Carlisle is an attractive town with a magnificent cathedral and a large castle, both faced with deep red coloured sandstone.
Within the castle we saw some fascinating carvings on the walls. It's not unusual to find such carvings in the cells of prisoners, but here it's thought that they were created by the castle guards.
The information board says "On the second floor of Carlisle Castle’s keep there is a small lobby, leading to two further rooms, once used as cells. The lobby’s stone walls are covered from floor to ceiling with mysterious carvings representing strange beasts, heraldic symbols, and religious and mythical themes. We think that they date from the 1460s and 70s.
The carvings seem to be by two men, at different dates. Some of them, which seem to be earlier, are crudely scratched images, mostly of animals. These were later overlaid by a series of more fully carved images. The fact that they are only found in the lobby, not in the two other rooms, suggests that they were made by bored guards and not by prisoners. Whoever made them probably could not read or write but the later carver, at least, had a strong artistic sense and some ability.
The most common theme in the carvings is heraldry: the emblems of the powerful noble families who dominated the North of England in the 15th century. In dangerous times, it was important to have the protection of a powerful lord or family, which maintained private armies. The Carlisle carvings include the arms of several great lords who served in turn as Lord Wardens of the West March."
I hope that you find these carvings as attractive as we did.
Thank you Ivan - the shot was taken in colour, but there is a perspex screen which protects the carvings to shoot through, and it gave a nasty colour cast which I struggled to edit out, hence the change to b&w.
Can you imagine the hours spent on this beautiful carving. I think the B/W adds to it. your accompanying description is always for interest.
I like to fav. this picture.
The story brings back some nice memories for me, see: http://365project.org/pyrrhula/365/2011-06-02
Thank you Graham, and thank you for the fav!
Ian
Thank you Gloria - someone has spent a lot of time creating these carvings!
Ian
Thank you Ivan - the shot was taken in colour, but there is a perspex screen which protects the carvings to shoot through, and it gave a nasty colour cast which I struggled to edit out, hence the change to b&w.
Ian
Thank you Lynne - few people today with the patience to produce carvings like these!
Ian
Thank you Therese, glad you like it!
Ian
Thank you Ferry, and thank you for sharing the link with the door that you restored - a fascinating story!
Ian
Thank you Bob, and I would agree, today it is art, but it did start life as graffiti!
Ian
Thank you Hazel, and thank you for the fav!
Ian
Thank you Cathie, glad you like it!
Ian
Thank you Tony, and thank you for the fav!
Ian
Thank you Gayelene - we had a fascinating time exploring some of the historic sites in northern England.
Ian
I like to fav. this picture.
Thank you Doug - it was a fascinating selection of carvings. This was just a small part of the display.
Ian
Thank you Raymond - these were inspiring pieces of artwork.
Ian
Thank you Therese - I loved the detail and variety in the carvings.
Ian