Dunstanburgh !

The moors behind me and to my left, are peppered with yellow gorse and bracken and I can see two hares playing amongst them up by the old stone wall, in the ridge.

The tide is high and the waves of the North Sea crash onto the low lying cliff to my right….. the East!

On those waves, raiders, kings, traders and monks have come…..all wanting to profit from this place. I am the same.

I am to meet Earl Thomas of Lancaster, this morn’. He wants me to ascertain the cost of building a great castle at this place….. one that will rival King Edward’s castle and keep at Bamburgh. I will become embroiled in the politics of our kingdom, but as I said, their is much profit to be made.

I have already spotted a good location for the fortress and I see that the Earl has as well. He is with a retinue of mounted men, atop the headland to the North of me. It is a hill top ringed with ancient earthen banks and this will place will be easily defensible.

My only issue is from where will I source my material….the stone, timber and charcoal that is needed.

My mind races!

Dunstanburgh is the name of this hilltop. I hope that it will be a fitting name for the castle.

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