Culzean Cannon Spam

[anteros_lmc]

Yesterday we had a rare dry day so we went for a spin down to Culzean. The castle and gardens looked glorious as always. I swear that little bit of the Ayrshire coast gets better weather than anywhere else in Scotland, it always seems to be warm and sunny there. We didn't go into the castle this time, we spent most of the afternoon on the shore, of which more later, and at the West Green Battery which I hadn't seen for years.

This battery was built in 1813 by Archibald Kennedy 12th Earl of Cassillis after his father famously remarked that it would be possible for "gamekeepers armed with dog whips" to capture the entire castle. The battery was completed in June 1815 just after Napoleon's final defeat at Waterloo. The cannon were cast by Thomas Edington of Glasgow and cost £74.

West Green Battery looking west	West Green Battery
West Green Battery looking north	Cannon by Edington of Glasgow 1815
Aiming west	No battery is complete without a summer house!

Comments

[vsee.livejournal.com]

OOh, cool. :)

[katriona-s.livejournal.com]

This seems to be really a good place to spend a sunny afternoon. Thank you for sharing these photos, I love them!

[kittycallum.livejournal.com]

Very picturesque ... looks like an excellent day!
(And who *wouldn't* want to sit by their summer-house and look out over the sea with complete assurance that they would be well-defended should enemy forces decide that they're taking over? ;))

[rum-inspector.livejournal.com]

You saw Archie Kennedy's big guns?
:D

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It's a lovely spot :)

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Culzean is always a perfect spot to spend the day! If you ever come back to Scotland you should visit. The house itself is stunning and the gardens and estate are just gorgeous.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

It was a fabulous day!

And I believe you may be right about the summer house. Though I still feel that a dozen cannon are a little excessive to guard one's tea!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I did indeed! And rest assured he has more than adequate elevation! ;P

[kittycallum.livejournal.com]

It must be very valuable tea!

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

Oh my.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

rum_inspector started it!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Believe it or not the Kennedys were known for smuggling tea! Have a look at the footnote to The Factor ;)

[nodbear.livejournal.com]

*resists any artillery related innuendo - actually can't think of anything suitably witty at the moment so wimping out*

great pictures though and glad you had such a great day

one day we will have to hope someone catalogues the Huntingdon library Granville letters in more detail - I have a feeling there may be more to be found out there !

Only suitable icon I seem to have is retured Algiers cannon at West Cliff House...

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Ah now those cannons have a considerably more notable pedigree that the ones on the West Green Battery which I am quite sure were never fired in anger!

And yes I suspect there are all sorts of gems hidden in the Huntingdon!