Castle Again

Sir Walter's castle project has been coming along very slowly: two years ago the border went up in flames (something about new immigrants), and his unfinished castle was attacked and burned...twice! Only now has he been able to rebuild it, though it's still not quite finished. It's as finished as it was two years ago.

 Castle from the front.

Base of the roof: the tower in the back will have one more story, while the rest will be a sloped roof.

Opened up, with all four floors visible.

Sir Walter's quarters.

Her Ladyship's room.

Stairs to the fourth floor. The doorway leads to her Ladyship's room when the castle is closed.

Sitting area for Sir Walter and his lady, outside of their quarters.

The stairs are removable for access.

The castle is nearing completion: some of the crenelation is done.

Out of character for this post: there are some extra challenges when building a castle around young children.

Ducking under the sawhorses, he just might make it!

Of course, now Frank has to get back to the castle himself. His buddies are already inside, grabbing weapons from the armory. Sir Walter and Geoffery will hold the doorway in the meantime. Will Frank make it?

Frank's idea worked pretty well, I'd say.

The fellow with the handkerchief on his head is Frances, only he makes everyone call him Frank. He had the presence of mind to swing that big plank around, while his buddy is diving out of the way. Maybe Frank can buy them some time, while Sir Walter and Geoffery grab the weapons that just happen to be upstairs and rush down.

Obviously, the bad guys (Sir Walter says they're Brickovians, from the neighboring province. He said he'll explain some other time, and to stop asking so many questions) are depending on surprise, so the Legolanders will have to sprint for the castle. At least Geoffery has spotted the trouble and is raising the alarm!

It seems Sir Walter and his men aren't the only ones in the neighborhood, and the neighbors aren't necessarily friendly.

See the guy in green? He once worked for Sir Walter, but was fired, though no one knows quite why. Shoddy workmanship most likely, or maybe he wasn't quite sober when he showed up for work. In any case, it seems that he has a grudge.

Down below, workers cut and hammer together the beams for the ceiling. Just another long day on the construction site.

The final floor is nearing completion. Above it is only the battlements and the pitched roof.

Sir Walter and Geoffery discuss fireplace design while a patient builder waits for them to make up their minds.

In the Knight's Room, Walter and Geoffery examine the blueprints and discuss details, like whether that's really the best place for the fireplace.

This will be the Lady's Room.

Fourth floor landing. This will probably be a sitting area, maybe for Lady Wrenstone and her ladies. The stairs will go up to the roof, and the guardroom.

The castle is far enough along now that Sir Walter has brought a cart with him, and plans to stay. His family will be along later, when the castle is nearly finished. Hmm, a guard...does that say something about what's in the cart?


While the guards unload the cart and the workers get back to work, Sir Walter and Geoffery go inside to look at the progress.

These giant beams still take a lot of manhandling, and a lot of men, too!

Next up: the fourth and last floor, which will be a suite for Sir Walter and his lady.

The castle's tall enough that they need a crane to get stuff to the top now.

Other workers finish setting up for the joists.

Sir Walter and a worker check that the interior walls are straight.

Yes, it's been awhile, but construction has been going slowly. And another layer of bricks doesn't really merit a whole set of photos. But the third floor is nearly done, so here we go. This floor is mostly bedrooms, with the treasure room off the stairs---note the heavy reinforced door in some of the pictures.

Sir Walter, Geoffery, and their men have started work on the third floor, which will be living quarters and guest rooms. Here, Sir Walter and Geoffery discuss plans, while down below a new delivery arrives.



It's the chandelier for the Great Hall.



It's very big and heavy!



Sir Walter can't help much with the chandelier, with only one hand, but he carries one of the chains in. They must be heavy, don't you think?



Lifting it into place...



Or not!



Geoffery takes over and makes sure it's done right.



I don't think Sir Walter is very happy with these hapless fellows...



But it's not damaged, and it will really light up the hall on dark winter nights.