Welcome to August's edition of The Castle Times



In this months issue:

1. Castle of the month - Schloss Laxenburg, Vienna, Asutria

2. Recipe Corner - Seed Cake

3. Medieval Life - Herbs and their uses Pt 1

4. Travel Tips - Lovely Lancashire Pt2 by Evelyn Wallace

5. Readers Story - A Day in the Life of Being Henry by Ray Irving

Raby Castle sits in the 200-acre deer park in the foothills of the North Pennines

• 1 ½ cups unbleached flour

• 1 cup cracked wheat flour

• 1 pkg. yeast

• 1/8 cup warm (100 degrees) ale • 1/8 tsp. salt

• 4 oz. (1 stick) sweet butter

• 3/4 cup sugar

• 2 eggs, beaten

• 1 tbs. seed (crushed anise, caraway, coriander, cardamom, etc. - choose something flavourful & pleasant) • ½ - 1 cup milk

Method

1. Sift together the flours and salt; set aside in large bowl.

2. Dissolve yeast in warm ale, along with 1/8 tsp. of the flour mixture.

3. Cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and seeds. Make a well in the flour and add the dissolved yeast. Fold flour into yeast mixture, and then fold in the butter.

4. Slowly beat in enough milk to make a smooth, thick batter. Pour batter into an 8" round greased cake pan.

5. Bake in middle of oven at 350° F for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.

6. Let cool slightly before turning onto a cake rack

Eat, Drink and be Merry

In medieval times, herbs were used for just about everything from curing toothache to helping pregnant women in labour. In this new two part series, I have included the most common herbs around and their uses and superstitions associated with them.

ALDER -Medicinal use: burns (bark)

ANGELICA - Medicinal use: plague, respiratory diseases. It was believed that plant would protect a person who carried it from witchcraft. During the Middle Ages it was commonly cultivated in monasteries.

ANISE - Medicinal use: all-heal. (e.g. all poisonous bites and stings)

APPLE TREES - eye diseases, fever, gout, heart diseases, stomach troubles.

ARNICA - bruises, wounds (crushed root & flowers )

BARLEY - burnt barley seeds and eggs were recommended as a remedy for burns. The bag of hot seeds was used used externally to kill pain.

BASIL - scorpion bites, stomach troubles. It was also used to drive away flies.

It was believed that basil bred scorpions. According to one recipe " three crushed leaves are put under a clay pot. After a few days a tiny scorpion will be born ". With the help of basil one could also summon scorpions. Pliny claimed that a handful of basil pounded with 10 sea crabs would do the trick.

CABBAGE - diarrhoea, eye diseases, kidney problems, stomach ailments. It was claimed that cabbage would prevent drunkenness and hangover.

CARAWAY - scorpion stings, snake bites, fever, respiratory diseases, digestive problems, stomach troubles.

Caraway was an important ingredient in love potions. It also offered protection from the evil eye. In addition, it prevented mischievous spirits and thieves from entering the house.

CHAMOMILE - fatigue, fever, snake bites. Women used it to ease the pains of labour

CHERVIL - burns, bad dreams, stomach ailments

CHICORY - according to Pliny "those who have anointed themselves with the juice of chicory, mixed with oil, become more popular and obtain their requests more easily."

CHIVES - cough, respiratory diseases

CLOVES - plague

COMMON COMFREY - burns, fractures, wounds, pain killer. Arabs introduced this plant to crusaders, who brought it to Europe. It was a fairly important herb in Medieval Europe. CORIANDER - cramps, paralysation, sleeplessness, cough, plague, worms. Coriander was believed to improve memory. In addition it was claimed that coriander would cure libidinous patients. Oddly enough, some scholars tell us that it also increased potency.

COWSLIP - paralysation,strokes.

CRESS - Remedy for cough, eye diseases, parasites, respiratory diseases, restlessness, scorpion stings. According to Pliny, the smoke of burning cress keeps away serpents

CUCUMBER - Remedy for fever, infections.

DEADLY NIGHTSHADE, BELLADONNA - pain killer, nervousness. Deadly nightshade, devil's herb, enchanter's nightshade. All these names reflect the bad reputation that this plant has had for centuries. Just for example, an unknown Greek scholar tells us that even a small amount of this notorious plant can cause madness. Another reveals that one dose will cause hallucinations, two downright insanity and three an instant death. So, it is no wonder that such a deadly and hallucinogenic herb was - together with henbane, cowbane, mandrake and monkshood - among the most important plants of Medieval witchcraft.

In Italy, women used to wash their eyes with a diluted juice of deadly nightshade in order to enhance their beauty

DILL - eye diseases, stomach ailments

Dill protected people from witchcraft. In addition, if one placed the seeds of the plant in one's shoe before entering the court room, one would win the case.

ELM - wounds

FENNEL - For more than 15 hundred years fennel was thought to be the most effective remedy for eye diseases. In addition to eye diseases it was also used to cure fever, insanity and stomach ailments. It was thought that fennel hung over door prevented witches from entering the house.

FIG - wounds, burns, sprains

FOX'S CLOTE - skin diseases, wounds, infections. A very important herb during Middle Ages and therefore commonly cultivated in the gardens of the monasteries.

FOXGLOVE - From the 11th to 18th century foxglove was mainly used to cure dropsy. Overdoses were often lethal.

GARLIC - all-heal. Garlic protected people from various kinds of evil forces. (e.g. plague, witchcraft, vampires, scorpions and snakes). Like many other magical plant it was also an aphrodisiac (if taken with coriander and neat wine). It was also believed to increase courage.

GINGER - flu, poisons, stomach ailments.

It was claimed that ginger prevented people from getting older. It also offered protection from plague and was an ingredient in love potions.

GRAPES - stomach ailments

GROUND IVY - Ground ivy was an extremely important remedy for wounds. It was also used to cure respiratory diseases.

HAZEL NUT - used for coughs, fatigue, infections

HEMLOCK - used as a pain killer. A deadly plant, but the symptoms of poisoning are less painful than if cowbane is used. Common ingredient in the potions of the witches and assassins.

HOPS - mildly narcotic, enhances appetite Historical notes: It was believed that hops checked sexual desire. Therefore it was commonly cultivated in the monasteries.

HORSERADISH - cough, dropsy, fever, gout, parasites, respiratory diseases, stomach ailments. Hildegard of Bingen tells us that if one has a piece of horseradish in one's purse during the New Year's Eve, one shall not run out of money during the next year.

HYSSOP - cough, infections, parasites, respiratory diseases, snake bites, wounds

IVY - fections, burns

IRIS - fractures, bites of snakes and spiders, cough, cramps, dog-bites, hangover, stomach troubles.

JOHN'S WORT - wounds, infections, pains of labour. The juice of the plant protected books from mice and insects.

JUNIPER - Chewing the seeds and drinking white wine was believed to be an effective remedy for pain. Inhaling the smoke of burning juniper cured cough and killed parasites. Juniper was also used to cure sprains.

The smoke of the burning juniper was supposed to protect people from plague and other epidemics. In addition, it was claimed that it would prevent faeries from stealing infants.

LAUREL - fever, flu, gout, respiratory diseases, skin diseases, stomach ailments.

Laurel protected people from lightning, plague, hallucinations and demons. it was also thought that if a pregnant woman ate 7 berries beforehand, the labour would be painless.

LEEK - burns, cough,dropsy, miscarriage, poisonous bites, wounds.

LEMON BALM - Hildegard of Bingen called this herb 'Hertzensfreud'. It was believed to be an effective remedy for depression, heart diseases, restlessness, sleeplessness and also for stomach ailments

MANDRAKE - The herb was used as an anaesthetic in surgical operations. A special anaesthetic potion was invented in Bologna in the 13th century. Ingredients were poppy, mandrake and vinegar. Medieval witches used this herb in their ointments and potions. Care had to be taken when mandrake was plucked.

MARIGOLD - marigold was among the most important remedies for wounds. The plant also cured bites and stomach ailments and infections.

MINTS - cough, flu, respiratory diseases, stomach troubles.

Various species prevented drunkenness and protected people from the evil eye. Mints were also aphrodisiacs.

MUSTARD - gout, scorpion stings. According to one recipe, mustard mixed with mint and wine would make women lustful.

In Pt 2 we cover herbs from N to Z

Leighton Hall is in the northernmost part of Lancashire near the border between it and Cumbria, (see the map in the photo album!) along with Warton Old Rectory. It dates back to the thirteenth century when it was built by Adam d'Avranches in 1246. The present owner, Richard Gillow Reynolds, Esq. is a descendant of Adam.

The Gillow family are THE Gillows of the Lancastrian furniture company "Gillow and Co." and some of their most excellent pieces are at the estate, along with portraits, clocks, silver and objets d'art.

The castle itself is located ideally in a vale of parkland, with Lakeland Fells dramatically rising behind. It has a neo-gothic facade which was superimposed over the 18th century house. Some parts still include the ruins of the original medieval house. (You can view it in the album slide show.)

Even though it is a home it has many features normally associated with castle museums. Conferences, small concerts and leisure sports are conducted on the grounds. It also has a walled garden, with wonderful walks and a Bird Garden including birds of prey, and are flown each mid-afternoon, weather permitting.

Two miles south, Warton Old Rectory is worth a look with its medieval stone walls, admission is free and is open perpetually during regular business hours.

Much further south between Preston and Blackburn, Hoghton Tower, stunning by area size and dramatic architecture, occupies lush green hillside. Three houses have occupied the hill since 1100 and the most recent structures were rebuilt by Thomas Hoghton circa 1560-1565. Sir Baronet Bernard de Hoghton, the current heir, can lay claim to the Knighting of the Loin by James I in 1617 on the premises- knighting "Sir" Loin.

Browsholme, Clitheroe Castle and Gawthorpe Hall are all situated a short distance northeast of Hoghton and are so close that on a particularly energetic day you could visit all three for a day tour. Five miles northwest of Clitheroe, Browsholme was built in 1507 in the center of beautifully landscaped parkland. It is the ancestral home of the Parker Family. The published description is well documented by two family members on the site www.browsholme.co.uk . Here I will be brief- it has an Elizabethan facade and Regency West Wing recast by Sir Jeffrey Wyatville. It contains unusual museum artifacts and art.

The scant remains of Clitheroe Castle situated high on a hill are surrounded by a small market town and is a good starting point to explore the Ribble Valley's old villages. A Roman fort remains in Ribchester and the ruins of a Cisterian abbey can be found in Whalley. www.oldclitheroe.co.uk you can see wonderful photos available and www.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/guide/visitors/art_culture/historic will give you a listing and links to the rich heritage and sights of southern Lancashire, which include Stonyhurst (a regular haunt of J.R.R. Tolkien) and Whalley Abbey. Samlesbury Abbey and Blackburn Cathedral (which is a brand-new renovation of an old historic Saxon site) will be worthwhile stops as well.

Gawthorpe Hall, somewhat south of Clitheroe and Towneley Hall easterly of Gawthorpe lie closest to the North Yorkshire border in and around Burnley and Brontee' country. They are crenallated and castellated manor "castles" and are both renowned for their art collections both permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Towneley Hall dates from the 1300s while Gawthorpe is more Elizabethan and was constructed during 1600-1605. Sir Charles Barry restored the latter in the 1850s for the Shuttleworth family and their portraits and textile collection are on display. Towneley Hall, currently under the protection of the Burnley Borough Council, is the former home of a family by the same name and is only 1/2 mile SE of Burnley. It became the Art Gallery and Museum in 1903 and even contains an aquarium. Photos are to be found in the album I've created for Lancashire.

In the extreme southwest corner of the county Rufford Old Hall and Astley Hall, while differing in architecture quite drastically, were contemporaries. Rufford Old Hall is considered the finest sixteenth century building in Lancashire and Astley Hall dates back to 1580. There is a legend that Shakespeare performed here for Sir Thomas Hesketh in the Great Hall and I have included a photo of the Hall. This was the Hesketh family seat for two hundred and fifty years. In the Carolean Wing there are fine collections of sixteenth and seventeenth century oak furniture, arms, armour and tapestries. Astley Hall had many additions made in the 1660s and 1820s so that its exterior looks quite modern in comparison to the seventeenth century interior, which is quite charming and visitor friendly. Situated 2 miles west of Chorley , it is owned and operated by the Chorley Borough Council.

I would like to thank Evelyn for this great guide to the picturesque County of Lancarshire.

Somewhere in Lincolnshire.

Was I just a little bit angry when I overheard some young rich kids in the private school corridor commenting after they had seen my Motor-home in their car-park, “Oh King Henry VIII has a cheap caravan!”

Just a bit...!

I however understand the minds of children, Having been a teacher previously for some 22 years, of mixed ability and mixed backgrounds and I must now say that after careful consideration my opinion of the comment was one of bravado, being sarcastic for the sake of a cheap laugh from their friends.

I am sure their parents would not approve of such peevish comments, they after all had worked hard to achieve the position of being able to sent their child to an expensive school such as this one. And I am very sure they would not want their kids to embarrass them in this classless way. I have worked hard all my life to afford this Motor-home and even now am working hard to keep it. It is my pride and joy, my dream come true. So how could Henry put this right? Should he let it go and pretend it never happened or should he bring it up as an example of bad behaviour that these children from their privileged position would learn something from it. One way is the easy way out, the other risk alienating the school and losing a valuable customer. Henry never shirks his responsibilities.

Walking into the classroom and finding 30 children stunned by my accurate appearance, I stopped and looked around the group, seeing that they were sat down waiting for their entertainer I spoke sternly and slowly “I expect a court to stand when I enter a room.” The kids shot to their feet and so did their teachers, which took me by surprise as they are like me, hard working professionals. “ My chancellor, Thomas Cromwell informs me that amongst this court, people say my mobile palace is like a cheap caravan, this upsets me as I have spent a lot of my wealth to provide such a luxury vehicle.” The class looked around at each other and then pointed to one girl, who went a bright red with embarrassment, “It was her.” I then said that they should now consider defending this courtier as a matter of loyalty and I would forget the matter forthwith.

Did I lose the class attention, did I upset the teachers, did I fail? Nope. A huge success for a day in the Court of King Henry VIII, the staff were instead turning their heads to hide their silent laughter, the children now knew no fun was to be had at my expense and they needed to build bridges to win me back. I relented after about 30 minutes and began to show humour and compassion, the true King Henry VIII was in session!

I hope you have enjoyed reading issue 18.

If you have any 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 August