I'm ashamed to say that I'd never been to Fort George until I took Pauline there when she came off the plane from Dublin on a beautiful Monday afternoon a couple of weeks ago and we started our Highlands and Islands safari. Fort George is a working garrison as well as a historic monument.
It was built after the Jacobite uprising of 1745 and their defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. The English and their allies were determined that the Jacobites would never again pose a credible threat.
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| Fort George from the air looking North |
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| The bridge over the first moat (though I'm not sure that it was a water moat) |
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| The 'moat' area between the outer and inner fortifications |
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| The inner parade ground from the top of the north embankment under which were fortified stores and quarters |
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| The (Church of Scotland) Chapel |
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| Church attendance was compulsory in the early days. |
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| The three tier pulpit is unusual but not unique.The top is for the minister, the reader stands in the middle section to read from the Bible, and the precentor stands in the bottom section to lead the singing. |
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| An angel playing the bagpipes: possibly unique in a stained glass window |
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| A swivel gun sea defence |
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| One of the batteries pointing out to sea |
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| The Chapel and the stables |
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| Mortar defending the fort from a land attack |
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| The parade ground and barrack square |
Thanks for this.... They meant business!
ReplyDeleteYes Fiona it really is an amazing place.
DeleteI'll have to do some research. Thanks for the subject!
ReplyDeleteGosh. Good to meet you Sean-Ron. I didn't realise that you have taken over from Lisa as your family's blogger.
DeleteIt was a great start to a great visit. Interesting history, they sure meant business. Best position in town, and a picture perfect day. Glad I got to see it!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to your take on this Pauline. I know that you have at least one 'human' picture. I'd love to have your talent for those and personality to achieve them.
DeleteOh wow! Much as I love wide open spaces, this one gives me the creeps.
ReplyDeleteThe first picture from the air looks so unreal - before I read the caption, I thought it was a model in a museum!
Forgot to say that I've never seen a three tier pulpit; or an angel playing the bagpipes, for that matter.
DeleteYou couldn't have caught it on a better day. It is very impressive and in beautiful order.
ReplyDeleteAs you say Adrian it's immaculate and we did benefit from the 'Pauline weather effect'.
DeleteWish I could have been a part of the Highlands and Islands safari....all the interesting stops along the way.
ReplyDeleteThe Fort George garrison is beautiful and well laid out and maintained.
I have never seen a three tiered pulpit, and this I found quite interesting.
An angel playing a bagpipe is am image that will stay with me for a while, since I've only known angels to play harps.
Thank you for this wonderful post.
Well Virginia if you ever come to the UK you know where to come for a Scottish guide.
DeleteYour photos are always good but I really loved the one of the stained glass window-the angel playing the bagpipes, I love it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kay. It's certainly a very unusual, perhaps unique, image.
DeleteImpressive place ~ I like the angel playing bagpipes ~ nice touch.
ReplyDeleteThe strange thing, Carol, is that we knew there was an angel playing the bagpipes in the Chapel but it took a while for us to work out where.
DeleteWhat an amazing amount of effort went into the construction of this defense installation.
ReplyDeleteRed it is huge and the fact that it was constructed in the 1700s makes it all the more amazing to me.
DeleteIncredibly clear photos...wonderful shots. And what a compound...a fort that fought!
ReplyDeleteA very interesting trip you're taking me on, Graham...thank you. :)
And religious conflicts continue to this day. Humans never learn!
Oh, Lee, your last statement is so true and so disturbing. I fear that you are right and that humans will never learn.
DeleteI love the angel with the bagpipes. And your magnificent, wide skies. Lovely photos, Graham.
ReplyDeleteThank you Frances.
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