Free Cake at the Castle

 English Heritage kept sending emails to remind me that as a 'Senior Member' I could get a free cake (but only from a choice of three - they aren't That generous!) with any drink on Wednesdays, anytime this summer.

So last week I thought a visit to Framlingham castle - without Grandchildren - would be a plan. The last two times I've been I've had small people's company who aren't interested in the museum bit .

There was much confusion actually getting into the castle at 10am, with the lady at the gate saying a wristband (and paying for non members) had to be done at the ticket office in the car park while a sign at the ticket office said to pay in the castle at the shop! There was definitely no-one in the ticket office even though the lady at the gate said she had seen the ticket office person going in. Eventually gate lady came and shouted through the keyhole of ticket office! - By this time there were about 20 people waiting, all very amused at the confusion...someone did suggest we "storm the castle walls!". Then finally she rang up someone else and found that the sign at the ticket office was correct and everyone needed to show membership at gate and get wrist band at the shop. By then it was well after 10am and I decided to have my coffee before looking round! 

From a distance it's the remaining towers and their chimneys that are noticeable. The first  photo is over the gates on the way in.

The wall walk was only open for a short way as major repair work was going on part way round.

From up the top of the wall this is the view down to the buildings, one of which was the Framlingham workhouse

I took a few photos in the museum but the light wasn't good. 

It's been a very long time since a visit by train to Framlingham by train was possible

Below is a then and now photo of the Methodist/ United Free Church. It was the place where the Country Markets organisation sold produce every week. I used to take some cakes and cards. The market stopped several years ago when there weren't enough bakers or buyers.

I had no idea the building started as a steam built mill in 1853.

There are several paintings, drawings and etchings of the castle from history. Not good for photos though.

HERE are photos from my 2021 visit, I didn't take any photos last year when I went with EGD and joined English Heritage  for the year.

And HERE is the English Heritage page if you want to see more.

Thank you to everyone comments yesterday. The new header is the Black Elder that grows at the corner of the bungalow just outside the patio doors. The flowers have a lovely pink tinge but never set many berries. It was here when I came and is much bigger than any I tried to grow at the smallholding. Probably it was just too dry there for them to last long.

Here, I have to cut it back to stop it getting tangled with the washing on the whirly washing line and on the other side to stop it knocking on the living room window in windy weather!

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