Cilgerran
© 2005 Amy Zhang
Description:
Cilgerran
is a Castle at Ceredigion-Pembrokeshire in South-West
Wales. The first construction here was
probably built around 1108 by the Norman Gerald of
Windsor. After
Cilgerran was built, it was taken and retaken many times. The location was an obvious one for a
fortress as there are steep drops on two of the sides. The Anglo-Norman sons of William the
Marshall who took the castle in 1204 strengthened its vulnerable sides. Most striking are their
two round towers built to protect the south side. After being taken several more times, William, son of William
(relatives of William the Marshal), took the Cilgerran and reconstructed it
with the masonry we see today.
“A Day in the Life”
It is
morning; I can here the church bell in the distance, ringing five. It is, unfortunately, the Lady Eleanor’s
birthday. I expect I shall have to peel
extra potatoes; Lady Eleanor is partial to them and thus Lord William is likely
to order extras. First though, I am
going to draw some water from the well, Cook is going to need a lot of it,
plus, I’m thirsty. I can steel some
extra water, even with rations. Lord
William is expecting an attack and he wants to save water. Somehow though he makes sure there is enough
for Lady Eleanor’s festival, while we get a limited amount. Now I am off to the kitchens. There is Lord William’s first son. I must remember to curtsey without tripping
over my feet. Ah, he’s got a book! They are so rare. Hey, that must mean he can read.
I do so long to be able to. It
must be so interesting. Here are the
kitchens. Cook can be so evil. Yesterday he slapped my face and it left a
red mark. I feel that I must do all of
the worst work, though I know that the other scullery maids are little better
off than me. …… I have been assigned
the job of stirring the soup. That is
better than usual, but the smoke from the fire is enough to choke you. Also, one must stand over a boiling liquid
that often boils over or splashes onto ones self. The job of scullery maid is so low down that we are late in line
for Lady Eleanor’s doctoring, and so we nearly never get it. I do not even get to taste any of the
soup. Cook never lets me. ……
Finally, it is nine o’clock. It is late
for a breakfast, but we must wait for the Lord and Lady to break-fast
first. As they wake up later than the
servants, this is at eight. An hour
later (when most of the good smells have gone) we may eat. Usually it is yester night’s leftovers, or
sometimes it is leftover from the Lord and Lady’s breakfast. ……It is noon, so
the Lady’s birthday celebration has begun.
My soup was carried up by one of the serving maids. I can here the laughter and yet I must sit
here, peeling potatoes as I had thought might happen. Peeling potatoes is my least favorite job. When I sit here, I end up cutting up my hand
with the knife. Yet Cook scolds me for
getting blood on the potatoes and still gives me this job. …… Since we eat a late breakfast, we get a
late dinner. The church bell now tolls
one. I have the cumbersome task of
carrying water to the kitchens. The
water is heavy after the first few loads, and I spill a lot of it crossing the
courtyard. Also, I must curtsey often
to the passing lords and ladies; that is no easy task when one is carrying
water. …… Finally, the bell tolls seven.
I may go have supper. It is
meager, as much food has been exhausted today.
Lord William would not waste supplies on us. Supper is bread, potatoes, and water. Now we must rinse the dishes.
Soap is too precious to waste on dishes. That water I carried I see being thrown out afterwards. After more tiding I may go to bed. It is now after eight, nearing nine.
Goodnight