Northumbrian Gunner

Saturday, 13 December 2014

Edinburgh - Edinburgh Panorama

Edinburg Panorama looking North East

Edinburgh - Edinburgh Castle Batteries

In 1728 General Wade reported that the castle's defences were decayed and inadequate. This led to a program of work throughout the 1720's and 1730's to strengthen the protection for the castle. Bastions were added on the north and west side of the castle, the Low Defences and the Western Defences.

It was during this period that most of the artillery defences were built, the Argyle, Forewall, Half Moon and Butes Batteries.

Edinburgh Castle Argyle Battery
18 Pounder cast iron cannon

The Cannon in place are 18 pounder cast iron weapons of the Napoleonic period.

Argyle Battery

The Argyle Battery faces north with a field of fire over the City towards the River Forth. The Battery, named in honour of the Duke of Argyle, consists of six cannon.

Argyle Battery

Forewall Battery

The Forewall Battery consists of 6 cannon behind a stone emplacement wall which face north east.

Forewall Battery

Forewall Battery looking NE

Half Moon Battery

Adjacent to the Forewall Battery is a continuation of artillery positions with. the Half Moon Battery. Its six guns face east overlooking the Castle Esplanade.

Half Moon Battery

Half Moon Battery east overlooking Castle Esplanade

Half Moon Battery looking ovet the Esplanade to Pentland Hills

Butes Battery

Butes Battery, also know as the Druy Battery after Captain Theodore Drury covers the western side of the castle.

Friday, 12 December 2014

Edinburgh - Edinburgh Castle Mons Meg

Mons Meg was built on the orders of Phillip the Good, Duke of Burgundy in 1449, and was gifted to James 1453. it derives it's name from the fact it was cast in Mons, Belgium and the huge barrel moved to Scotland for mounting on it's carriage.

Mons Meg
Edinburgh Castle

The barrel weights weighs 6,970 kg (15,366 pounds ), is 4.6 m (15 feet ) in length.

The muzzle loading cannon has a caliber of 510mm (20 inches), and was capable of firing a 180kg (400 pounds) stone ball about 3,000 meters (roughly 2 miles). It had a rate of fire of 8 to 10 times a day (due to the considerable heat generated when fired).

The size of the weapon made it impractical to move in a battle and was only used once at the Siege of Norham Castle in 1513. Together with a similar cannon, they destroyed the outer and inner walls of the castle in a 10 day bombardment. Retired from active service it was used for firing salutes until it's barrel burst 14th October 1681. It was moved to the Tower of London in 1754, before being returned to Edinburgh Castle in 1829.

Thursday, 11 December 2014

Edinburgh - Edinburg Castle Great Hall Weapons

Edinburgh Castle
Great Hall

Claymore

The Claymore was a two handed sword used by Scots in their fights between the Clans and with the English from 1400 to 1700

Medieval Armour

Armour for soldiers originated around 500 BC with the invention of chainmail. This was developed by the introduction of plates to protect more venerable parts of the body eventually leading to full plate armour in the 13th century. This type of armour would last until the 17th century with increased velocity of firearms making full armour obsolete. The use of breast plates and back plate would continue through Napoleonic tmes into the 20th century.

Pole weapons and Broadswords

Poled weapons in Medieval times included the Pole Axe (left), Halbert (centre) Lochaber Axe (right). The Scottish Broadsword with it's unique hilt appeared in the mid 16th century and would last till the 18th century.

Flintlock Pistols

Flintlock pistols were introduced at the beginning of 17th Century to be used alongside the sword.

Georgian period French Mortar

Gun powder artillery was first used in the 13th century. The French developed the Bombarde-Mortier during the latter part of the 15th century, a weapon that would be produced in varying calibers over the following centuries.

Wednesday, 10 December 2014

Edinburgh Castle - Royal Palace

Edinburgh Castle
Royal Palace

Robert the Bruce

Mary Queen of Scots

James IV

Act of the Union 1707

Unveiling the Honours - Scottish Crown Jewels

Edinburgh - Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle History

Edinburgh Castle Guide

Edinburgh Castle is built on a volcanic plug with cliffs of up to 80 metres on three sides, the only readily accessible route being a slope on the east side.

The Castle exchanged hands many times between the Scots and the English over many centuries. The medieval buildings were destroyed during the "Lang Siege" from May 1571 to May 1573 during which the English built batteries of artillery at the east end to bombard the castle.

Edinburgh Castle
Lang Siege 1573

When the Act of the Union between England And Scotland was signed in 1707 the Castle under the terms of the act was one of four in Scotland that became at British Army.