Over on the Universe blog, I’ve been posting my outings to Northumberland churches, but I also took a few shots along the journey.
Sophie spotted this tree whilst I was doing my Ben Hur around the country roads, think it could be an oak.
We had late lunches and afterwards travelled home via the scenic route. Going through and out the other side of Warkworth there are parking spaces on the A1068 which runs along side the River Coquet. Looking back towards Warkworth you can see the medieval castle on the hill that dominates the landscape.
Looking forwards and ahead is Amble marina, you can just see the boat masts next to appartment blocks called ‘Coquet Cottages’. Pfft. Like no cottage I ever saw.
Further along towards the coast we came across a stone gateway which seemed incongruous all alone on a country lane.
It was built in the late 1700’s and made of whinstone rubble, and belonged to Craster Tower. The tower was a 14th century pele tower and is referred to in a survey of 1415 as in the ownership of Edmund Crasestir. When Edmund died the tower remained in the Craster family and a two storey Manor house was added to it in 1666 by another Edmund Craster. In 1769, George Craster erected an impressive five-bayed, three-storey Georgian mansion adjoining the south side of the Tower, which was reduced to three storeys and recastellated at this time.
In 1785 the estate was in the hands of Shafto Craster who changed the appearance of the pele tower, to give it a gothic style. It was at this time he also built the coach house and the gateway. Shafto was also responsible for starting the kippering industry in Craster which still thrives to this day.
And now onto cats and sunsets!
And that’s it this time.
Laters Gaters 🐊 😊
📷 🎞
fragglefilm 
Lovely images! We have a Warkworth here in New Zealand, but it lacks a castle of any sort….we also lack any understanding of the importance of Kippers 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
https://www.kipper.co.uk/history/
cheers Steve!
LikeLike
Nice to see Winnie and Lord Vincent again.
I’m thinking of changing my name to Shafto Crastner.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a spiffing name!
LikeLike
👌👌👌📷analog❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely an Oak tree. I have been to Warkworth Castle, many years ago. I drove down there when we were staying at Seahouses.
Are the cats living permanently with you now?
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they have been for ages. When Sophie got stuck in Spain during lockdown, we had them for 7 months, and it was decided as she was going to be living mostly in Spain they were better off staying with us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aha. I must have missed that bit. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are very beautiful, fragglerocking. Lord Vincent seems a bit bored about the forecast in the stock market.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha yes, he is only interested in dinner 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice photos – fun stories. I really enjoy your film because I like film! Never had a kipper . . . isn’t that someone who takes a kip? 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha if you eat fish kippers are delicious!
LikeLike
I love that tree and the stone arch. And who can resist Winnie and Lord Vincent? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not us! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
😆
LikeLike
I think that Craster Gateway was a very early traffic calming measure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha it worked on me!
LikeLike