Yesterday - another beautiful day - we visited the Nothe Fort, a ten-minute stroll from our house, where they were holding a 'Victorian Fayre' over the weekend. Unfortunately, we missed the advertised artillery displays and also missed the cannon firing (probably not so unfortunately!)
There wasn't very much that could be identified as specifically Victorian except the costumes (the stall-holders were dressed up and the 'soldiers' were in authentic costume) and the building itself; face painting and modern plants are certainly not Victorian, and the maypole dancing, clog dancing (from Lancashire), masonry skills and throwing wet sponges at people in stocks are activities with a far longer history.
The Nothe Fort was one of the Palmertston Forts built during the Victorian period on the recommendations of the 1860 Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom. The name comes from their association with Lord Palmerston, who was Prime Minister at the time and promoted the idea. The fort is constructed on three levels: The lowest level, Magazine Level, was originally designed to store gunpowder and shells (there are reputedly at least one resident ghost down in the damp corridors that run around the ramparts). The middle (ground) level, Gun Deck Level, was designed to accommodate 12 heavy muzzle loaded cannons and provide accommodation for the soldiers manning the cannons. The top level formed the ramparts and provided a raised platform that could be used to fire muskets and light muzzle loaded cannons during an attack on the fort. (more information
here). As one would expect there is a great view all round from the upper level and yesterday the view was particularly stunning (click the picture for a larger view):
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