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Tagged: militaria

  • Pegasus Bridge Museum & Memorial

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    Pegasus Bridge Museum & Memorial

    At around 06-30am on the morning of Tuesday, 6th June 1944, just as the first waves...

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  • Pershing vs Tiger

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    Pershing vs Tiger

    The project designated to develop what would become the M26 ‘Pershing’ tank was started in mid-1943...

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  • Photographing the Fallen

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    Photographing the Fallen

    Today, the First World War front line that was the Western Front is defined by the...

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  • Pickering Castle

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    Pickering Castle

    Across Britain, there are many locations where it is possible to examine the development of military architecture, from Iron Age hill forts to nuclear bunkers of the ‘Cold War’, each with its own group of dedicated enthusiasts. However, the type to which we affix the term 'castle' has a universal attraction that appeals to the general visitor and serious historian alike. You don’t have to be a student of medieval history to visit a castle, as everybody enjoys exploring these foreboding structures to discover their hidden secrets.

    Status symbol

    At the height of their power, these castles were status symbols of wealth and their size declared the power and importance of their owners to all who saw them. After many centuries, during which time they have become local landmarks, they still have the ability to seize the imagination. Some are vast like the impressive Dover Castle in Kent, while others are small, rundown and lay off the main route, like Odiham Castle in Hampshire. Then there are those which lie in between the two states of preservation but still attract visitors, such as Pickering Castle, on the edge of the North Yorkshire town of the same name. It's not a ‘secret castle’ but it has unfortunately become overlooked, perhaps because it hasn't played a part in any war, siege or battle. This has probably led to it being seen as less important than those castles which were involved in events such as the Wars of the Roses. But castles do not have to have been used in war to be fascinating, as visitors to the site discover to their surprise. The first foundations at Pickering Castle were prepared in 1069 and the town was mentioned as being a farming community in the Domesday Book compiled in 1086.

    Architecture

    The castle design took the form of a motte and bailey style, with a wooden structure on a mound, with the lower levels surrounded by a wooden palisade, protected by a substantial dry ditch. The motte, which can be climbed, stills exists, measuring 20m in height and 60m in diameter at the base, with the remnants of the once-impressive ‘keep’ at the top. The Normans used the site as a base from where they mounted a campaign to quell unrest and secure the northern border. Over the centuries, successive kings either invested in keeping the castle’s defences well maintained or neglected them. King Henry II invested by ordering improvements with stone walls built to replace the older defences, with the addition of towers and a new gatehouse. Pickering Castle’s unique distinction of never having been involved with any fighting or siege during its long history, is due to circumstances. The one occasion when its defences came close to being put to the test was during the Second Barons’ War of 1264, when the garrison made preparations to repel an attack. In the end, events elsewhere concluded the conflict. 400 years later it was captured by Parliamentarian forces late in the Civil War, without a shot being fired. It is perhaps the fact that the castle has never had to be defended against an attacking force that gives it an air of mystery. Despite the history of Pickering Castle being non-belligerent, it is far from being a dull and uninteresting place. Over the centuries the castle’s fortunes waned until the late 17th century, when it was finally abandoned, by which time it had been put to many uses, including a prison, hunting lodge and a stud with up to 50 horses. In 1926, efforts were put in place to preserve it and today it is in the care of English Heritage, which looks after the preservation of the site and presents displays, re-enactment events and exhibitions in the buildings lying within the boundary walls of the castle.

    Let's go

    Visitors enter through the main gate which opens out onto a large interior that is ringed by the fabric of the once proud and stout walls. Even today, these still look impressive and it is easy to imagine how they would have looked during the castle’s peak. So, why did it never get attacked?’ Perhaps it was because it was not considered sufficiently important. An alternative reason could be that perhaps it was thought to be too strong. Whatever the reason, the fact remains that the castle’s nonbelligerent status means it has become a prime site where enthusiasts can study medieval military architecture from almost 1000 years ago. There's no doubt that at the peak of its power, the castle would have been formidable and important. The evidence of that can be seen in features remaining on-site and comparing them against other sites, such as the window openings, which were designed to allow archers to shoot either longbow or crossbow weapons. The ramparts of the walls, sadly missing the crenellations (battlements), can be walked to get a ‘defenders’-eye’ impression and understand why the castle was built in its location. Sadly, most of the interior buildings have long gone but evidence can still be traced through their foundations. Here, visitors can take their time to examine the style of architecture, design pattern and building skills that went into the building of the castle. Pickering Castle could have only been built with the authority of King William ‘the Conqueror’ and in granting such permission, the area must have been considered sufficiently important to warrant such defences. There is no denying that lots of money was spent in the construction of the castle and many skilled workers, stonemasons and carpenters among them, were employed in its building. For example, it is recorded how in 1314, Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, spent over £340 for some 400 cartloads of stone to be brought to the site for the purposes of improving the residential buildings. That is probably equal to £500,000 in modern terms. Unusual for a castle, visitors can walk the outside perimeter to look up at the walls from the attackers' ‘point of view’, leading to all sorts of questions, such as how would they have withstood being battered by stone-throwing siege engines such as the trebuchet or cannon? During the walk, visitors can also consider the dry ditch or moat as another obstacle an attacking force would have had to breech. Indeed, there is much to think about at this site, which is more important than people give it credit. This quiet place is well worth putting on any list of historic sites to visit. For details of location and opening times, visit the English Heritage website. www.english-heritage.org.uk

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  • Pietta 1851 Navy Pepperbox

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    Pietta 1851 Navy Pepperbox

    DEREK LANDERS seasons his shooting with a more unusual replica from the Wild West, the Pietta1851 Navy Pepperbox…

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  • Pietta 1851 Navy Pepperbox

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    Pietta 1851 Navy Pepperbox

    Derek Landers tries out an interesting and peculiar revolver from Pietta

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  • Pietta 1873 Blank Firer

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    Pietta 1873 Blank Firer

    Mark Underwood finds a lot of fun in Pietta’s 1873 single action 7½-inch cavalry blank firer...

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  • Pietta 1873 SA

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    Pietta 1873 SA

    Derek Landers takes a look at the gun catering to Western shooters’ and aficionados’ love affair with the Colt Single Action Army revolver: the Pietta 1873…

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  • Pietta Colt 1861 Navy Revolver

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    Pietta Colt 1861 Navy Revolver

    Derek Landers takes a look at an Italian reproduction of one of his favourite percussion revolvers, the Colt New Model Belt Pistol, better known as the Model 1861 Navy

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  • Pietta Colt Navy Percussion Revolver

    Reviews

    Pietta Colt Navy Percussion Revolver

    This month we feature a Pietta reproduction Colt Navy percussion revolver, which is actually more a repro of a Confederate brass framed copy of a Colt… Confused? Let Derek Landers explain

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  • Pietta Colt Patterson Revolver

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    Pietta Colt Patterson Revolver

    Derek Landers takes the time to look at a Pietta Colt Paterson Revolver

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  • Pietta Confederate Revolvers

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    Pietta Confederate Revolvers

    Derek Landers takes a quick look at some Pietta percussion revolvers specifically aimed at those who favoured the Confederate side during the American Civil War

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  • Pietta Dance Revolver

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    Pietta Dance Revolver

    Derek Landers looks at a replica Dance Brothers Revolver from Pietta

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  • Pietta Le Mat Cavalry Model Percussion Revolver

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    Pietta Le Mat Cavalry Model Percussion Revolver

    Derek Landers takes a look at Pietta’s recreation of the unusual ten shot LeMat revolver

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  • Pietta LeMat Cavalry Model Percussion Revolver

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    Pietta LeMat Cavalry Model Percussion Revolver

    Derek Landers takes a look at Pietta’s recreation of the unusual ten shot LeMat revolver

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  • Pietta Schneider & Glassick Colt Navy Revolver

    Reviews

    Pietta Schneider & Glassick Colt Navy Revolver

    This month we feature a Pietta reproduction Colt Navy percussion revolver, which is actually more a repro of a Confederate brass framed copy of a Colt… Confused? Let Derek Landers explain

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  • Pietta Smith carbine reproduction (Henry Kranks) Derek Landers

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    Pietta Smith carbine reproduction (Henry Kranks) Derek Landers

    Derek Landers looks at Pietta’s clone of an alternative 19th century cavalry long arm, the Smith Carbine…

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  • Pietta Spiller & Burr Revolver

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    Pietta Spiller & Burr Revolver

    Derek Landers tests Pietta’s reproduction of the Spiller & Burr revolver, as used by the Confederate States during the American Civil War…

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  • Pietta Spiller & Burr Revolver

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    Pietta Spiller & Burr Revolver

    Derek Landers re-visits an attractive reproduction of a Confederate revolver from Pietta

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  • Pietta’s Reproduction Colt 1860 Army Model Revolver

    Reviews

    Pietta’s Reproduction Colt 1860 Army Model Revolver

    Getting his hands on a piece of pistol history, Derek Landers looks at Pietta’s reproduction Colt 1860 Army Model Revolver…

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