Marchwood Tourist AttractionsArransia is well-known for the quantity and interest of its historic sights, which makes it a popular destination for middle-class tourists from Brunswick, Acadia and many of the countries of Beruna. These are a few examples of sights in the county of Marchwood, which probably has the richest collection of all. All of these can comfortably be reached as a day-trip from the Tri-Cities across the border in Brunswick. Wynyard Castle Wynyard Castle is an almost impossibly picturesque and romantic building nestling in a sheltered hollow a few miles south-west of Briggswath. Mostly built of warm red brick, it still incorporates a couple of mediaeval defensive towers, but mostly comprises domestic architecture of the mid-16th century, including a Great Hall with a magnificent hammerbeam roof. It is the ancestral home of the Done family, earls of Briggswath. The 16th Earl, Archibald Done (1913-96) was, during the Great War, the commander of the Marchwood Dragoon Guards tank regiment and played a major part in the Arransian victory at Val de Jérica in May 1947. However, he was amongst the Arransian soldiers who continued to fight alongside the Mayonnaise after the Armistice and was forced to retire in disgrace to his estates. Nevertheless, he continued to play a prominent part in Marchwood society and for many years was Master of the Harfoot Hunt. Fittingly, he was killed in a hunting accident at the age of 82. He was given a lavish funeral in Ormsby Cathedral which pointedly was shunned by any members of the Scullion family. Visitors may still occasionally enjoy the privilege of a guided tour by the Dowager Countess Veronica (b 1925).
Open Apr (Easter if earlier)-Jun, Sept, Oct: Sat, Sun, Mon & Public Holidays 11 am-5 pm; Jul, Aug: Sat-Wed & Public Holidays 10 am-5pm
Naish Abbey In the Middle Ages, monastic foundations often sought remote locations to be able to follow their vocation well away from worldly temptations. A good example of this is the site of Naish Abbey, hidden away in a secluded valley in the north-west of Marchwood near the small town of Stair. This remains an active monastery with approximately fifty monks, half of whom are Arransian and half from other countries. It occupies what is now undoubtedly the finest set of intact monastic buildings in Sabrantia, constructed of the distinctive yellowish local limestone. The Abbey Church has a central tower 157 feet high and is larger than over half the cathedrals in Arransia. There is also an extensive range of domestic buildings and a large quadrangle of cloisters. Arransia never had any equivalent of the Dissolution of the Monasteries and so the abbey continues to enjoy the income from extensive landholdings in Marchwood and Hanwold. It also works a home farm directly, although the tradition of lay brethren has died out and the farm workers are now secular civilians. The grounds contain a series of mediaeval fish ponds which are still used to provide carp for the monks’ table. Recent increases in temperatures have allowed the replanting of a vineyard. The abbey is the best-known Arransian exponent of the tradition of monastic brewing, and continues to produce the rich, ruby-red bottle-conditioned Naish Abbey Ale which weighs in at a powerful 8.5% alcohol by volume. In recent years this has proved a very popular export, especially to Brunswick. Contrary to popular legend, this is not the beer given to the monks as a daily ration - that is a much more modest 3.6%. This Monks’ Ale is also sold on draught at the Abbey Inn in the village but is not otherwise available commercially. While the monks do have to take a vow of poverty, chastity and obedience, and devote their lives to the service of God, more than one observer has commented that in terms of the atmosphere of their surroundings and the quality of food and drink on their table they do actually live rather well. Open Easter-end Oct: Tue-Sat 11 am-5 pm, Sun 1 pm-5 pm; Nov-Easter: Fri, Sat, Sun 1 pm-5 pm (closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day)
Bentleby Star Fort The traditional high-walled castle was rendered obsolete by the development of cannon in the late 15th century. However, it was not long before a replacement type of fortification was developed in the form of the “star fort”. This was much more low-lying and consisted of a series of triangular projecting bastions which could be used as artillery platforms and provide flanking fire to protect each other. From the air, the arrangement resembled a star, hence the name. This form of fortification was used most on the mainland of Beruna, but following the fighting between Arransia and Brunswick in the 1650s, the Arransian government under Queen Margaret built a pair of large free-standing star forts in the south of Marchwood at Hobsett and Bentleby to defend the country’s southern flank. In practice, they never fired a gun in anger. The fort at Hobsett was partially obliterated by the construction of the main-line railway in the 19th century and only fragments remain. A similar fate befell the star-type earthworks constructed around the existing castle at Whitcastle. However, the Bentleby fort remains intact in its original form and is one of the best-preserved examples of its type in the world. It has a central masonry citadel and barracks with walls of remarkable thickness - this part is open to the public as a conventional paid-for attraction run by Marchwood County Council. However, most of the area of the fort is used by the people of the town as common land and also as grazing land. It is a striking contrast to see sheep and cows wandering amongst the massive, grass-covered ramparts. The small town of Bentleby is one of the centres of the Marchwood cider industry. With a wealth of ancient half-timbered buildings, it is considered one of the most attractive and characterful in the county and is full of visitors from the Tri-Cities at summer weekends. It also enjoys a steam-worked passenger rail service from Ince during the summer months. It is very obvious, though, that the fort provides no real protection for the town and the government of the day were prepared to sacrifice Bentleby to protect the major cities further north. Citadel and Barracks open 1 Mar-31 Oct: Every day, 10 am-6 pm; 1 Nov-28 Feb (excluding Christmas Day and New Year's Day): Thu-Sun, 10 am-4 pm
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