Scottish Castle in Wisconsin? Help!

**Glen C** · 12th November 08, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by fluter

Glen, all I can think of is the Valhalla banquet scenes from Douglas Adams' The Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul.

You'll need some huge smoky fireplaces, long trestle tables, rushes on the floor, dogs, drunken Vikings wrestling with roasted boars, etc.

I think I can do that, my mothers family are all Swedes and the area has a very large population of Norwegians and Finns.

**Dukeof Kircaldy** · 4th January 09, 08:21 AM

Actually, what you should do is convert a barn, which I am sure are in plentiful supply in the midwest.

The Border Reivers had strongholds that were pretty close to being fortified barns, such as Drumcoltron Tower.

There is a good article on the Border Reiver Strongholds here. You can also pick up a copy of the Osprey Book Strongholds of the Border Reivers. Anyway, most of them look like barns with no lower floor entrance (harder to attack).

Also look up bastle houses, such as Black Middens:

00/k031430.jpg
As you can see, this looks more like a barn than a church.

A Barn will be more realistic and provide more of the feel of a Scottish Tower house than an old church.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 4th January 09, 08:35 AM

Subsequent to my previous posting on this thread I've been retained (by someone lurking on XMTS) to design a "small" castle in the style of a 17th century "laird's hoose". These differ from the peel towers of the borders in so far as the domestic arrangements are more conveniently laid out in a linear fashion, rather than being stacked "one upon the other" with narrow turnpike stairs taking the place of corridors. My own experience is that towers are very awkward to live in as one is constantly dashing upstairs or down stairs to go from room to room.

**Sionnach** · 4th January 09, 09:54 AM

Looks like "A Room with a Pew!"

Nice location. I would guess Aikido, too. Should be a nice project if you go ahead.

**cessna152towser** · 4th January 09, 10:10 AM

Wow, Glen, thats some massive pile you've got yourself for a new home.
Congratulations.
You just have to host an x-marks Burns supper in your great hall!

**Bart_In_A_Kilt** · 13th January 09, 07:51 PM

Where in Wisconsin is this at?

Bart

**sorcererdale** · 14th January 09, 02:40 PM

And no one else caught what you said. If you are in the Chicago area that belfry must be really high to SEE Lake Superior, way up here north of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Keep us posted with plans and pictures. I might even stop in and see you some time as I am about 8 - 10 hours away.

DALE.

**BEEDEE** · 14th January 09, 03:17 PM

Asked and answered!

Originally Posted by Bart_In_A_Kilt

Where in Wisconsin is this at?

Bart

Originally Posted by beloitpiper

By the way, what town is that? Superior?

Originally Posted by Glen C

Hi Greg,
Close but no cigar. It's Ashland.

Brian

**starbkjrus** · 26th May 09, 10:28 AM

Glen,

I saw in another thread that you had now retired and were going to work on the church you were rehabbing...is it the one from this thread? I'm sure we'd all love to see some more pictures.

**JolyStNicholas** · 26th May 09, 10:47 AM

Thanks for the photos,
I lived and worked in upper Wisconsin for 6 years, 25 miles South of Superior Wi. In the winter it was VERY cold and there was LOTS of SNOW.

You will have lots of time to work on your project, there is little else to do there in the winter, except snow mobile, ice fish, ski,drink,build snow men, drink,hunt, etc,etc, etc.

I really love the peace and quiet there.