Photo of the week: Norman Keep

Norman Keep, Cardiff Castle

I suffer from the lack of in-depth education in history, and being in a place whose past involves a tapestry of civilisations, cultures and eras, I was bound to be hopelessly lost. 

Cardiff has been the centre of action for Wales for much of history. From an invasion by the Romans, the princely tribal wars, to the overt threats from English kings and lords, to the visionary efforts of the local marquess, the discovery of coal that propelled a nation into prosperity, to the attack by the Germans and the formation of a local government, there has never been a dull moment, I have learned.

And much like this rich mixture of tragedy and drama, I found myself bewildered in the beginning by the stark contrast between extremely old structures and generally newer buildings co-mingling within the city limits. This is of course by no means extraordinary (think of Istanbul, Rome, Venice, London, Paris, etc.) but coming from a very young city like Kuala Lumpur, it is quite something to think that I currently live within a few city blocks of a 2,000 year old castle. 

The Norman Keep is the centrepiece of Cardiff Castle, a fortress built primarily during war times but later becoming a summer home for a local nobility family during the late 19th and early 20th century. Today it is managed by a Welsh government trust that also oversees the numerous other Welsh castles peppered throughout the country. 

As for the locals, they are proud of their piece-de-resistance. Any resident, myself included, may come and go as they so wish free of charge so that they might enjoy a picnic or two when the sun is up, the skies are clear and the Welsh flag proudly waving.