This entry comes from Dive. He recently clarified the difference between a castle and a palace for his blog readers at Small Glass Planet: "a castle is a fortification and will often have a hall or palace within it; a palace is merely a big house were someone self-important happens to live." Being a well-read architect, Dive is qualified to make the clarification.
What we have here is a castle, namely, the Tower of London. What a place! If and when you visit London, don't skip it. I don't care how over-rehearsed your guide is (mine was a riot), go. The history, the glory, the depravity, the years, the anguish, it's still there, you can't help but feel it and if you don't you're wearing too much armor.
I knew those hole-in-the-wall thingies were for arrows. I asked Dive what they're called.
"Those 'thingies' are known locally as 'wossnames'," said Dive, "but more correctly are simply called 'arrow slits'. The opening behind them (a niche big enough for a couple of men and their bows) is called the 'embrasure'."
You don't find a lot of wossnames in modern America, but you find them in Camelot.
Thank you, Dive!
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Stay tuned! Tomorrow and Sunday we'll vote for this week's favorite entry. Each weekly winner gets a free copy of my new book, Camelot & Vine, upon publication in October. Publication day is the final day for entries.
I'm excited about the Camelot Where You Are photo contest. It's easy to enter and anyone can do it. I'll accept entries until the day the book is published, which should be in early to mid-October. So send in your pics! Entry details are here.
23 comments:
Ah, those Normans really knew how to make a visitor feel welcome. I sometimes wish the front of my house had a few of these.
Where self-important people live... oh dear! We shall never agree on such things dear Dive - but we have so much else on which to agree! :D
I am surprised some celebrity homes don't have those wossnames!. lol.. then again they have electrical fences, huh? I saw the Tower of London and yes, it is not only historical but also breathtaking.. Just considering what went on eons ago is awesome..
I love this photo. So far, my favorite is the flour.
Embrasure. My new favorite word. Like it embraces them and keeps them hidden. I'm making that up, but it could, possibly make sense??
Dive, I'd have wossnames on the font of my house if my house were a castle. The Tower of London would be a beautiful house to live in if it didn't hold so many dire memories.
Hello, dear Lynn! You are always welcome. Stop by again this weekend and vote!
Yeah, KBF, drive into the upper reaches of Beverly Hills at night and you'll see the armed guard equivalent, especially if there's a party going on.
I'm not telling my favorite, Jean. You can't make me. Come and vote this weekend.
Adele, there's a website that tells the history of words. Of course I can't remember the url. But I wouldn't be surprised if you're close.
I knew this was Dive's photo the moment I saw it. I've been to the Tower of London but I don't remember hearing about wossnames and embrasures. Such a dark and fascinating history. Choosing my favorite Camelot photo is going to be tough!
Anything made of stones is beautiful.
My lucky day: I learned two new words from two bloggers. Not surprisingly, "cosseted" was missing from my vocabulary.
And now we have "wossname." Dictionary.com did not have it, so I had to go to the Urban Dictionary.
I guess it's like we say in Arabic "shu-ismo" and in Hebrew "mah-shmo."
WooHoo!!! I knew exactly what the wall was!!! And I figured it was Dive's!!! Do I get a prize? Huh? Huh?
Susan, I'm glad I don't have to vote.
Dina,
a) I agree about stones.
b) now I have to look up "cosseted."
Chieftess, you get a prize when you send me a picture of Camelot Where You Are and it gets the most votes!
Speaking of which, I'm curious to know how you all would feel if we skipped Zen Monday to post entries next week. Let me know what you think. I'm enjoying the contest and people are sending fun and diverse pictures. But John thinks I'll have an uprising if I skip Zen Monday.
I don't think any one would mind.. Its nice to change things up every so often...Your John is just watchin' your back! :-)
I'm still thinkin'!!!
Thanks for your input, KBF. I appreciate it.
Let me know what y'all think about skipping Zen Monday.
Chieftess, check out next week's entries and see what you think. The possibilities are endless and Camelot, as we all know, is in our imaginations.
Be sure to vote this weekend, everyone!
I'd be happy to miss a Monday, Petrea; this contest is so much fun!
I'm glad you're enjoying it, Dive. I am, too! Plus we can always go to your blog for a dose of WTF Monday.
So far I've only gotten two responses to the question. I might put up a Zen Monday this week and ask the question during that post, to see what people think about letting it go for the following week. So far we're not getting too far behind, but I already have next week's entries lined up! I adore every one of them.
OK, I'm now back in internetland and raring to go, but disappointed that my entry (which you'll receive soon) won't be shown next week as you have so many that got there earlier. This has been a very successful competition, to garner so many entries! I like Dive's today. There are an awful lot of arrow holes in that tower. Think of the sieges it must have withstood! I've never taken a guided tour round the Tower, but I did overhear the smart-talking guides, and your comment made me laugh.
I'll allow you to skip Zen Monday, as I'm intrigued by the entries you'll be posting.
I'm glad you're here, Bellis. I wonder--sieges at the Tower, must have been very early on. You'd love the guided tour, I think. The guides know everything. And there's graffiti! Did you see the recent article? Wait a second. I think this is it:
http://bit.ly/Oqf2a5
I don't think you've lived in London, Bellis, but close by. Your not having taken the guided tour reminds me of the millions of Chicagoans who've never been to the Art Institute. They'll get to it one of these days, it's not going anywhere.
The poll is up! Blogger's doesn't work but I found one that does. At least I hope it does.
I've just read The White Goddess, about the wife of Edward IV (Elizabeth Woodville), in which she's gone to the Tower for safety when they're threatened with attack by Richard Neville's forces. I'd never thought of the Tower as a safe haven before, but I guess it was well fortified. Thanks for the link. I was very excited to see the graffiti by Robert Dudley, my hero, when he was imprisoned there. Did you see the ravens on your visit?
Oh yes, ravens everywhere. I could have stayed all day if I'd had the chance.
Oh gosh, the perils of taking a few days off - you end up 'Comment No. 21'. Well, I have been to visit the Tower many times and this shot is really, really, interesting. Perfect!
Hi LOL! (I love rackin' up the comments.) I think it's an interesting shot, too. Be sure and vote, the ballot is available all weekend.
You sure know how to put on a good contest! Great photos, fun comments.
I'm going to end up being a spectator for this one, but I'm enjoying the show!
You never know, Ms. M. Camelot may surprise you and you might have your camera with you. It surprises me all the time.
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