castle existed and had vowed that one day I would visit it. The time had come. I ambled through Bothwell Woods from Blantyre when it appeared between the trees - rose red. Camelot! Not surprising that it is regarded as one of the outstanding monuments of medieval Scotland.

The Lordship of Bothwell was created in the 12^th century by King Malcolm IV and was granted to David Oliford.  It is thought that Oliford’s castle, which was probably made of earth and timber, was near St. Bride’s Church in the nearby town of Bothwell. When Oliford’s grandson, William, died in 1243 the lordship passed to his son-in-law, Walter of Moray who is thought to have begun work on the now ruined castle.

During Edward I’s invasion of Scotland in 1296, William Moray of Bothwell and the castle were taken by the English.  Williams’ nephew Andrew took up the Scottish cause but was mortally wounded at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297.

In the 14^th century Edward III made the castle his headquarters for a short while. There were many battles back and forth between England and Scotland involving the castle and it sustained a tremendous amount of damage. Archibald Douglas (the third Earl of Douglas) made Bothwell his base and set about restoring it. By 1424 Bothwell Castle was one of the most impressive fortress-residences of its day.

In 1455 the barony and castle reverted to the Crown and in 1489, it was bestowed by King James IV on Patrick Hepburn of Dunsyre.  He was also created Earl of Bothwell.  In 1492, at the King’s request, Hepburn exchanged Bothwell - for the barony of Hermitage - with Archibald Douglas, fifth Earl of Angus. 

In the 17^th century Bothwell was acquired by the first Earl of Forfar who, towards the end of the century decided he wanted somewhere more comfortable to live and proceeded to build a mansion.  Bothwell House - a Palladian mansion - was to the east of the castle and was demolished in 1926, a victim of subsidence (in Victorian times the town turned from agriculture to coal mining - hence the subsidence!).

From the remaining parts of the castle it is easy to see the layout.  In one corner near the almost intact South-East Tower was the chapel. To the side of this Tower was the Great Hall.  As there were cellars beneath it, the Banqueting Hall was reached by a flight of steps up from the courtyard.  

Unfortunately only a part of the magnificent main tower (the Lord’s residence) survives.  Even so, it is pretty impressive as it still stands 27.4m high.  From inside I looked up at the somewhat daunting walls and arched gothic windows. The embrasures show the thickness of the walls – all 4.6m of them. 

PS. Mary, Queen of Scots, third husband was James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell. 

New Year's Day Concert from Vienna.

Many, many thanks to the members of the orchestra and conductor Riccardo Muti for a wonderful New Year's Day concert. And, of course, thanks to the ballet dancers for all their work. I understand that their sections were recorded last October, many of which were outdoors in wonderful surroundings. Can someone tell me how the ballerinas managed to do ballet dancing in high heels? Yes, honestly. It was for a dance set in the 1920s with the women wearing flapper dresses. This year's costumes were designed in Paris and the style certainly showed! 

Maestro Muti made a wonderfully uplifting speech instead of the simple 'Happy New Year' greeting from him and the orchestra. 

We could do with more such concerts on telly these days instead of all of the repeats of programmes we didn't want to watch the first time around! 

Happy New Year, everyone, and here's to the scientists finding a cure for Covid. 

Memories of the 1950s - Part 1

 

I was a teenager working in an office in Lower Regent Street – near to Piccadilly Circus in London – when I heard a Lavender Lady. A piece of history harking back to the days when flower girls and lavender ladies roamed the streets with baskets of flowers and singing about their wares. Our office overlooked Jermyn Street (behind the Criterion Theatre) and she was wending her way the length of the street. Of course we all rushed to look out of the windows.

Another occasion whilst in Regent Street I saw Dame Margot Fonteyn (except that she wasn’t a Dame in those days). There was a new shop on the corner – The Tea Centre – which I believe she was Opening. I was across the road and saw this elegant lady in an ‘A Line’ coat – the latest fashion – as she chatted with a group of people. Vivacious, sparkling eyes, smiling and expressive hands. Wish I had had a camera.

This was a great area to work in as it wasn’t far from Shaftesbury Avenue with its theatres so we occasionally saw actors and actresses (sorry, I do like to know the sex of actors especially as some first names could be of any sex!).

In another direction was The Mall near to Admiralty Arch so sometimes we would go down there and maybe take our sandwiches to sit in St. James’s Park and enjoy the relative quiet. Occasionally when waiting to cross the road we saw members of the Royal Family – mostly in cars but I do remember Princess Margaret (wearing a red velvet coat and hat) and the Queen Mother in an open carriage. The Princess had recently arrived back in the UK following an official overseas visit. I believe they were on the way to the Guildhall in the City of London to a Luncheon. These days they would have been in a car rather than a carriage – far too much traffic about now.

The 1950s was a great decade in which to be a teenager following the austerity of war-time (and post-war) rationing – among other things.

Henry Ford - Square Dance Caller!

Square Dancing isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind when hearing the name Henry Ford, but it is true that he was an accomplished caller.

When looking around the living room of The Mangoes, Henry Ford’s winter home in Fort Myers, Florida it is easy to picture it with the furniture either pushed back against the walls or put on the porch, the carpet rolled back, music playing on the phonograph and couples creating the Texas Star or doing the do-si-do.  Among the dancers might be neighbours Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Edison* and Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Firestone.

The house, which was built in 1911, was purchased by Ford in 1916.  It has a large shady porch with wickerwork furniture and plants – very typical of the 1920s in Florida.  (One of Ford’s favourite sleeping places was on the sleeping porch that adjoins the master bedroom.)

In the living room most of the armchairs and sofas are also wickerwork set about an open fireplace.  It should be emphasised that the furniture isn’t the original.  When the Ford family sold the property the furniture also went.  The house is now owned by the City of Fort Myers and the furnishings are as much like the originals as possible.

The Fords travelled widely and much of their furniture and other items were purchased during those trips.  In the dining room, for example, there are walnut Queen Anne style chairs set about a table with a delicate lace tablecloth laid with Sheffield silver and Wedgewood china in the Columbia pattern.  As well as the Edison phonograph to produce mechanical music, there is also a pretty piano which was Clara Ford’s; she was an accomplished musician.  As Ford played the violin you can picture them entertaining the neighbours and wonder which of them was a singer. 

The garden surrounding the Ford house is filled with plants such as palm trees, over 150 citrus trees, colourful flowers and a kitchen garden.  The garden is alongside the Caloosahatchee River where Ford like to go fishing in his boat which was kept tied up at the dock.

What is incredible is that the Fords only spent a couple of weeks each winter in this beautiful house.

www.edisonfordwinterestates.org

Picnics in Style!