In 1722 and 1755 two heavy earthquakes damaged Silves Castle

Silves Castle stands majestically on a hill overlooking the town of Silves in the Algarve region of Portugal.

In the year of 1060, Fernando I, King of Leon and Castile seized this magnificent castle built from red sandstone blocks and taipa; a Moorish mixture of mud and sandstone that hardens out like stone and held it for a short time. It was later retaken by the Moors.

In 1189, with the help of foreign forces from England, Germany and a contingent of Flemish crusaders, Portuguese forces, attacked the town destroying everything outside of the town’s walls. It took the combined armies six weeks before the Moors surrendered, after an agreement was reached with the Portuguese King Sancho.

The Moors along with all their belongings were allowed to leave unharmed. After leaving the safety of Silves castle with the knowledge that their passage to safety was assured, a group of mercenary Crusaders violated the agreement struck with the King of Portugal and every last man was slaughtered. On top of this atrocity the town was ransacked.

In 1190, a Moorish force lead byYacub Ben Yussuf tried in vain to retake the castle. His attempts were thwarted due to the town being stoutly defended by Christian forces with the help of Richard the Lionheart. A more successful attempt was made a year later.

The rollercoaster ride for ownership of the castle at Silves was again brought to the fore when it was retaken by Sancho I, in 1198 with the help of German Crusaders. This time around Sancho was unable to keep the castle from falling into enemy hands and gave the order for it to be dismantled. 1242, Silves was finally conquered by the Master of the Order of Santiago; Don Paio Peres Correia, during the reign of Alfonso III, who ordered it to be restored. It is his statue that can bee seen just outside the castles gate.

Twice during the 1700’s the Algarve was rocked by heavy earthquakes which seriously damaged the castle. The first time was in 1722 and the second time was 1755. It was not until the start of the Second World War in 1940, which Portugal played no part in that the castle was restored.

Silves castle was constructed with eleven square towers, two of which are barbicans joined to the ramparts by a supporting arch that holds up the walk way. There were two entrances to the castle grounds; the main gate defended by two towers and a so-called 'traitors-gate'.

During the 14th and 15th century, four of the towers which were modified at the time, have gothic doorways, vaulted halls and stones bearing the marks of medieval masons. Inside the castles walls, nothing remains of the original Moorish buildings but two cisterns; a small one, 60 meters deep of Roman origin, and a larger one. The larger one is called 'El Moura Encantada', after a legend that says you can hear a Moorish princess mourning her beloved at this well where he committed suicide.

• 1 nine-inch pie shell

• 2 Tbs. heavy cream

• 2 Tbs. dried elderflowers

• 3/4 lb. cottage cheese

• 3/4 lb. ricotta cheese

• 3 eggs

• 1/4 lb. butter

• 1/3 cup sugar • 1/4 tsp. cloves

• 1/4 tsp. mace

• 1 Tbs. rosewater (optional)

Method :

Combine all ingredients and blend thoroughly. Pour mixture into pie shell. Bake at 350° F for 45 minutes to an hour or until filling has set and the crust is a golden brown.

Let cool and serve.

Don't use a substitution for the elderflowers and rosewater as their flavours are unique and the taste of the final product depends on the real thing.

Eat, Drink and be Merry

Town Life Pt2

As the local populace became "free" citizens, the once all powerful lords, struggled to gain control of the newly established communes or boroughs. Town councils were formed. Each craft or trade started to form guilds whose role was to actively engage in seeking out better wages for their members and protect them from competitors. As the guilds grew rich, they built magnificent halls and took an ever increasing interest in local civic affairs. They set up courts to settle disputes and punish wrongdoers.

This new merchant class included the likes of masons, armourers, bakers, shoemakers, dyers, and other skilled workers. Of all the recognised trades, the masons were the most respected and brought home the best wages. With out them the town’s cathedrals, hospitals, universities, castles, and guildhalls would not have been built. To become a mason you started life as an apprentice to a master mason, living at lodges for up to seven years. The master mason was essentially an architect, a general contractor, and a teacher.

With the rapid increase in populations across Europe for the first time since before the Dark Ages and in conjunction with this newly acquired wealth, tradesmen began to combine their talents, forming the first companies. The formation of these companies had a nock on effect in that they created more jobs. The merchants now required the services of bookkeepers, scribes, and clerks.

With the advent of mass printing in 1450, learning was now more widely available than ever before. The inventions of Leonardo da Vinci and the voyages of discovery by Vasco da Gamma and Christopher Columbus in the fifteenth century contributed to the birth of the Renaissance.

By the end of the middle Ages, there were fewer serfs left in Europe. The growing burgher class became very powerful. Hard work and enterprise led to economic prosperity and a new social order. Urban life brought with it a new freedom for individuals.

• Wallet

• Driver's License and/or other proper identification necessary for domestic travel.

• Your travel insurance

• Credit cards

• Travellers checks • Airline, Cruise or Train tickets • Itinerary with confirmation numbers and addresses and phone numbers of where you'll be staying

• Travel guides and maps

• A small amount of local currency for immediate use to hold you over until you can make it to a currency exchange, if you're planning foreign travel.

We stopped at St.James Palace for a film shoot, only the bear-skinned guards, police and a couple of well meaning protesters were there, shucks no real audience. The director went over to the Police to explain our requirements to use the street as a stage for the publicity photographs for "Murderous Monarchs" while I waited on the pavement with Queen Victoria. The protesters waved at us and shouted across the road " You here for the protest?", must admit I didn't know what they were talking about so we just shook out heads. By now a crowd was gathering, a man leaned out of the Palace window and took our picture, a Japanese couple tried to talk to us but couldn't find the right words, so we just nodded instead of answering.

It was at this moment I found out the why we had carried a heavy wooden block and a large axe across town, I'm not stupid, I knew it was the executioner's block and axe but I didn't realise the director want me to put my head on it whilst Queen Victoria held the axe over my neck! The axe was a real one and very sharp, why could they not go to Toys-R-Us and get a plastic one, Victoria doesn't look strong enough to hold it without trembling. Not only that, the thought on me kneeling in the middle of a Road in London with my bum in the air, hundreds of tourists taking pictures nearly wet my pants.

Thankfully it only took about 5 minutes before the director couldn't think of any other humiliating positions for me. The shoot then went into facial expressions, the director thought I was good at this, but little did he know I was only grimacing at the spectacle he had made me do minutes before. Then Victoria offered a suggestion to the director, "I could spank Henry with his walking stick!" What! I thought I'd misheard her, no you bl---y won't Vicky I replied, the director noticed this possible conflict and agreed with me the pose may affect me mentally for the rest of my life.

At the end of the shoot, some Japanese tourists came over and asked us both if we could pose with her friends, this was the easiest thing we had done that day and were grateful for the natural requirements of the pose.

The journey back was hot, quiet and long, I hoped to be dropped off right outside the clients office but no the Cab driver had other notions, right next to a bus stop full of commuters and tourists. The block took ages to get out of the cab; Victoria now forgiven was next, then me. My plastic sword, from Toys-R-Us caught on the cab door and I was stuck for a lifetime, actually about 10 seconds but my heart nearly stopped. The people at the bus stop were overcome with silence, they stare at me trying to get out of the cab with some dignity, I eventually freed myself, straightened my costume and bowed to the queue.

The short walk over the pavement to the office door was blocked by gobsmacked tourists and shoppers; do I push my way through, talk to them? I just stood there and said "Henry needs to get to the doorway and a toilet, please let me through". A path was made; no time to stop when I heard the Japanese camera's clicking just needed to get into the place of safety and a loo.

Now that's what it's like being King Henry VIII.

I hope you have enjoyed reading issue 7. If you have an suggestions or comments about any part of the newsletter then please feel free to contact me.

As always, if you have a story,photos or questions you wish to ask or share with our readers then please email me and I will be happy to include them in our next edition.

All submissions should reach me by no later than the 20th of September