Flickr Photo Download: Dirleton

It's the 16th century dovecot of Dirleton Castle. Stealing the Lord's doves would get you 40 days in the pit prison for the first offence and and a severed hand for the second.

For comparision here's another from Tantallon Castle just 5 miles away:

Flickr Photo Download: Tantallon

[Sailor]

Cool shots - particularly the first which "traps" my eye and sends it up the dovecot (a new word for me). Are the two castles of the same period? The architecture appears to be fairly different.

Great job,

Jer

[roentarre]

That pattern is simply striking in deed.

[brkl]

Thanks, Sailor and roentarre! Just the first shot is here for display really, the second one is just a comparison for the curious. I think they are from around the same period, but it gets difficult to be certain because the castles were renovated all the time (until they were ultimately ruined by the English). Obviously, the first one uses a round design and the second one a rectangular. Otherwise, the hole in the ceiling and the actual boxes for the doves are similar. No wonder that you haven't heard of the world, Sailor, as eating doves as fallen out of favour Although my Egyptian friend tells me it's common over there.

[rparmar]

These shots are the "pits".

Nice work! But what did you do to fall out of favour so?

[brkl]

Thanks, rparmar! These aren't the actual pit prisons though. The dovecots were just where they kept the doves. The pit prisons are pretty horrible!

[gawan]

Wonderful abstract patterns, good light!