Every Science Fiction writer should know this historic place.
Not far from where I live is the ruins of Bolsover Castle, these days Bolsover is better known for it's longstanding Labour MP yet it's history is rich yet largely unknown. The ruins of the castle sit on a ridge overlooking the Vale of Scarsdale and they are visible from miles away. In the 17th century William Cavendish – playboy, poet courtier and later first Duke of Newcastle entertained King Charles 1 within it's walls and fought for the royalist cause in the Civil War.
After William's defeat at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644 he was forced to go into exile, this lasted until 1660. On his return he began to rebuld the castle including the building of The Riding House, one of the earliest to survive complete in England, so much so that it still used.
A dressage demonstration and below The Riding House.
William indulged his passion for training horses in stately dressage and British equestrianism owes his passion a great debt. Yet I'm not here to go on about horses but his wife, Margaret Cavendish. In 1666 Margaret Cavendish had a book published, a story of metal ships and travelling to another world.
My daughter in Margaret Cavendish's writing study where she more than likely wrote The Blazing World.
OK so this woman (A woman writing stories back in the 17th century?) wrote a Science Fiction story that was published in the same year as the Great Fire of London. It was the story of a girl who travelled to a new world via the North Pole and came back with an army of talking animals to wage war in defence of her homeland.
Well before you all run off to find out about The Blazing World, there is a free download of the book on the internet, here's a few pictures of the castle from our visit. Enjoy and remember a woman came up with the idea of metal ships centuries before a man thought to try and build one.
The Little Castle.
Dress up time.
The ruined great house.
(wooden) Horse riding.
OK I couldn't resist the dress up and I so rock that red silk and lace look.
Hello alienbutt. i am a fiction writer and i don't know about this. lol. Thanks for sharing and nice photography. i am sending this post post for curie if your post qualified you will receive lot of upvotes and money.
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Followed you and thanks for sending to curie. I'd heard of the book but nothing more than the name. I got talking to one of the castle employee's and he told me about Margaret Cavendish and her writing so looked into who she was, a very remarkable woman.
Cool pictures mate.
My parents recently moved to bolsover, i will be sure to visit the castle next time i am up that neck of the woods.
Awesome pictures!
Our granddaughter enjoyed hiding in the massive fireplaces in the castle.
It's a great place to visit, and the fireplaces do make great hiding places :)