I have, for a number of years now, attempted to visit Fort Glanville and have yet to get beyond the perimeter fence from where my attached photograph is taken. Readers of my reviews will be aware of my interest in the history of places I visit. Continue reading “Fort Glanville – Hard to get into!”
Today dwarfed by high-rise buildings on the shore and massive cruise ships on the Harbour, Fort Denison was a barren rocky out-crop when the First Fleet arrived into Sydney Cove in 1788. Called Mat-te-wan-ye by local Aboriginals, Governor Phillip renamed it Rock Island. The island was soon informally christened Pinchgut, in memory of the convicts who were, in the early days of the colony, put there on starvation diets as a form of punishment for their misdemeanours. Continue reading “Fort Denison – Guarding Sydney – Perhaps Not”
As you may have read in my general review on Sighisoara Citadel, the Citadel dates back to the 12th century when Transylvanian Saxons, were ordered here by the King of Hungary to settle and defend the Carpathian frontier against the steppe peoples. For this and also to keep later would be intruders at bay the fortified settlement of walls and towers was constructed and enhanced over time. In all 14 towers were built. These towers were built by various craft guilds – from which they derived their names. Continue reading “In Defence Of Sighisoara – Towers”
Dating from the 13th century and standing above the pre-Saxon Citadel walls, the square-based Ropemakers’ Tower is one of the oldest buildings in Sighisoara. Its role was to defend – together with the Goldsmiths’ Tower – the northwest corner of the hill. Continue reading “The Ropemakers’ Tower – Out Of A Fairy-tale”
Garden Island’s European history goes right back to the arrival of the First Fleet (European settlement) into Sydney Cove on 26 January 1788. The island was set aside as a vegetable garden (hence its name) to grow food, initially for the crew of ships anchored in the Harbour. Continue reading “Garden Island”
The Rambling Wombat 