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Calabash
11th October 2014, 10:54
As most of you will know, the Harry Potter films were shot at Alnwick Castle. But here's what else is at Alnwick Castle which is not as well known.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzaWVe7ZsXg


It's not often that the Home Office becomes involved with plants in the setting of a public garden, but in this instance a number of the 'inmates' have to have their very own license in order to be there at all.

Many of the plants are already well-known for their medicinal properties, but as its creator, the Duchess of Northumberland said:

'I wondered why so many gardens around the world focused on the healing power of plants rather than their ability to kill... I felt that most children I knew would be more interested in hearing how a plant killed, how long it would take you to die if you ate it and how gruesome and painful the death might be.'


More at: http://www.alnwickgarden.com/explore/whats-here/the-poison-garden

The One
11th October 2014, 11:02
Fascinating stuff my friend

It would not surprise me in the least if some governments of the world have created deadly weapons from the extract of these plants

cheers

Mark
11th October 2014, 14:58
I used to often walk around the castle when I was living in that neck of the wood long before Hogwarts.

The place has a very oppressive and intimidating feel but what really stood out was the immense amount of black crows that would take roost around the castle. Quite an eerie experience walking around leafless well established trees silhouetted againt an angry wintry sky as night crept in as the cacophony of crows prepared their nightly watch around the castles grounds.

BabaRa
11th October 2014, 17:12
Fascinating stuff my friend

It would not surprise me in the least if some governments of the world have created deadly weapons from the extract of these plants

cheers


or Vaccines! or even in some of these prescriptions they're pushing on the public - and then 10 yrs later there's a class action suit from all the folks who died from taking these prescriptions.!

777
11th October 2014, 17:48
I used to often walk around the castle when I was living in that neck of the wood long before Hogwarts.

The place has a very oppressive and intimidating feel but what really stood out was the immense amount of black crows that would take roost around the castle. Quite an eerie experience walking around leafless well established trees silhouetted againt an angry wintry sky as night crept in as the cacophony of crows prepared their nightly watch around the castles grounds.

I can support this vibe first hand having visited myself too last year. I couldn't work out whether or not it was just residual, historic energy from the countless years of its existence or if it was something darker. Given Linda's excellent find here I now would lean towards the latter.

I'm annoyed at myself I wasn't able to sense this :mad:

jimmer
11th October 2014, 18:07
such beauty.
such danger.
perfect place to spend this holiday.

Black Panther
11th October 2014, 22:47
Seven years ago, when I was still sleeping :)

Visited the castle, but not the poison garden.

It was great to visit Scotland! From New Castle to Edinburgh, Inverness, up to the Orkney islands
and travelling back through west coast with Fort William and Glasgow

713

Calabash
12th October 2014, 09:13
My father was born and brought up in Alnwick and we spent our summer holidays there every year. Alnwick is a feudal town, and when my grandparents were young people worked mostly for the one large company (Hardys), or went down the pit. My grandfather worked at Hardys (which has undergone considerable refurbishment/s since those days) and on retirement took up a part-time position as guide at Alnwick Castle (owned by the Percy family), so I visited quite a lot as a child.

http://mindahome.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/alnwick-castle.jpg http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/04/a3/13/48/alnwick-castle.jpg
Most of the ceilings at Alnwick Castle are covered in intricate gold leaf and a lot of Lottery Money has gone to the upkeep and refurbishment of it (what a nerve). The link below will take you to an article about lottery cash and Alnwick Castle, although we're now well off topic.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/jul/26/arts.britishidentity


As a child, I always felt menaced when dad drove down Denwick Lane - it was particularly bleak and spooky and I never wanted to stop on the drive through . .

Mark
12th October 2014, 15:45
There's a great second hand book store in Alnwick too, largest in the country I believe :-)