curiouswombat | Labyrinth at Castle Rushen

I mentioned briefly, yesterday, that I had been to something called Labyrinth at Castle Rushen.

This is an attempt to give you a flavour and record it for myself, as cameras were not allowed (and would have been very distracting), and so if I don't make a written record I will forget much of it!

Castle Rushen is one of the finest medieval castles in the British Isles - you can read more about it here - and here is a picture from across the harbour

Castle Rushen and harbour

and an aerial one -

Labyrinth was part of a week long series of events called Castle Rushen Unlocked. It took place almost entirely in that central towered keep, which has lots of rooms, and a circular staircase in each tower as well as a larger central one. We, as the audience, moved at a fair speed from room to room up and down these staircases, as different scenes from the castle's history were played out in different rooms.

Each group was no more than 20 people, to allow us to fit into the smaller rooms, and set off at hourly intervals with our guide, and a couple of members of the 'Unlocked' volunteers as shepherds bringing up the rear to stop people getting left behind or lost.

We started in the central courtyard, where two of the twelfth century builders were discussing whether the building would last, and highlighting that there were, at that time, two claimants to the title King of Mann - both Vikings.

On to a room where the last Viking King of Mann, Magnus Olafsson, lay dying - and his servant worrying about what would happen next, as it was likely the English and the Scots would both claim the Kingship. This is what happened - they fought on, and over, the island for much of the next thirty or forty years.

Next scene and we were being taught English... so you can tell which side won that battle in the end.

I rather wish the UN officials who, a few years ago, declared our language dead, had been there, as the teacher carried out a lesson entirely in Manx, teaching us important phrases we may need to know in English if we were to communicate with our new English overlords. This was especially funny for those of us who were locals, as there were some phrases that were 'in-jokes' to us such as 'If you don't like it there's a boat in the morning...' or 'You can get grand kippers in Peel...'

Now to a room used as a prison cell, and a quick chat with a servant girl cleaning, as we kept moving - now to the period where the Stanleys were first Kings and then Lords of Mann - to the period of the English Civil War.

As the battles went on in England, Mann remained ruled by the staunchly Royalist Stanleys, they almost had an alternative court - and as Lord Stanley fought in England, as Cromwell was declaring an end to Christmas, in Castle Rushen Lady Stanley held a masked ball for Twelfth Night...

I had a special interest in this scene as D-d and some of her friends were the actors here - and it was done in the style of a modern party, all in their modern party frocks, glasses in hands, loud music - and beautiful masks, as they got us to join in such games as 'pin the wart on Cromwell' and so on...

But Lord Stanley was captured and executed, and the Parliament sent a large force to besiege the castle. Fearing that many of the local people would be slaughtered, Illiam Dhone persuaded the garrison to open the gates and surrender. We watched one of the local gentry and one of the servants debating the rights and wrongs of this.

Another room and we heard two women talking together about the forthcoming execution of Magaret Quane and her son - burned at the stake in 1617. This was really frightening for local people - there had never been such a punishment for witchcraft here before, and no-one had thought it wrong for their neighbour to make potions for health, or wealth, or love... (Actually as I posted a few years ago it seem as if the horror of the people held future sway as poor Magaret and her son were the only people ever executed for witch-craft.)

Now to a room where the last man to be executed in the castle (and, indeed, in the island) was held. Very clever - we heard what he (may have) said to the person writing down his last statement, what the person actually wrote, and the account of the police officer in charge of the punishment. Very good acting, including fake rats and fake blood (well - I hope they were fake!)

Then to the battlements where we met a lady (or maybe a ghost...) who told us more of the history.

Back down, and our route took us back through the Presence Chamber where the party had been held earlier - (dim lighting, and figures 'sleeping it off'!) and once again out onto the main staircase. Here we met the procession of that last man to be executed (John Kewish) on his way to his death...

A last encounter with a story-teller telling us of some of the ghosts, dread beasts, giants and so on who form part of the castle's legendary history - and we were back in the twenty-first century...

I can imagine that doing hourly performances seven times on Saturday and a further seven on Sunday might mean that some of the participants would be both tired and hoarse by about now when the last performance will have just ended!

I am hoping D-d may have access to some pictures. The promotional video trailer is here if you would like to see it.

Current Mood: impressed
Current Location: on a small island - with two castles!

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From:

slaymesoftly.livejournal.com

Sounds wonderful! Amazing castle, and such history!

From:

Underground, overground, wombatting free...

Labyrinth at Castle Rushen

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