Modern Peasant Blog

The Bishop's Curse and the Border Reivers

2026-03-15T03:51:00Z

Video: Modern Peasant Blender Video Editor

The Bishop's Curse and the Border Reivers.

A land apart: the Anglo-Scottish border where family, feud, and fury defined a way of life.

Introduction

In the spring of 1525, in the market places of the Scottish Borders, a voice rose above the wind and the doubtless moo-ing of coos. Gavin Dunbar, Archbishop of Glasgow, read from a parchment that would become one of the most extraordinary documents in British history: the Monition of Cursing better known as the Bishop's Curse.

The words were relentless, exhaustive, almost theatrical in their fury. They condemned not just the men who rode by night, but every part of their existence:

“I curse their head and all the hairs of their head; I curse their face, their eyes, their mouth, their nose, their tongue, their teeth, their shoulders, their breast, their heart, their stomach, their back, their womb, their arms, their legs, their hands, their feet… I curse them going and I curse them riding; I curse them standing and I curse them sitting; I curse them eating and I curse them drinking; I curse their corn, their cattle, their wool, their sheep, their horses, their swine, their geese, their hens…”

The curse went on for more than a thousand words, damning the reivers, their families, livestock, crops, their homes, even the very ground they trod, until every conceivable aspect of their lives was placed under divine malediction. Up to and including the hair on their heads. It was no ordinary excommunication. It was an attempt to do what kings, wardens, and armies had failed to achieve; break the power of the Border Reivers.

For nearly three centuries, from the late 1200s until the early 1600s, the Anglo-Scottish frontier had been a 'place apart'. Here, in the valleys of Liddesdale, Teviotdale, Redesdale, and Annandale, ordinary farmers and lairds had turned raiding into a way of life. They stole cattle, burned steadings, took captives for ransom, and feuded across generations, often with little regard for whether their victims were English or Scottish. Kinship and surname loyalty mattered far more than crowns or borders.

The Bishop’s Curse was the Church’s last, desperate weapon when secular justice had collapsed. Yet even this thunderbolt from the pulpit did not end the reiving. The riders continued to cross the hills under moonlight, and the ballads would remember them not as damned criminals, but as bold, often tragic figures of a wild frontier.

This is the story of the Border Reivers: who they were, why they flourished, how they lived, and why eventually their world came to an end.

Read the full Bishop's Curse (Monition of Cursing, 1525)

I curse, damn, and anathemize all and sundry the aforesaid oft-named persons…

I curse their head and all the hairs of their head; I curse their face, their eyes, their mouth, their nose, their tongue, their teeth, their forehead, their shoulders, their breast, their heart, their stomach, their back, their womb, their arms, their legs, their hands, their feet, and every part of their body, from the top of their head to the soles of their feet, before and behind, within and without.

I curse them going, and I curse them riding; I curse them standing, and I curse them sitting; I curse them eating, and I curse them drinking; I curse them rising, and I curse them lying; I curse them at home, I curse them away from home; I curse them within the house, I curse them without the house; I curse their wives, their children, and their servants who participate in their deeds.

I curse their horses, their carts, their oxen, their sheep, their swine, their geese, their hens, and all their livestock. I curse their halls, their chambers, their kitchens, their stables, their barns, their byres, their barnyards, their vegetable patches, their ploughs, their harrows, and the goods and houses necessary for their sustenance and welfare.

… [continues with biblical invocations, curses on their goods, denial of sacraments, and eternal damnation]

… And finally, I curse them with the curse wherewith God cursed Cain, and the curse wherewith the serpent was cursed, and the curse wherewith the earth was cursed when it received the blood of Abel…

(Modernized and condensed for readability; original in Middle Scots. Full historical text available in sources such as the Bannatyne Miscellany or online transcriptions.)

Who Were the Border Reivers?

The Border Reivers were not a professional army, nor a distinct ethnic group, but ordinary men and women of the Anglo-Scottish frontier who turned raiding into a way of life. They were farmers, shepherds, tenants, small lairds, and even minor gentry living in the valleys and hills of what are now Northumberland, Cumbria, Durham, and the Scottish Borders, and Dumfries & Galloway. Most were born into families that had endured centuries of cross-border warfare, from Edward I’s invasions in the 1290s through the repeated flare-ups of the 15th and 16th centuries. When armies marched through, burning crops and driving off livestock, settled agriculture became precarious. Raiding, stealing cattle, sheep, horses, goods, or even people for ransom became an economic necessity and, over time, a seasonal occupation.

What bound them together was not nationality but kinship and surname. Loyalty ran first to the extended family or “surname” (a Scots term for clan-like groups), not to the English or Scottish crown. Major reiving surnames included, on the Scottish side, Armstrong, Elliot, Scott, Kerr, Johnstone, Maxwell, and Turnbull; on the English side, Charlton, Robson, Graham, Forster, Fenwick, and Heron. Many families straddled the border; Armstrongs, Grahams, Bells, and Nixons had branches in both kingdoms, so a man might raid Scots one week and English the next, or ally with kin across the line against rivals on his own side. National identity was fluid: as one contemporary observer put it, they were “Scottish when they will, and English at their pleasure.”

Reiving reached its height in the 16th century, especially during the reigns of Elizabeth I in England and Mary Queen of Scots / James VI in Scotland. It was rarely a full-time profession. Most reivers were part-time raiders; they farmed or herded by day and rode out by moonlight when the need (or opportunity) arose. Raids were seasonal, often in late summer or autumn when cattle were fattest and nights still long enough for hard riding. Groups varied from a handful of close kin to several hundred men drawn from allied surnames. Women played vital roles too: managing tower houses during absences, defending them when attacked, and sometimes joining in the raids themselves. In this world, the surname was both shield and sword. An insult to one member dishonoured the whole family; a theft demanded collective vengeance. The reivers were, above all, products of their environment: tough, resourceful, fiercely loyal to kin, and unbound by the laws of distant courts.

Video: A Musical Interlude, a contemporary song about a reiver.

Why Reiving Emerged and Endured

The Border Reivers did not invent raiding; they adapted to a frontier that had been systematically devastated for centuries. The root cause stretches back to the late 13th century, when Edward I of England invaded Scotland in 1296, sparking the Wars of Scottish Independence. For the next three hundred years, the borderlands became a repeated theatre of invasion, counter-invasion, and scorched-earth warfare. English and Scottish armies burned crops, slaughtered livestock, razed villages, and carried off what remained. The Treaty of York (1237) had fixed the borderline along the Solway Firth and River Tweed, but peace was fleeting. Each new conflict left the region poorer, the fields trampled, and the people more desperate and hardened.

Geography made recovery almost impossible. The border hills; the Cheviots, Lammermuirs, and northern Pennines were rugged, windswept, and ill-suited to large-scale arable farming. Thin soils, heavy rainfall, and short growing seasons favoured pastoralism as sheep and cattle that could graze rough pasture. But herds were mobile, valuable, and easy to steal. In a landscape of narrow valleys, peat bogs, and hidden cleughs (ravines), ambush and escape were straightforward; pursuit was slow and dangerous. The same terrain that defeated armies also protected raiders.

Central authority was weak and distant. London and Edinburgh were days or weeks away; local justice depended on wardens of the Marches, often Border lords themselves who had their own surnames to protect and feuds to settle. Wardens were frequently complicit, turning a blind eye to their kin’s raids or using their position to settle personal scores. The Days of Truce, meant to resolve cross-border grievances, often dissolved into violence or farce. Royal proclamations and military expeditions came and went, but the border remained a place where the king’s writ ran thin.

Raiding thus became an economic adaptation. In autumn, when cattle were fattest, reivers struck to replenish herds depleted by war or weather. “Blackmail” (protection money, from the Gaelic màl for rent) bought safety from powerful surnames. Ransoms from captured travellers or farmers provided cash or goods. These were not acts of pure greed but survival in a war-scarred land where honest labour could be wiped out in a single night. The reivers filled the void left by failed governance, turning necessity into a grim, enduring way of life.

Life on the Frontier

Daily existence for the Border Reivers blended the rhythms of rural life with the constant threat, and practice of violence. Most reivers were not full-time outlaws; they were farmers, shepherds, and small tenants who worked the land by day. They tended sheep and cattle on the rough upland pastures, grew oats and barley where the soil allowed, repaired stone dykes, and mended tools. But martial skills were as essential as ploughing: boys learned to ride hardy Galloway ponies from childhood, to handle lance, bow, sword, and later the short dog "dag" pistol, and to read the landscape for ambush or escape. Women managed the household, spun wool, preserved food, and often took up arms when towers came under attack. Life was hard, seasonal, and precarious, crops could fail, winters gnaw, and a raid could wipe out a year's labour overnight.

To survive these threats, families built fortified homes. The most iconic were the pele towers and bastles that still dot the upland north-east landscape. A pele tower was a tall, narrow stone keep (often three or four storeys) with thick walls, a vaulted basement for livestock, narrow slit windows for defence, and a parapet for lookout. Bastles were simpler: two-storey farmhouses with the ground floor vaulted for animals and goods, the family living above, and a heavy door or ladder access to thwart intruders. Larger strongholds belonged to more powerful landowners. These buildings were not castles in the grand sense but practical refuges, places to retreat when the beacon fires flared on the hills.

Alnham Tower House

Black Middens Bastle

Camo Pele Tower (modernised)

Grandy's Know Bastle (very modernised)

Hepburn Bastle

Mitford Tower House

Raw Farm Former Bastle

Willimoteswick Tower House

Woodhouse Bastle

Screenshot From Web Based Reiver Map

Marker Pin And Link To Reiver Map

Life on the Frontier Continued

Raiding itself was highly seasonal and tactical. Most strikes came in late summer or autumn, when nights were long, cattle fat, and fields harvested. Reivers rode at night in small parties (5–50 men, sometimes hundreds for big raids), using moonlight and knowledge of hidden paths. They struck fast: drive off herds, burn thatch, seize goods or captives, then vanish before dawn. The hot trod gave victims the legal right to pursue thieves immediately across the border with “hound and horn,” but success was rare. Disputes were meant to be settled at the Days of Truce, formal meetings where English and Scottish wardens heard grievances but these often turned into brawls or ambushes.

One of the most daring exploits was the rescue of Kinmont Willie Armstrong in 1596. Willie, a notorious Liddesdale reiver, was captured during a truce day and imprisoned in Carlisle Castle, an illegal breach of Reiver safe conduct rules. On a stormy April night, Walter Scott of Buccleuch led about 200 Scots across the border, scaled the castle walls, broke open the dungeon, and carried Willie back to Scotland in triumph. The raid humiliated the English warden, Lord Scrope, and became legend-proof that reivers could strike deep into enemy territory and escape with their prize.

Yet the ballads that immortalised these feats painted a romantic picture. Songs like “Kinmont Willie” celebrated cunning and courage, turning grim necessity into heroic adventure. In reality, reiving brought fear, poverty, and sudden death. A single night could leave families homeless, children orphaned, or feuds burning for generations. The frontier was a place of beauty and brutality, where survival demanded both the plough and the sword.

The Border Marches and Cross-Border Dynamics

To manage the chronic lawlessness of the frontier, both England and Scotland divided the border into three Marches, East, Middle, and West, on each side, a system formalised in the 13th century and refined through treaties and custom. The English Marches roughly covered Northumberland and parts of Cumbria; the Scottish Marches encompassed Roxburghshire, Berwickshire, Dumfriesshire, and the Borders. Each March had its own warden: a powerful local lord appointed by the crown to enforce justice, collect taxes, and maintain order. Wardens were meant to be impartial, but many were themselves from reiving families or had ties to the surnames they policed. This built-in conflict of interest often made enforcement patchy or selective.

The Marches were linked by the Days of Truce, formal meetings held several times a year where English and Scottish wardens sat together to hear cross-border complaints, settle disputes, and agree compensation or punishments. These gatherings were supposed to be protected by safe conduct, but they frequently descended into violence, ambushes, or outright brawls. The Debatable Lands, a narrow strip along the border near Liddesdale and the Sark, were a particular flashpoint: claimed by neither kingdom, they became a no-man’s-land where outlaws thrived and neither side could legally intervene.

Raiding was often deliberately cross-border Scots struck into England, English into Scotland, sometimes with tacit encouragement from their own governments during wartime to harass the enemy. Yet it was never purely national. Internal feuds were just as fierce: Scotts against Kerrs, Maxwells against Johnstones, Armstrongs against Elliots. Surnames formed alliances that ignored the borderline; English Grahams might ride with Scottish Armstrongs against a common foe, or betray their own countrymen for kin. Loyalty flowed to family first, not flag.

As one 16th-century observer famously put it, the reivers were “Scottish when they will, and English at their pleasure.” In this fluid world, the border was less a hard line than a permeable zone where kinship, survival, and opportunism trumped royal allegiance. The Marches, intended as instruments of control, instead became the scaffolding for a culture that thrived on crossing every boundary.

Map of The Anglo-Scottish Border Marches

The End of Reiving

The long twilight of the Border Reivers began with the Union of the Crowns in 1603. When Elizabeth I died childless, James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne as James I, uniting the two kingdoms under one monarch for the first time. The border, once a vital strategic frontier between rival crowns, lost its purpose overnight. No longer a contested zone, it became an internal embarrassment; an ungoverned land where lawlessness mocked the new king's vision of a united Britain.

James moved swiftly and ruthlessly to pacify the region. In 1603–1605 he abolished the March system entirely, replacing the old wardens with joint Anglo-Scottish commissions and stricter officials. The border was renamed the “Middle Shires” to erase its exceptional status. Disarmament orders followed: reivers were compelled to surrender weapons, and possession of arms without licence became a capital offence. Raiding parties were hunted down with unprecedented coordination; English and Scottish forces now worked together instead of at cross-purposes.

The crackdown was brutal. Hundreds were executed, often summarily under what became known as “Jeddert Justice” (named after Jedburgh, where many trials took place). Others faced transportation: entire families were banished to the Ulster plantations in Ireland, where their martial skills were repurposed to subdue Gaelic clans. By 1610, organised reiving had been crushed. Sporadic incidents lingered into the 1620s and 1630s, but the old way of life was broken.

The warning signs had been there earlier. In 1530, King James V of Scotland lured Johnnie Armstrong of Gilnockie, a powerful Liddesdale reiver chief, to a meeting under promise of safe conduct. Once in royal hands, Armstrong and his followers were hanged without trial at Carlenrig. The episode, immortalised in the lament “Johnnie Armstrong’s Goodnight,” showed that even the most formidable surnames could be destroyed when the crown chose to act decisively.

The legacy of the reivers endures quietly. Their surnames, Armstrong, Scott, Kerr, Graham, Charlton still cluster in the Borders and Northumberland. The stone pele towers and bastles stand as silent sentinels across the hills. And in the ballads collected by Sir Walter Scott and others, the reivers live on: romanticised as bold outlaws, their deeds sung in pubs and at ceilidhs. The frontier they defined has become a place of heritage trails and quiet valleys but the memory of their fierce, kinship-driven world has never quite faded.

Conclusion

The Border Reivers were neither romantic outlaws nor mindless criminals; they were survivors shaped by a fractured frontier. Born into a land repeatedly ravaged by Anglo-Scottish wars, denied reliable justice by distant crowns, and forced to navigate a landscape that rewarded cunning and kinship over obedience, they crafted a harsh but functional way of life. Raiding was not an aberration but an adaptation, cattle lifted to replace those lost to war or winter, feuds settled when courts could not reach them, and loyalty given first to surname and only grudgingly to flag. In a world where trust was scarce and survival uncertain, their code of honour, vengeance, and pledged word kept order where none was imposed.

Today, the echoes remain quiet but unmistakable. Pele towers and bastles stand as weathered sentinels across the Cheviots and Liddesdale. Surnames like Armstrong, Scott, Kerr, Graham, and Charlton still cluster in the Borders and Northumberland, carrying faint memories of the old loyalties. Ballads sung in pubs keep the stories alive, Kinmont Willie’s daring escape, betrayal by authority, the curse that failed to silence them.

The Bishop’s Curse may have thundered from every pulpit, but it could not end the reiving. Only a united crown and ruthless pacification finally did. Yet in a rapidly fracturing society where trust in institutions wanes, kinship networks re-emerge, and survival can feel precarious once more, that world seems not so distant after all. Ask yourself: could you survive such an environment, let alone prosper for 300 years?

Appendix:

The Reiver Code

The Unwritten Code of the Border Reivers

Kinship above all: Primary loyalty to surname/family, not nation or crown.
Honour and pledged word: Breaking faith was a grave sin; oaths were binding even to enemies.
Vengeance and feuds: Injury to one demanded collective retaliation; feuds could last generations.
Hot trod: Legal right to pursue stolen livestock immediately across the border.
Blackmail: Protection payments for safety; refusal invited raids.
Days of Truce: Negotiated settlements at March meetings (often violent).
Pragmatic morality: Raiding outsiders was economic necessity; excessive cruelty or oath-breaking brought peer condemnation.

Family Names

Some of the principle family names, not exhaustive. If you think you should be on the list give me a shout!

Armstrong Bell Carruthers Charlton Crosbie Cunningham Dalrymple Dodd Douglas Dryden Elliot Ellis Fenwick Forster / Foster Fraser Grahame (Graham) Hall Hepburn Heron Hetherington Home Hume Hunter Johnstone Kerr Lauder Maxwell Milburn Moffat Montgomery Muir Nisbet Nixon Noble Norris Pringle Reed / Reid Robson / Robinson Routledge Rutherford Scott Selby Seton Somerville Stewart Swinton Trotter Turnbull Wauchope

If you know any modern-day 'Reivers', please consider sharing with them:

Sorry I reived your time. :)

21⅓ Castles Of Distinction

2026-02-25T20:59:56Z

The Castle App

Introduction

A personal selection of the world's most extraordinary fortresses – plus the Northumbrian strongholds that started it all…in a web based app.

Explore the interactive map →

Growing up in County Durham, castles weren't distant fairy tales — they were simply there, part of the landscape I wandered and was driven around as a bairn. Durham Castle loomed over the river on often mischievous trips into town, its Norman walls hiding university students as easily as they once sheltered prince-bishops. Brancepeth, Raby, Barnard, Lumley — the list goes on, all leaving an indelible mark on the subconscious, maybe?

Those early encounters planted a seed that grew into a lifelong interest. Over the years, I've sought out fortresses across Europe — nine of which I've stood inside (or been in very close proximity to), from the royal splendour of Windsor to the tidal isolation of Mont-Saint-Michel, the fairytale spires of Neuschwanstein to the restored ramparts of Carcassonne. Each left its mark.

This is my curated collection of 21⅓ Castles of Distinction — twenty-one extraordinary strongholds from around the world that I consider the most remarkable (?) for their architecture, history, setting, or sheer atmosphere. The fractional third? Well, that should be obvious from the list! 😉 From a personal perspective, it also represents the pull of the Northumbrian borders — the dramatic coastal castles, inland ruins, and fortified homes that shaped my earliest memories and refuse to be contained in a neat list. (A dedicated map for them is already brewing.)

To bring these places together in one explorable space, I built Castle Explorer — a simple interactive web map where you can filter, sort, and dive into the details. What follows are the stories behind my selection…

The I've Visited List

These are special — not just for their grandeur or history, but because I've stood within (or very close to) their walls or at least viewed from a great vantage point. From local Durham stones that shaped my earliest memories to continental wonders that felt like stepping into legend, each visit deepened the obsession. Here they are in alphabetical order, my brain is too far gone for chronological, sorry!:

Carcassonne

Carcassonne (France, origins 1st century BC, major fortifications 12th–13th century)

A masterpiece of medieval military architecture, this double-walled fortified city in southern France was originally a Gallo-Roman stronghold. Extensively restored in the 19th century by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, it's now a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best-preserved examples of a walled citadel.

My visit: The original plan was a cycling trip to the South of France — chasing the Tour de France and slogging up those legendary mountain hills on my own 'iron-pig'. Carcassonne turned out to be a glorious by-product: wandering the perfectly restored ramparts with a nice ice-cream in hand, then watching Lance Armstrong (in what we now know was his drug-fuelled prime) rocket past. An accidental detour that felt like stepping straight into a medieval dream — albeit with grown men in lycra on two wheeled steeds!

Durham Castle

Durham Castle - my childhood landmark

Built by William the Conqueror's Normans shortly after the Conquest, this motte-and-bailey castle served as the residence of the powerful Prince Bishops of Durham. Today it forms part of Durham University (the oldest university castle in the world) and is a UNESCO site alongside the adjacent cathedral.

quote"> My visit: It was never really a "visit" — more a constant presence growing up nearby. Mischievous bus trips into town as a teenager could turn lively, like the time a local football hooligan crew chased me through the rabbit-warren of back alleys around the castle (heart-pounding stuff). More often, though, it was just there: looming dramatically over the River Wear on fishing trips with mates, or simply the unchanging backdrop to everyday life. History wasn't something you went to see — it was home.

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle (Scotland, origins 12th century or earlier)

Perched atop an ancient volcanic rock, this iconic fortress has dominated Scotland's capital for centuries. Home to the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny, it has witnessed sieges, royal births, and the incessant One O'Clock Gun…well done lads!

My visit: I've been up there many times, almost always arriving via that dramatic east coast rail journey, hugging the breathtaking coastline of both fine countries. One standout was staggering up to the battlements after a night on the ale, I believe, celebrating a mate's forthcoming wedding: slightly hazy-headed, but utterly exhilarated by those sweeping, dramatic views over Edinburgh. The castle has this way of turning good times into timeless ones, that you can't quite remember!.

Ludworth Tower

Ludworth Tower at Sunset. Thanks To David Allen.

A classic pele tower built during the turbulent border reiver era for defence against Scottish raids. Now atmospheric ruins in County Durham countryside, it exemplifies the fortified farmhouses common in the Northumbrian borders.

My visit: For years it was just a familiar blur on the horizon — I'd drive past regularly in a job working with the long-term unemployed of east Durham, the van full of chat about footy and barely a glance at the ruins. It blended into the landscape like it always had. Only later, during my Ludworth project, did everything change: I examined it properly for the first time, mapping the terrain (yes I know) and 3D-ing it from every angle, and finally appreciating its quiet, defiant history amid the farming landscape. What was once taken for granted became a genuine interest. It was at this point I decided a vaguely comedic approach was in order. Once the goats showed up it spiralled out of control. I was a long cold winter here!

Video: "Northumbrian X: Ludworth Tower Redux" by MODERN PEASANT

Mont-Saint-Michel

Mont-Saint-Michel (France, abbey founded 708)

This dramatic tidal island abbey off Normandy's coast began as an 8th-century oratory and grew into a fortified pilgrimage site. Surrounded by quicksands and extreme tides, it's a UNESCO marvel of medieval engineering and spirituality.

My visit: The trip was primarily to the infamous D-Day beaches of Normandy — a sombre, reflective journey. Mont-Saint-Michel was the breathtaking side adventure: marvelling at this impossible rock rising from the sands, soaking up the warm Norman hospitality over local feasts. The highlight (and lowlight) was devouring a full kilo of moules frites (mussels and chips) — delicious at the time, but the shellfish toxin poisoning that followed was a harsh reminder to pace myself. Worth every hallucinogenic moment for the sheer 'magic' of the place.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle (Germany, 1869–1886)

King Ludwig II of Bavaria's romantic 19th-century palace, inspired by medieval legends and Wagner operas. Nestled in the Alps, its fairy-tale silhouette inspired Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle.

My visit: It was during an army skiing trip in the depths of winter — the regiment had a rather nice ski lodge in the area (I believe was confiscated post-war…a perk?). The castle appeared out of nowhere through thick, swirling mist: towers emerging like something from a dream, the snow-muted Alps all around. Truly magical — one of those rare moments where reality outdoes the postcards.

Prague Castle

Prague Castle (Czech Republic, founded 880)

The largest coherent ancient castle complex in the world (Guinness record), overlooking the Vltava River. Seat of Czech kings, Holy Roman Emperors, and presidents, it includes St. Vitus Cathedral and spans Romanesque to Gothic styles.

My visit: This was a week-long booze binge with the chaps. Sightseeing was involved, mainly constitution-rebuilding after the night before's festivities. Fabulous city to see in a haze, sorry Prague! Honourable mention to the 'interesting' taxi driver and service!

Tower of London

Tower of London (England, 1066)

William the Conqueror's formidable fortress and palace on the Thames, centred on the White Tower. It has served as royal residence, prison, armoury, and treasury — home to the Crown Jewels and infamous executions.

My visit: I can't pinpoint the date, but it was many moons ago. What sticks in my mind, though, is the sheer opulence of all that accrued wealth. Might've been my military days; we probably got in free! On the subject of, we also rolled over Tower Bridge on one occasion to put some holes in Salisbury Plain. The site of the castle from Tower Bridge at night is a marvel!

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle (England, 1070)

The oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, founded by William the Conqueror. Official residence of the British monarch for over 900 years, with stunning State Apartments and St. George's Chapel.

My visit: This might've been a day out from Sandhurst—no, I wasn't at the officer academy, LOL. I was slaving for a well-known behemoth, doing web work for the Dept of Education. A job so spirit-crushing, I bolted the country for nearly 20 years!;-) (Nice folk there, though.)

Buda Castle

Buda Castle (Hungary, 1265)

Description: Historic palace complex of the Hungarian kings, now housing the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum. Historical Footnote: Heavily damaged in WWII, its reconstruction preserved medieval elements while blending Baroque and modern features.

My visit: Hitched a ride on an Eastern European road trip with a few Kiwis; starting in Hungary, passing through Slovakia (Bratislava Castle{Y}) and Croatia, with a brief 100-yard crossing into Bosnia, before finally arriving in the stunning city of Dubrovnik. Breathtaking scenery, while the constant reminders of conflict through checkpoints and land grabs served as a poignant reminder of a turbulent recent past.

Dubrovnik (Croatia, founded 614)

The Would Be Nice At Some Stage

Pena Palace

Pena Palace (Portugal, 1854)

A Romanticist palace perched on a hill above Sintra, known for its vivid colours and eclectic architectural styles. Built on the ruins of a monastery destroyed in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, it represents the peak of 19th-century Romantic revivalism in Europe.

Matsumoto Castle

Matsumoto Castle (Japan, 1504)

Nicknamed 'Crow Castle' for its dramatic black-and-white exterior, this elegant feudal keep is one of Japan's oldest surviving original castles, surrounded by a moat and cherry blossoms in spring. Built during the Sengoku (Warring States) period, it survived earthquakes and wars intact—earning National Treasure status as one of only five original castle keeps left in Japan.

Kremlin (Moscow)

Kremlin (Russia, 1482–1495)

The fortified complex at the heart of Moscow, housing the Russian president and iconic cathedrals. It has been the seat of Russian power for centuries, surviving Mongol invasions, fires, and revolutions to remain a symbol of state authority.

Krak des Chevaliers

Krak des Chevaliers (Syria, 1142)

One of the best-preserved Crusader castles, perched on a hill overlooking the Homs Gap. Its massive walls and towers dominate the landscape. It withstood numerous sieges during the Crusades and was described by a 13th-century visitor as the 'strongest castle in the world.' Richard The Lionheart's favourite B&B!

Himeji Castle

Himeji Castle (Japan, 1346)

Japan's most spectacular surviving feudal castle, known as the White Heron due to its brilliant white exterior. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Historical Footnote: One of only a handful of original Japanese castles to survive intact into the modern era, it narrowly escaped destruction in WWII bombings.

Chateau de Versailles

Chateau de Versailles (France, 1661)

The opulent Baroque masterpiece and former residence of French kings Louis XIV to Louis XVI, famed for its Hall of Mirrors, vast gardens, and fountains. Symbol of absolute monarchy and excess that fuelled the French Revolution. Louis XIV moved the court here in 1661 to control nobles—leading to the famous 'Sun King' era, but also the 1789 Revolution when the palace was stormed.

Chateau de Chenonceau

Chateau de Chenonceau (France, 1515)

Spanning the River Cher, this elegant Renaissance château is famed for its graceful arches and beautiful gardens. It played a role in both the Hundred Years' War and World War II. During WWII, the gallery over the river served as an escape route from occupied to free France.

Bran Castle

Bran Castle (Romania, 1382)

Often marketed as Dracula's Castle, this medieval fortress sits atop a cliff in Transylvania. It now houses a museum of art and furniture. While not actually Vlad the Impaler's residence, its eerie location and 20th-century marketing tied it forever to Bram Stoker's Dracula legend.

Bodiam Castle

Bodiam Castle (England, 1385)

A quintessential moated medieval castle built by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge to defend against French invasion. Never seriously attacked in its prime, it fell into ruin after the English Civil War but was restored in the 20th century as a romantic ruin.

Alhambra

Alhambra (Spain, 1238)

A sprawling palace-fortress complex in Granada, showcasing exquisite Moorish architecture, intricate tilework, and lush gardens. The last Muslim stronghold in Spain fell here in 1492, marking the end of nearly 800 years of Islamic rule on the Iberian Peninsula.

Alcazar of Segovia

Alcazar of Segovia (Spain, 1122)

Perched dramatically on a rocky crag like a ship's bow, this fairy-tale fortress, another that inspired Disney's Cinderella Castle with its pointed turrets and moat. Once a royal residence for Castilian kings. Isabella I was crowned Queen of Castile here in 1474—launching the era that unified Spain and funded Columbus's voyages.

In Closing: Why Castles Still Matter

Castles, for me, aren't just stone and history — they're markers of lives lived boldly: places of refuge, power, romance, and ruin. From the everyday Northumbrian strongholds that shaped my appreciation to the continental wonders that felt like stepping into legend, these massive feats of human ingenuity have stayed with me for a reason. They remind us that the past isn't distant; it's hidden in plain sight, waiting for a curious glance or an accidental detour.

That's why I built Castle Explorer — a simple, interactive web map to share these places with anyone who feels the same pull. No frameworks, just vanilla JavaScript and Leaflet, running (smoothly?) on anything from a phone (while standing outside a real castle) to a desktop.

A huge thank you to the wonderful open-source community — Leaflet.js, OpenStreetMap contributors, and countless tools that made this project possible without reinventing the wheel. The app is fully open-source (MIT licensed), so if a castle speaks to you (especially a Northumbrian one), fork the repo, add it to castles.json, and off ye go with your own version.

Thanks for reading — what's your favourite castle?

Made With Love ❤️ And Open Source

This entire project — from code to maps, images to writing — was built using fantastic free and open-source tools. Huge thanks to the communities behind them; they make projects like this possible without barriers.

Zed Editor : Clean, fast code editing.
Pop!_OS : The Linux distro that just works!
GIMP : Powerful Photoshop alternative, zero cost.
QGIS : Early mapping research and verifying coordinates.
Docker : And it's massive volume of digital containers!
LibreOffice : Drafting notes, organising data tables and polishing text.

All open-source, all brilliant. If you're starting a similar project, I can't recommend this stuff enough. Open tools = open possibilities.

All Images bar Ludworth are Courtesy Of Wikipedia Creative Commons. Thanks to Grok for brainstorming, polishing and testing.

Who are the Monkey Hangers!

2026-02-24T03:51:00Z

Illustration of the Monkey Hangers story

Introduction

A rewrite of the alleged story of how the Fisherman of Hartlepool hung a monkey believing it to be a French spy.

“The monkey swung from the gallows tall, Hanged by those who did not know him at all.” — NovaPeasant-Aye

H’angus The Monkey; Mascot of Hartlepool United Football Club

During the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800s, Britain and France were engaged in another major military conflict…In the year 1807, a French ship was wrecked off the coast of Hartlepool. Amongst the wreckage was, well, a monkey that belonged to the ship’s now deceased captain!

The townspeople of Hartlepool, not being familiar with either monkeys or French for that matter, believed it to be a Frenchman who had survived the wreck. They brought the monkey before the local court and put it on trial for being a French spy. The monkey having something of a less than convincing defense and an inebriated jury, was subsequently found guilty and sentenced to hang.

The monkey was then hanged by the neck from a makeshift gallows. Only after the execution did the townspeople realize their mistake when informed by a local sailor that the ‘Frenchman’ they had hanged was in fact a primate and not by any stretch human.

H'Angus The Monkey

Two major sports clubs in Hartlepool have taken the bold step of incorporating the town’s monkey hanging history into their nomenclature:

H'Angus The Monkey, mascot of Hartlepool United Football Club
Hartlepool Rovers Rugby club’s logo features a monkey hanging from a noose, and they regularly refer to themselves in a self deprecating monkey related kind of way.

Hartlepool Rovers Rugby club logo featuring the monkey

H'angus The Monkey, mascot of Hartlepool United FC

The related references show how the townspeople have embraced their unusual history and turned it into a source of civic pride and dark humour. The nicknames have helped forge a strong sense of local identity for the sports teams.

The monkey hanging story has thus not only shaped Hartlepool’s history, and it’s nicknames for its people, but also lives on through the names and mascots of two major local sports clubs. It remains an integral part of Hartlepool’s culture and community spirit to this day…

Fast forward a few hundred years—Hartlepool United Football club's mascot H'Angus The Monkey runs for mayor of Hartlepool on a "FREE Bananas" for school children platform—and WINS! Then 4 years later WINS AGAIN!

The Mayor

Inflatable H'angus The Monkey

Statue On The Quay

H'angus The Winner

Video: "The Fishermen Hung the Monkey" by Billy Fane - Topic

While the Monkey Hangers tale has become a source of local pride and humor, Hartlepool's history also includes more somber chapters during the World Wars, when the town faced direct attacks that left a lasting impact on its community.

A little more Hartlepool.

During World War I and World War II, Hartlepool was heavily bombarded/bombed by the German navy and luftwaffe respectively, causing significant damage to the town and its population.

During World War I, the town of Hartlepool was the site of a German naval bombardment on December 16, 1914.

Hartlepool Bombardment (1914):

86 civilians killed, 420 injured

(18 soldiers, 68 civilians)

This event is known as the "Hartlepool Bombardment."

In World War II, the Luftwaffe conducted aerial bombing campaigns on the town, causing significant damage to the town and its population. However, exact casualty numbers for WWII bombings are not readily available in historical records.

Historical facts sourced from public records and historical archives.

Damage from the 1914 German bombardment of Hartlepool

Aftermath of the Hartlepool Bombardment

Conclusion

The tale of the Monkey Hangers remains one of the most peculiar and enduring stories in British history. What began as a tragic misunderstanding during the Napoleonic Wars evolved into a unique cultural identity for Hartlepool—one that the town has embraced with characteristic humor and resilience.

From sports team mascots to a monkey serving as mayor, Hartlepool has transformed this dark historical anecdote into a symbol of community spirit. Even as the town endured the very real horrors of war in the decades that followed, the Monkey Hangers story persisted as a reminder that history is often stranger than fiction.

Today, the legacy lives on not just in memorabilia and local lore, but in the way Hartlepool's residents own their unusual past with pride and wit. It's a story that continues to captivate visitors and locals alike—a testament to how communities can find identity in even the most unexpected chapters of their history.

Image attribution: Historical images sourced from public archives and online collections. Specific sources unknown. If you recognize any image and can provide proper attribution, please contact the author.

Ludworth Tower: Redux

2026-02-22T20:10:00Z

Video: "Northumbrian X: Ludworth Tower Redux" by MODERN PEASANT

Rebuilding Ludworth Tower

Ludworth Tower in County Durham gets a humorous rebuild in this playful video, starring James The Mason and Bruce Of Forsyth—with some goats joining the fun! During a long cold winter, what better way to spend time than digitally resurrecting a ruined medieval fortress?

The YouTube video "Northumbrian X: Ludworth Tower Redux" (uploaded August 13, 2025 by MODERN PEASANT) is a short, deliberately humorous take on historic reconstruction. It follows James The Mason and Bruce Of Forsyth as they digitally rebuild the ruined medieval Ludworth Tower using 3D modeling and creative design tools. Framed as a light-hearted "redux," the project is more artistic whimsy than serious archaeology.

The video is tongue-in-cheek in tone and features a charming rural cast: the builders are joined by two adorable goats, Shane and Oggie, who wander through the process adding comic relief. The whole thing feels like a quirky blend of heritage preservation, digital art, and gentle self-mockery—essentially watching enthusiastic locals "bring a medieval fortress back to life" in the virtual world while clearly having a laugh about it.

Ludworth Tower at Sunset. Thanks To David Allen.

Ludworth Tower (England, c. 1420)

Ludworth Tower (England, c. 1420) Credited

A Hammer Beam Of The Period

As a somewhat of a nerdy aside, the hammer beam image above was used as a modeling aid in Blender 3D for the fortified manor house front or south facing aspect.

The Real Ludworth Tower

Ludworth Tower was built by the de Ludworth family and later passed to the Holden family, who added to the tower in 1411. Roger Holden gained a licence to crenelate in 1422, and Thomas Holden added a rectangular pele tower at least three storeys high. I missed this nugget until it was too late and included the peel tower in the structure...a bit of an error! :)

By 1785, Ludworth Tower was already a ruin. Most of the remaining structure collapsed in 1890, leaving only the barrel-vaulted basement, three-storey west wall, and fragments of a spiral stair visible today.

The tower's history spans over four centuries, from its medieval origins to its eventual decay. Today, the ruins stand as a testament to the region's pele tower heritage—a type of fortified residence common in the Anglo-Scottish border region.

Video credit: "Northumbrian X: Ludworth Tower Redux" by MODERN PEASANT (YouTube)

Historical facts sourced from Wikipedia and public records.

Uhtred: Saviour of Durham!

2026-02-06T07:58:00Z

Utred Of Bamburgh

The un-‘Real’ Uhtred of Bamburgh

“Uhtred the Bold of Bamburgh: A leader, warrior, and chief, Protector of his land, his people’s relief.”

Introduction

Uhtred of Bamburgh was a powerful ealdorman in Northumbria during the late Anglo-Saxon period. He was born around 975 AD, the son of Waltheof I, the ruler of Bamburgh. He succeeded his father as ruler of the region, and played a key role in the politics of northern England.

In 995, according to Symeon of Durham, when the remains of St Cuthbert were transferred from Chester-le-Street to Durham, Uhtred went to Durham with his monks to clear the site of the new cathedral. The new cathedral was founded by Bishop Aldhun, and Uhtred married Aldhun’s daughter, Ecgfrida, probably at about this time. From his marriage, he received several ‘derivatives’ that had belonged to the church, which helped him to secure his position and power in the region.

Uhtred : A Peasant Blender 3D Project

One of Uhtred’s most notable achievements was his victory against King Malcolm II of Scotland in the year 1006. The Scottish king had invaded Northumbria and besieged the newly founded episcopal (of or relating to a bishop, an overseer in the Christian church) City of Durham. At that time, the Danes were raiding southern England and the English King Ethelred was unable to send help to the Northumbrians. Uhtred, acting for his father, called together an army from the south of the region and Yorkshire and led it against the Scots, winning a decisive victory. In a somewhat macabre side note, after the battle the local women washed the severed heads of the Scots, receiving an unusually high payment of a cow for each, then the heads were fixed on stakes to Durham’s walls! As a warning I assume…in more contemporary parlance, f*#@ aboot, find oot!

This achievement earned Uhtred the respect and gratitude of King Ethelred, who appointed him ealdorman of Bamburgh, even though his father was still alive. He also granted Uhtred the position of ealdorman of York, uniting northern and southern Northumbria under the house of Bamburgh.

The Battle of Carham, likely fought around 1016 (disputed), was an encounter at Carham on Tweed between Uhtred of Bamburgh and the allied forces of Malcolm II of Scotland and Owen the Bald of Cumbria. The battle resulted in a victory for the Scots and Cumbrians but it did help stabilise what is now the English/Scottish border.

The death of Uhtred in 1016 marked a crucial moment in the history of Northumbria, as he was assassinated during a supposed ‘peace meeting’ with the newly crowned Danish King, Cnut, spelled as Knutr in Old Norse. Somewhat curious!

Uhtred TV-eed!

Below is the 'loosely based' TV adaptation based on the books by Bernard Cornwell who, is the author of the Uhtred series, which is also known as "The Saxon Stories." These historical novels are set in early medieval England and follow the adventures of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a fictional nobleman with a Viking upbringing, in entirely the wrong period!

The Yeoman farmer in conflict.

A yeoman farmer, during the 1006 siege of Durham or a similar historical event, would have played a supporting role in the conflict. Yeoman farmers were small landowners who were not part of the noble or wealthy classes, but they were typically more skilled and affluent than the average peasant.

In a conflict like the siege of Durham, a yeoman farmer might have provided food, supplies, and horses to the combatants. They could have also taken part in local defence efforts, such as manning makeshift fortifications or guarding their villages. Some yeoman farmers might have been trained in the use of longbows or other weapons, which would have made them more effective in defending their communities. While yeoman farmers would not have been the primary combatants, their contributions in supporting the war effort would have been valuable and essential to the overall success of the conflict.

Some Skynet Generated Pictures of A Bendy Shield

Some Skynet Generated Pictures of Yoeman

About this post

This post was created using the following tools:

Zed - Fast, collaborative code editor for writing and editing
Blender - For creating 3D renders and visualizations
POP! OS - Linux distribution for development work
GIMP - For image editing and manipulation
GNOME APPS - Too many to mention, but, GThumb Image Editor!

The blog itself is built with Eleventy, a powerful static site generator that delivers excellent performance and zero JavaScript output.

Thank You For your Valuable Time

The Hannah Hauxwell Story

2025-11-24T00:56:50Z

Video: "Too Long A Winter: The Hannah Hauxwell Story" - Yorkshire TV

Introduction

A brief bio, documentary (courtesy of Yorkshire TV) and gallery of The Dales legend. Too long a winter; the fascinating life of Hannah Hauxwell and the people of the Durham Dales.

Hannah collecting water from the beck

Hannah Hauxwell was born on 1 August 1926 in Baldersdale, a remote side-valley of Teesdale in County Durham. She never married, never left the dale for any length of time until she was almost 50, and lived her entire life on the same small, marginal hill farm. Yet, it's a fascinating glimpse into a quickly vanishing world.

Key chapters of her life

Childhood & early hardship

Her mother died when Hannah was 12, her father when she was 16. From that moment she and her elderly uncle Tom ran Low Birk Hatt Farm together. When he died in 1960 she was left completely alone, aged 34, with 80 acres of poor land, a handful of cows, and debts.

The 1960s–early 1970s: the years of deepest isolation

No electricity, no telephone, no indoor plumbing. Water carried in buckets from a beck 200 yards away. Coal and peat for the range. A single cow sold each year at Barnard Castle mart gave her an income that rarely exceeded £200–£300. She kept warm by sleeping in an old army greatcoat and eating mostly porridge, bread, and tea.

1972: discovery

Yorkshire Television came looking for "real Dales characters." They found Hannah by accident. The resulting documentary Too Long a Winter (1973) stunned viewers with its unflinching portrait of her life. Overnight she became famous, yet she refused to leave the farm or change her ways.

1970s–1980s: reluctant celebrity

She appeared on talk shows, was invited to London, and met the Queen Mother. Every time she politely returned home to Low Birk Hatt. In 1988 the farm finally became impossible to keep; the buildings were collapsing and winters were too harsh on her failing health. She sold most of the land but kept the meadows, and at 62 moved into a tiny cottage in a nearby village.

Later years

With help from admirers and a small pension, she finally had electricity, a bathroom, and central heating. In the 1990s Yorkshire TV took her on her first holidays abroad (to France, Austria, and America), which became gentle, charming documentaries in themselves. She remained shy, softly spoken, and utterly without self-pity.

Death and legacy

She died on 30 January 2018 at the age of 91 in a nursing home near Cotherstone. She is buried with her parents in a discrete churchyard at Romaldkirk.

The 117-acre "Hannah's Meadow" that was once Low Birk Hatt is now a Durham Wildlife Trust nature reserve, famous for its traditional hay-meadow flowers because she never used chemical fertiliser in her life. Walkers still leave flowers at the farm gate.

Low Birk Hatt: Durham Wildlife Trust nature reserve

Gallery

Hannah And Odin

Portrait

Hannah with her cows

The farm buildings: Weardale summer!

Hannah's dog in pensive mood

Collecting water from the beck

“I never felt lonely. I had the hills, the birds, and my cows for company.” — Hannah Hauxwell

Conclusion, A True Northern Star

Thank You For Your Time.

All above media Courtesy Of Yorkshire TV and The Yorkshire Post (Images)

Me Little Eden

2025-09-25T03:56:43Z

Video: "Me Little Eden" by MODERN PEASANT

Introduction

Rustic Pony Wall Repair & Some Macro Fauna Assistance? Based on a series of Shorts for Youtube…hence the distinct sections.

Hello

If anyone is interested in a how to, this is an attempt at just that! What you may need if you attempt this kind of thing, sort of thing! As an aside, you really should, it's much better for ye than watchin' the telly! I'm no artist and that wall is as about as straight as this recent visitor, Hissing Sid, but I do try to 'keep on gannin'!

Hissing Sid Or The Northern Ribbonsnake

Tools Required

Hands and ideally feet for balance.
Any old serviceable paintbrush.
Any old wire brush like implement.
A bucket or 'bear nose-bag/bucket' in this case.
Mixing drill, optional.

Other Useful Things

Clay or muck with a high clay content.
Rocks, hewn or laying around as is, where is.
Pigment or food colouring.
Canola or Vegetable oil. Better than eating it, yes you bear!
School Glue or PVA. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_acetate
Clay Test Youtube Short

Gather Thy Resources Peasants!

Interlude?

In this case, the rocks had been 'collected' over the years from various digging projects. Of which, there have been a few so rocks were plentiful!

The clay and some honkin' great rocks were taken from Casuis The Clay-Pit which was later updated and enlarged in our quest for water this drought blighted summer. More diary notes and the drought special newsletter can be viewed below.

Casius The Clay Pit

Rocky

Pond & Diary Notes Etc

Drought Special Newsletter

(requires simple email signup in for more notes, galleries, newsletters, that sort of thing!)

Background

The gallery shows the various states of construction. It was un-constructed last year when the temporary side roof failed in what I assume was a massive winter dump! Correction, second temporary roof!

Cob and or clay is a great natural and abundantly free resource that has been used for our entire recorded history. The overriding caveat being, you must keep it dry, water, is the arch enema (sic) of clay! Much like more expensive building materials that are also not totally weather resistant. The seed oil and PVA provide some weather resistance but there is nee substitute for a good canopy!

Did I say it was potentially free, for ever and has numerous other benefits. Not to mention, if you mess it up, just add water and the whole thing will reset into the ground! Below is a link to the old blog about cob for those interested. Cheers.

Wall construction progress

Wall construction detail

Clay application

More Clay application

First Semi-Completed wall section

Some Handy Pointers!

Have a waterproof canopy to avoid 'hard resets' on your work.
Try not to let the clay dry and crack, do small patches or keep on top of it as excessive cracking is harder to work with and is more brittle.
Some cracking is expected and totally fine, it is clay and did I say it was free!
Use a stiff muck mix for moulding shaping and filling.
Use the same or stiffer mix for laying stone and pointing.
A thin almost runny 'slip coat' is a great crack filler and good for smoothing and freeing up dried clay or cob.
Don't feed the bears...hallucinogenic cocktails! See below! 🙂

Potential Hazards

Bears and other macro fauna (with or without big pointy teeth) are commonplace here and I/we are usually quite fastidious about food and food waste especially. We camped for many years while we cleared and built so it became routine to us… to try and not get eaten that is. We did tend to drink a little too much, it helped enormously to sleep through all the crashing around in the undergrowth that seemed omnipresent…and over amplified in the pitch black!

Anyway, not thinking anything earthly would enjoy a canola oil / purple pigment cocktail, I left the bucket out overnight. This chap however, didn't get the wildlife memo about the, don't drink the purple hallucinogen and subsequently did and roused us from our chair hammocks (it takes a lot) whilst doing it!

Bear Several Sheets To The Wind.

We both more or less, came to the conclusion 'was the bear maybe high?'…from the cocktail. His behaviour was quite erratic and he completely lacked fear which, is unusual for a black bear as they are usually quite skittish!

I managed to get this shot before he decided he quite fancied a chair hammock too. It wasn't too far (a few feet) to travel to get back in the cabin. Then I kinda growled and told him to buuugger-off in me finest Durham Pitmatic voice; a few door slams for good measure and he waddled off, crashing into the thickest undergrowth of the forest.

The End

Thank You For Your Time.

Rhyme of The Modern Peasant

2025-08-07T18:23:03Z

The clay-pit during drier months

Introduction

Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink. That famous line from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner has never felt more relevant than here on River Island.

Alas, we are in the midst of a mini drought—or what they used to call a long hot summer. Cassius The Clay-Pit dried up completely despite numerous excavations, including a sizable extension which, in the fullness of time, will make a very pleasant pond for my various aquatic and amphibious friends… and anything else that wishes to get splashy!

This is a video log of those very real struggles for clean water—a tale of buckets, digging, and the relentless sun.

Casius The Clay Pit

Rocky

Part I: The Struggle

Video: "The Rhyme of The Modern Peasant - Part I: The Struggle"

Part II: The Resolution

Video: "The Rhyme of The Modern Peasant - Part II: The Resolution"

Conclusion

The clay-pit will eventually fill—the pond extension will become a haven for dragonflies, frogs, and perhaps the odd heron. But the memory of this mini drought, of carrying buckets under the scorching sun, of that paradoxical feeling of being surrounded by water yet utterly parched, will remain.

"Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink" may be a line from two centuries ago, but it's never been more pertinent. Here, we're learning to work with what we have, to capture the rain when it comes, and to appreciate every single drop.

The rhyme lives on. The peasant persists.

Made With Love ❤️ And Open Source

This post and its accompanying videos were created using fantastic free and open-source tools:

Zed Editor : Clean, fast writing and editing.
Blender 3D Studio : Video editing.
GIMP : Image processing and thumbnails.
HandBrake : Video transcoding and processing.

All open-source, all brilliant. If you're documenting your own projects, I can't recommend these tools enough.

Thanks for reading — stay hydrated out there!

Oh The Nicky-Nack!

2024-04-02T20:21:00Z

The field where the haunting occurred

Introduction

Ave ye ‘eard the news about them strange goin’s on over Tudda way! — Michael Hugh Shyte Esq

In the latter part of the 1700s, a group of farmhands were celebrating the harvest at a local farm. When their booze ran out, they sent a mentally deficient man named Billy to procure more gin.

As a prank, one of the men disguised himself as a ghost to frighten the poor lad upon his return. The prankster never returned—nor did Billy…

This is the legend of the Nicky-Nack ghost, a tale that's been told around Tudhoe for centuries.

The Legend in Verse

The harvest was gathered at summer's end,
As the farmers and reapers made merry with friends,
But alas their provisions had dwindled quite thin,
So they sent simple Billy to fetch more gin.

Off he went as the sun gave its farewell,
Through Nicky-nack field on his journey pell mell*,
But one prankster aimed to startle the boy,
Dressing as a specter for nothing but toy.

Dawn broke with no sign of his soul,
Just a young shattered boy and wraith like hole,
The villagers searched with lantern and call,
But nary a trace of the missing man at all,

Years later when Autumn came 'round once more,
The miller walked home through the meadows and moor,
A figure ahead lent him haste in his tread,
Yet no matter his speed, the stranger fled.

At Nicky-Nack Bridge the phantom took flight,
Vanished without warning into the night,
Though every nook searched with diligence and care,
Of how he disappeared none could declare.

So if e'er you walk Tudhoe's haunt edged plains
Beware disappearing down its shadowed lanes
And keep to your companions after sunset
Lest spirits steal you away without reprisal or regret.

*Pell Mell: very fast and not organized

The Story Explained

Please allow me to explain the full story behind the verse.

As mentioned, during the harvest celebration in the late 1700s, the farmhands ran out of alcohol. They sent Billy—a mentally deficient man—to fetch more gin. One of the men, as a cruel prank, disguised himself in a white sheet to scare Billy.

What happened next remains a mystery. When dawn came, Billy returned alone, trembling and babbling that he'd seen the man in white chased and carried off by a black ghost. The prankster was never seen again. Only fragments of the sheet were ever found in the field.

Several years later in 1786, the village miller was walking home from Durham after dark. He spotted a man ahead on the road but couldn't catch up no matter how hard he tried. Upon arriving at Nicky-Nack Bridge, the stranger had vanished completely without trace.

Origins of the Nicky-Nack

The origin story or myth of the Nicky-Nack ghost, as told growing up as bairns, was that it was the ghost of an old miner whose decrepit hob-nailed boots had seen better days. "Nicky-nack, nicky-nack…" the flapping heel would sound as the miner slowly trudged to the bowels of hell each night for his shift! Some say the ghost is the devil himself!

When digging around online, I happened upon this fascinating piece of local history:

Video: Local history account of the Nicky-Nack legend

Other Tudhoe Village Ghosts

Tudhoe Village is reputed to be one of the most haunted places in England. Besides the Nicky-Nack, there are several other spectral residents:

The Green Lady of Tudhoe Old Hall and her giant pet mouse!
The Black Horse which would rise up out of the pond and pace up and down the village when someone was about to die.
The Devil himself would also make guest appearances from time to time at the blasted oak near Oak Tree House. (I have no clue what house they're referring to or whether it even exists now.)

Please feel free to drop me an EMAIL if you know more about these hauntings or the locations!

One of Verna Buckly's works courtesy of Tony Cola and George Teasdale.

Conclusion

Whether the Nicky-Nack is the ghost of a prankster who vanished into thin air, a miner doomed to walk the roads forever, or the devil himself collecting souls, the legend persists. These stories have been passed down through generations, adding mystery to the landscape of Tudhoe.

A huge thanks to the Tudhoe & Spennymoor Local History Society whose excellent collection I've repurposed and enhanced for this piece. Local folklore like this is precious—it connects us to our past and keeps the weird and wonderful alive.

Thanks for reading — keep an eye out for those shadowy figures on your walks!

Hellmouths and Sanctuary

2023-06-02T06:48:00Z

Video: Modern Peasant Blender 3D

The Durham Sanctuary Knocker

The Sanctuary Knocker, a lion bold, A warning of fate, to those who are told, Of the Hellmouth, a gateway to sin, A reminder of fate, to those who enter in! — Modern Peasant

The Sanctuary Knocker at Durham Cathedral is a remarkable and ‘striking’ piece of medieval history. Commissioned by the cathedral’s monks in the 12th century, the knocker was installed on the North Door and is a sizable hunk of bronze. Its design features a lion, crowned by its flowing mane, capturing a man who is being consumed by snakes.

Sunrise Over Durham Cathedral by Teresa Mazur

The Sanctuary knocker was used by individuals seeking refuge in the Cathedral, often criminals fleeing from the law. Sanctuary was a legal right in medieval England, where people could claim protection from the church, and they would be safe from arrest within the church’s grounds. The Sanctuary knocker was a symbol of this protection, and it was used to signal to the monks that someone was seeking refuge.

An interesting aside is that of Robert the Bruce who sought sanctuary in Durham Cathedral in 1306 after he had committed murder in a confrontation with a rival noble, John Comyn. The conflict arose as Bruce was aspiring to become king of Scotland and Comyn, a powerful figure, opposed his claim. In a fit of rage, Bruce killed Comyn in the church of Greyfriars in Dumfries, which was a significant act of violence that galvanized opposition against him.

After this event, Bruce fled and sought refuge in Durham, which was a stronghold of English power. The cathedral was known for offering sanctuary to those in peril, allowing them to seek protection from their pursuers. Bruce’s presence in Durham was also a strategic move, as he aimed to regroup and solidify support for his cause amidst the tumultuous political landscape of the time. Eventually, he would go on to become a key figure in the Scottish Wars of Independence, culminating in his victory at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

The Hole in the heed

The Hole in the head legend - arrow embedded in the knocker

The legend tells of a man being pursued by the 'authorities' who is seeking sanctuary. An arrow narrowly missing his head, instead embedding itself in the sanctuary knocker just as he sought protection!

A Potted History of Hellmouths!

It was crafted from bronze and took the form of a lion haloed by its mane, devouring a man whose legs are being eaten by snakes. — Unknown Monk

The concept of the “Hellmouth” is a medieval image depicting a literal entrance to hell through the gaping gob of a demonic beast. This image was often used as a warning and deterrent of sin, and can be found in various forms in medieval art and architecture. They were often depicted in churches as a reminder of the consequences of one’s actions and the importance of seeking redemption. Notable examples of Hellmouths can be found in the illuminated manuscripts of the 8th century and the sculpture of the Romanesque period, specifically in the 11th century.

In folklore, the Hellmouth is often associated with the idea of a gateway to the underworld or a portal to the realm of the dead. It was believed that the mouth of the beast would open during times of great sin or moral decay and swallow up the souls of the damned. Imagine the portal size required today…but I digress! Some stories tell of brave warriors or holy men who ventured into the Hellmouth to rescue the souls of the damned or to defeat the demons that guarded the entrance. These tales can be found in various written accounts of the 13th and 14th centuries.

Miniature from the Hours of Catherine of Cleves, Morgan Library & Museum.

Nuremberg, Saint Lawrence parish church: Western portal, 1340s.

Hellmouth, locked by an archangel, from the Winchester Psalter of about 1150.

El Greco, The Adoration of the Name of Jesus, 1578–80, National Gallery.

The Sanctuary knocker at Durham Cathedral, commissioned in the 12th century, is one of the most well-known examples of a Hellmouth in architecture. It serves as a reminder of the legal right of sanctuary, the moral and spiritual implications of seeking refuge, and the skill and artistry of medieval craftsmanship. The Sanctuary knocker serves as a unique and striking reminder of the medieval perspective on sin, redemption, and the afterlife.

In 1297 Durham, The typical monks day.

A Typical Day for a Monk in Durham, 1297

The daily life of a monk in 13th-century Durham followed the strict rhythm of the Divine Office (the eight canonical hours of prayer) combined with work, meals, and rest. Here’s how a normal day unfolded:

Before dawn (~2–3 AM) The bell rings for Matins, the first and longest service of the night, followed immediately by Lauds.

~6 AM – Prime The monks return to the church for the short dawn prayer of Prime, marking the official start of the day.

Morning (~6:30 AM – 11 AM) Manual labour or assigned duties:

Tending gardens or farm work
Copying manuscripts in the scriptorium
Cooking, cleaning, or other tasks for the community

~9 AM (brief interruption) Terce – a short mid-morning service.

~11 AM – Noon Chapter Mass (or the main conventual Mass) followed by the main meal of the day in the refectory. Typical menu: bread, pottage (vegetable stew), beans or peas, perhaps fish (on non-meat days) or cheese, and ale or water. Meat was rare except for the sick.

Early afternoon (~Noon – 2 PM) A period of rest, reading in the cloister, or private study.

~2 PM – Sext Midday prayer service.

Afternoon (~2:30 PM – 6 PM) A lighter second meal (often just bread, vegetables, and ale), followed by more work until late afternoon.

~6 PM (or just before sunset) – None The fifth service of the day.

Evening (~6 PM – 9 PM) Time for reading, study, or limited recreation (conversation, walking in the cloister, occasionally chess or other permitted games).

~8–9 PM – Compline The final night prayer. After Compline, strict silence began (“the Great Silence”).

~9 PM The monks went to bed in the dormitory, sleeping in their habits on simple straw mattresses, ready to rise again when the bell rang for Matins a few hours later.

This cycle of "ora et labora" (prayer and work) repeated every day with only minor seasonal adjustments for daylight. Even on feast days, the structure stayed largely the same, though work might be reduced and the meals improved.

Monastic life in medieval times

Historical facts sourced from public records and historical archives.