Wow! I am completely spoilt for choice for this week's Sepia Saturday theme. I have 100's of vintage postcards of castles to choose from, so have had to be very selective and choose, what I think, are the best ones for this post.
I'm starting with Conway Castle in Flintshire, Wales, as this was the very same castle that Alan featured in his prompt. Whilst this is a very different view, you cab still tel it's the same castle. The postcard dates back to the early 1900's and is by the artist Jotter.
.jpg "Vintage postcard of Conway Castle, Flintshire, Wales, by the artist Jotter.")
Vintage postcard of Conway Castle, Flintshire, Wales, by the artist Jotter.
The next vintage postcard is of Scalloway Castle in the Shetland Isles (although confusingly the postcard actually says it's in the Orkney Isles). This postcard also dates back to the early 1900's and is by the artist R.Gallon.
.jpg "Vintage postcard of Scalloway Castle, Shetland Islands, by the artist R.Gallon.")
Vintage postcard of Scalloway Castle, Shetland Islands, by the artist R.Gallon.
I've always had a bit of a soft spot for this next castle. Firstly because of its association with my primary/junior school, Lady Bankes (named after a royalist who defended Corfe Castle), and secondly because it's somewhere we often drive through on our way to the coast at Swanage.
.jpg "Vintage postcard of Corfe Castle, Dorset")
Vintage postcard of Corfe Castle, Dorset
Just a few miles down the road from where I live today the next castle is Highclere Castle, just inside the Hampshire border. For TV viewers it's better known as Downton Abbey, and in fact the village of Highclere now boasts a sign which says "Twinned with Downton Abbey". It's a bit tacky, but previous to that the castle was famous for the wedding of Jordan and Peter André. Obviously there's a lot more history to the castle that that, and of course there's the Tutankhamun connection.
Vintage postcard of Highclere Castle (aka Downton Abbey)
Although I was initially trying to share postcards of less well known castles, I didn't feel my posting would be complete without one of Edinburgh Castle ...
.jpg "Vintage postcard of Edinburgh Castle from the Grassmarket")
Vintage postcard of Edinburgh Castle from the Grassmarket
... and similarly Windsor Castle, although hopefully this view of the Cloisters is a less familiar one.
.jpg "Vintage postcard of the Cloisters, Windsor Castle")
Vintage postcard of the Cloisters, Windsor Castle
As usual, 100's more vintage postcards, including many of castles, can be found on my web site
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Well, I want to know more about...the "Tutankhamun connection."
ReplyDeleteHave a look here ... http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk/about-us/history-of-highclere-castle.html
DeleteI am sure that as a post card collector you could have gone on for ever ! The Cloisters at Windsor are not familiar to me, I will look that up.
ReplyDeleteA wide selection, of course. I rather like that view of Edinburgh Castle.
ReplyDeleteI like the first two artist postcards you showed. I don't think there are any real castles in my postcard collection!
ReplyDeleteHighclere and Corfe are familiar to me as I used to live in Salisbury. Nice to see them featured here.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice collection of castles. I love the ones perched high on a hill. So dramatic.
ReplyDeleteNancy
The castles look so imposing high above the towns. I really like your selection. I'm a Downton fan. I'd love to visit!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic collection of castles. I was also interested in the Tutankhamum connection so thank you for posting the link.
ReplyDeleteI like the view of Edinburgh Castle from the Grassmarket. So imposing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful collection of vintage postcards - my favourites the artistic portrayals of Conway Castle and Scalloway on Shetland
ReplyDeleteMarvelous postcards!
ReplyDeleteFine set of postcards. I've written about Corfe castle before but none of the other. Twinned with Downton for a place won't get many UK touriists - tacky!
ReplyDeleteWell, I can at least say I've been to one of those.
ReplyDeleteThose first two cards are wonderful. Since they were done for cards I'd imagine the original art is long gone.
Castle ruins are the best inspiration for the imagination. Less threatening, and full of unanswered mysteries. How large do you suppose were the original paintings for the illustrated postcards?
ReplyDeleteIn all the time I lived near Highclere, I never actually saw the castle. I haven't seen Downton Abbey either, come to that.
ReplyDeleteNice choices! I'm partial to Edinburgh Castle as I have actually had the privilege to see and experience it in person.
ReplyDelete