Loose_Grip/Pete's photos with the keyword: history

Another shot of Kirby Muxloe Castle the ruined, fortified manor house in Kirby Muxloe, just outside Leicester. William, Lord Hastings, began work on the castle in 1480, founding it on the site of a pre-existing Manor House (in foreground). It was never finished because in the cut-throat politics of the Middle Ages he was on the wrong side and the Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard III had him beheaded. The castle is run by English Heritage today and open to visitors. HBM to everyone. Enjoy the start of the new week.

Kirby Muxloe Castle is a ruined, fortified manor house in Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire, England. William, Lord Hastings, began work on the castle in 1480, founding it on the site of a pre-existing manor house. It was never finished because in the cut-throat politics of the Middle Ages he was on the wrong side and the Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard III had him beheaded. The castle is run by English Heritage today and open to visitors. HWW to everyone. Enjoy your day.

Saqsaywaman/Sacsayhuamán was an Inca fortress complex & the historic capital of the Inca Empire. The site is at an altitude of 3,701 m (12,142 ft). The complex was built by the Incas in the 15th century. Dry stone walls constructed of massive stones were erected on the site, with the workers carefully cutting the boulders to fit them together tightly without mortar. The figures on the extreme left give an idea of scale. The Spaniards used Sacsayhuamán as a source of stones for building Spanish Cuzco; within a few years, they had taken apart and demolished much of the complex. The site was destroyed block by block to salvage materials with which to build the new Spanish governmental and religious buildings of the colonial city, as well as the houses of the wealthiest Spaniards. HI (Inca) WW to everyone!

The Torre de los Picos was built at the end of the 13th/beginning of the 14th Century It served to defend one of the entrances to the Alhambra that communicated with the Generalife. This entrance led to the so-called Puerta del Arrabal and from there it led to the barracks that formed the defense of the fortress. HWW to everyone.

Pyramids at Teotihuacan, located 30 miles outside of Mexico City. The approach to the Pyramid of the Sun. Contrary to common belief (and mine!) Teotihuacan is not Aztec. This city was at its peak between 300-500AD with a population of up to 150,000. The civilisation collapsed and the city was abandoned in 550AD.

Another shot from our recent visit to Kenilworth Castle about an hours drive from Leicester. The castle is a very atmospheric set of ruins today but in the Middle Ages up to the mid-17th century it was a very important & impressive palace. The Civil War was its undoing and although it was never attacked the keep was slighted on the orders of Parliament to stop it being used in future. HWW everyone. Enjoy your day..

A glimpse into the central courtyard of the Château de Blois with Classic & Renaissance architectural styles in view including the spiral stone staircase (the prototype for the staircase at Chambord) which of course has stone fencing. HFF to everyone & have a great weekend.

In the UK you normally associate Roman remains with ruins or partially ruined buildings but since it was cleaned up the Pyramid by the Porta San Paolo in Rome looks like it was built last year! In fact the Pyramid of Caius Cestius was built in 12 BC which explains why the Aurelian Wall, itself built in 275 AD, abuts either side of it. An interesting fact about the pyramid is that it was built by Caius Cestius' freed slaves in his honour in 330 days. Proving the old proverb: One volunteer is worth ten pressed men. The Porta San Paolo on the right was one of the major gateways into imperial Rome through the city wall built by Emperor Aurelian and extended in the 5th century.

We have seen the building on the skyline & driven past the brown signs on the M1 many times but finally we turned off and visited Bolsover Castle . It was well worth it for the views alone. Built in the early 17th century, the present castle lies on the earthworks and ruins of the 12th-century medieval castle; the first structure of the present castle was built between 1612 and 1617 by Sir Charles Cavendish. The site is now in the care of the English Heritage charity and open to the public. HFF & have a great weekend.

The impressive Trim Castle and River Boyne lit up at night. Trim Castle, Ireland's largest Norman castle was built in the late 12th century following the Norman invasion of Ireland. It was used in the production of the film Braveheart

Paris Gare du Nord 2-8-2T 141TC12 departs September 1969. A second 141TC simmers in the adjacent platform on the left. All the atmosphere of a main line capital terminus. With the services out of Gare de la Bastille these were the last suburban steam trains in France. Quite a change from the Eurostars that arrive at these platforms today. My girlfriend of the time studied French at Aberystwyth University & was in Paris for an induction course at the Sorbonne to prepare for her year as a teaching assistant in Verdun. While she studied I photographed. She obviously took the course very seriously as she ended up marrying a frenchman! Still I took my photography seriously too & I still have a liking for french steam, paticularly these modern looking tanks.