The medieval royal family of Scotland never had a shortage of castles. Crail, in County Fife, was proclaimed a royal burgh by William the Lion and once was the setting of a castle believed to be often visited by Ada de Warenne. Today there is no castle, only a privately owned tower on the spot where it is thought it stood.
Crail is distinctive with its stone wall that creates a safe harbor.
Quaint, beautiful, clean, Crail is worthy of being featured on calendars, jigsaw puzzles, and souvenir mugs.
Cobblestone streets near harbor
Historical 17th and 18th century buildings are homes and shops of all kinds, including restaurants, ice cream and souvenir shops, and lobster stands. The cobblestone streets are well maintained.
Hill thought where castle stood
This photo is taken from the harbor wall. The castle stood hil and looked over the North sea out to the Isle of May.
Looking down from the top of the approximately
ten foot wall.
Since my picture of the harbor did not turn out, I borrowed this one of a great jigsaw puzzle of Crail.
There is nothing left of the castle in Reigate, Surrey, England, that was the birthplace of Ada de Warenne (cir. 1120.) But now a beautiful garden and memorial marks the spot.
The medieval village's original name was Churchefelle, the castle being Reigate, but today the town claims the castle's name. Beautiful modern-day Reigate is rated among the highest real estate values in the UK.
Ada's father, William de Warenne II, was the Earl of Surrey until his death in 1138, and his son, William, inherited the earldom. The castle stood on a hill, and looked over the village below. There are no ruins, but a memorial stands, and gardens now fills the space--an inviting spot to come and remenisce as times gone past.
To get to the castle yard, find the stairs to the right of Boots Pharmacy in down town Reigate. They will take you to this delightful memorial arch built in 1777 by Richard Barnes. The plaque reads: "To save the memory of William Earl Warren "who in old days dwelt here, and was a loyal champion of our liberties from perishing like his own castle by the ravages of time." No admission fee.
Tribute to Earl William de Warenne
The gardens at the top are as peaceful as one would imagine the Garden of Eden, as the first below video reveals. There is also a cave beneath where the castle stood, known as Baron's Cave, and is open on certain days to the public. Here is the website telling the details.
Richard Vobes' video on Reigate Castle gives more of the history of the area.
Daughter of the Earl of Surrey, Ada de Warenne is destined to marry a nobleman of her parents’ choosing. Little does she know the king of England will mandate her marriage to Prince Henry of Scotland, the son of King David and heir to the throne, for England's gain. As much as she resists, the odds work against her, and she unwittingly falls in love with the handsome prince. What was once her greatest fear—a marriage without love—turns into one of the greatest romances of all time—until tragedy strikes. Can a privileged English girl survive the ruthless ways of medieval Scotland and be counted among the greatest women in history?
Authors Joan Sowards and Sarah Hinze meet in Haddington, Scotland, UK to do research their novel, A Pawn for a King, Ada de Warenne, Queen Mother of Scotland.
Sarah Hinze is the 24th great-grandaughter of Ada de Warenne and a multi- published author, whose titles include The Castaways, is a public speaker, and has raised nine children.
A Pawn for a King is Joan Sowards' seventh published novel, including Shadows of Montsegur, A Tale of the Cathers (Dans l'ombre de Montsegur)--a medieval tale about the Albigensian crusade--a composer, genealogist, and is the mother of five.
