Week 35: CastleAdvisor

Warwick Castle

We went to this castle- not for the castle, but the park. My brother loves the Julia Donaldson books so much - his favourite is Zog. At Warwick Castle they have a whole playground dedicated to the book, meaning you can go down the dragon slide, enter the lion’s cave and zipwire towards the mermaid. At first, he was quite confused: it was as though the pages of his book had swallowed him up and made him a part of the world. My daddy said he would like the same to happen to him in The Great Gastby. (Sounds like a superhero comic – like Supertato). In time though my brother loved it. Most of the time he’s kind to me: getting me toys and telling me ‘it’s ok’ when I cry, so I was happy to see him happy.

For those of you interested in history, the castle was established in 1068 by William the Conqueror and was used as a military stronghold until the early 17th century. Sir Grenville, treasurer of the navy, was then gifted the castle in 1604. My first birthday is coming up in August, so I hope my mummy and daddy will get me a similar gift. Our house is fine, but a castle would be something of an upgrade.



Corfe Castle

 We went to this castle – not for the castle, but for the Easter activities. At the bottom of the hill were some old-fashioned wheelbarrows that my brother liked being pushed in. He also enjoyed dressing up as knight with the coat of arms. One elderly man even referred to my brother as ‘Your Highness’ when we were coming up the hill. (That boy doesn’t need any more of a Messiah Complex; he already thinks he’s a King because he sits on his highchair without the straps now.) At the end, he got an Easter Egg for his efforts, which seems unfair because I went up and down the hill too. Should my lack of teeth bar me from sucking milk chocolate goodness?

 For those history buffs amongst you, the castle was established by (yes, you guessed it) William the Conqueror. It was taken over by Sir Banks in the 16th century and used as a Royalist stronghold in the English Civil War. Hundred of years later the family gifted the castle to The National Trust. All this gifting of castles means my hopes remain high for my first birthday.

 

Durlston Castle

We went to this castle – not for the castle, but for the Easter Egg trail. We collected a sheet from the main reception and then went on an expedition. At different checkpoints we had to unravel a nature clue. At the end of all eight stations, we had a full answer sheet which we could then exchange for a chocolate. Who got the chocolate? The boy with teeth – again. He’s got teeth to lose through over- chocolate consumption – I haven’t got any to lose, yet I got nothing.

For those of you who like the past, the castle was built by (yes, you guessed it) George Burt. Ha! Fooled you. William the Conqueror didn’t commission this one. George Burt was a local man that wanted to give back to a town that possessed the precious Purbeck stone that made him rich. Instead of a community centre or library, he built something that resembled a castle, purpose-built to be a restaurant for visitors. There’s nothing like giving back by charging people to eat in your castle!

 

Sandcastle

My favourite castle of the weekend. My mummy, daddy and grandma built these. My brother then came along and destroyed them. I think all the talk of him being ‘Your Highness’ went to his head.




 

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