Today we went to nearby Skipton to investigate Skipton Castle. The castle is in excellent repair, and we really enjoyed going through it. We weren't able to tour the whole thing because part of it is lived in by the Clifford family, to which it belongs. As you will see from the pictures, the weather today is very changeable. It's raining one minute and sunny the next. I've noticed that the English don't react to the weather as much as Americans do. When the rain starts, they continue calmly with their business without any fuss, while we race for shelter.
Monday is market day, so the streets of Skipton were lined with people selling everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to rugs and socks. I enjoyed walking along the streets and looking at all of the merchandise. Street merchants are one thing that you don't see much of in the States!
Clouds
In the castle's Chapel of St. John the Evangelist
The part of the castle that we were able to access
is laid out in such a way that all of the main rooms
have windows that look out on a central courtyard.
The purpose of this design was, of course, to enable light
to enter otherwise gloomy rooms, but it also afforded
several opportunities for interesting pictures.
The wording above the gate reads 'Henceforth'
in Norman French. This is the motto of the Cliffords.
Magnificent!
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