Castle Quest - Reply to Topic

Forum:	Castle Book Nook
Topic:	Strange Items !

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T O P I C R E V I E W
Peter As I am no doubt on a similar wavelength as other castle collectors ?
I'd be interested to know about unusual books or like items in the castle field.
Are there books, leaflets etc. out there that I should be looking out for, that might otherwhise slip past my net ?
AJR What sort of items do you consider strange, Peter ? Are you on the lookout for "OLD" castle guidebooks, general books or castle memorabilia. For instance, in my younger days, I did not have the respect for castles that I do now - hence I have at home a piece of Odiham Castle (horrors !!!). Being situated in the middle of a cow-field, I just picked up part of the fallen stone. Nowadays I'd thrash anyone who did a similar thing. Maybe I should go and put it back !!
On the subject of books, I do have this rather strange one by a person called Gordon Mason - but I'm holding onto mine, as it is a mine of information.
On the "unusual" side, I have :-
The sales particulars for Lympne Castle by FPD Savills / Strutt & Parker.
The sales particulars for Fordell Castle by Knight Frank International.
A 1923 HMSO Authorised Guide to the Tower of London.
A leaflet issued by Napier University in Edinburgh on Merchiston Tower. Had to ring them to obtain it, but it's very interesting.
Peter No, it doesn't have to be old.
Perhaps a little like the booklet I mentioned some time ago about those fortifications each side of the channel, ie
maybe not find them in your local book-shop.
But the items you mentioned are interesting. And it is good to know what is about.
This is why I try to mention things in Postern that have been passed on to me.
Gordon Strange indeed...
Some of the books I found strange, though came to understand as I read more of them, were the dusty old tomes hidden away in County reference libraries which spent many pages honouring the 'gentlemen' of the area, and catologued their domestic achievements at great length. Items such as the 'mansion newly buildit' or a wonderful indepth knowledge of local flora and fauna and papers written on these. Whilst not immediately noted as castle books many of these proved to be a great source of data on lost and ruined sites.
Two such were 'A Description of the Shire of Lanark'..(if I recall the title correctly) published by the Maitland Club, and Millar's 'Castles and Mansions of Renfrewshire'.
It dawned on me after a while that the authors were entirely dependant upon sponsorship in the form of advance sales for the production of their book, hence the glowing references.
Other useful sources included bound volumes of ancient local independant newspaper articles describing noteworthy estates and their histories.
I'm very fortunate in having several such libraries available within a half hour drive, and for anyone who happens to be in the area, I'd recommend a visit to the Glasgow Room of the Mitchell Library - Glasgow , or the Heritage centre - Motherwell.
Both are superb non-lending reference libraries with extremely helpful staff.
[This message has been edited by Gordon (edited 06-13-2001).]
AJR Another couple of interesting gems : -
1. Bramber - Glimpses of a Village written by Alison Noble and published by The Beeding & Bramber Local History Society.
This booklet was first issued in 1996 and reprinted in 1998. It is available from Steyning Library, priced at around Ł3.
2. Brampton Bryan, Church & Castle written by Audrey Sidebotham and published by Orphans Press Ltd.
This booklet is available from the Estate Office at Brampton Bryan Castle, priced around Ł2. A recommended purchase if you want a personal tour of the castle by the owner.
Peter I agree Gordon;
It is surprising what some of these local aged tomes contain. And more and more local library systems seem to be doing reprints of them. But like those olden days they are subscribed before publication. I've missed one or two local ones because I didn't pick the info up soon enough from my local library.
I do have a very scuffed looking (so it came cheapish) Vol 1: Tours in Wales; Thomas Pennant Esq.
Only the 1883 edition I'm afraid.
The snippets of information should make me go out and do some field walking.
Only book I have your areaish is;
Highways & Byways in Galloway & Garrick
By the Rev. C. H. Dick.
1916 .. stamped 'Presentation Copy'
Sorry .. the 'only' oldish book of Scotland I Have !
Gordon Another informative ancient local book is 'The History of Rutherglen and East Kilbride' and by the Rev D Ure, Glasgow press 1793. An easy way to read much of the text is to read the relevant parish entries in the Old Statistical Account, which had the same author and is virtually verbattim. http://edina.ac.uk/cgi/StatAcc/
I wonder how many of the old parish ministers re-published their accounts work ?
This was also a heavily subscibed,limited edition re-print of the 1980's, and now has a ten week waiting list at our local library.
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'Demeure par la verite'
Visit; Gordon's Scottish Castles Resource Page