posted 02-11-2002 01:25 PM            

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Hello all,

I am a new member to this site. Joined as soon as I stumbled across it. Perusing the different pages brings back many fond memories and fantasys.
Anyway, I am hoping that you can help me with a mystery that has tugged at my memory for almost 30 years. In 1972-1975, I was stationed in Rota, Spain. Myself and a buddy spent most of our free time driving around the countryside exploring. At one fair sized city, (Jerreth de la Frontera I believe) there was a castle in the middle of the city. It appeared intact and in relatively good condition, but it was never open to the public. From what I heard about it,(very little) it wasn't open to anyone. All windows, doors, or any openings were boarded or bricked over, and it had 24 hour Guardia Civil protection. Does anyone on this board know of the Castle I am referring to? Can you give me what info you have, or direct me to a site? All info is much appreciated.
Thanks for your time and help!

Clarence M. Baysinger

posted 02-11-2002 02:11 PM            

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Hmm, this is a difficult one; you're looking for a castle of which you don't know the name, located in a city of which you probably know the name.
Well, a little search learned the following.
In the vicinity of Rota lies a fairly sized town called Jerez de la Frontera, which is probably the city you meant. In this city is a castle called Castillo or Torre de Melgarejo. This seems to be a ruined castle. You can see a little picture of it at: http://www.qsl.net/ea7uru/melgarejo.htm and some (very little) info on: http://www.hotellacueva.com/Default3.htm . If this is your castle then this was all I was able to find. However if this isn't it than you've got an ever bigger problem because in the surrounding area of Rota there are several castles (according to my roadmap).
For instance in the almost equally sized harbour town of Sanlucar de Barrameda there are even two castles.
But let's not run ahead of things. Is Melgarejo your castle?

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"But round about the castle there began to grow a hedge of thorns, which every year became higher...."
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