Smiley Derleth's favorite photos

The earliest known history of Kasteel Hackfort (Hackfort Castle) is dating back to the year of 1324, when the Lord of Bronckhorst commissioned the building of a castle. In 1392 ‘House Hacforden’ was nothing more than just a residential tower and a moat. In 1586 the castle was destroyed by the Spanish troops during the Eighty Year's War (the Dutch Independent War). After the liberation of the region by Prince Maurits van Oranje, the castle was rebuilt in 1598 by Borchard van Westerholt. In 1788, Kasteel Hackfort underwent substantial renovations. The old gate house and outbuildings were demolished and the canals were filled in. The castle was transformed into an 18th-century manor house. Nowadays only the two thick cylindrical towers are reminders of the (former) castle. The castle is surrounded by forests and meadows and includes Hackfort Watermill . The castle remained for centuries in the possession of the family Van Westerholt. When the last Baroness Westerholt of Hackfort died in1981, Kasteel Hackfort and estate were donated to Natuurmonumenten (a Dutch society for preservation of nature monuments).

Het Lankheet is an estate south of Haaksbergen. The family estate is approx. 500 hectares in size and has an alternation of forest, agriculture, heathland and fens. The history of this estate goes back 800 years, but they also look ahead - well into the 21st century. There are various contemporary landscape projects on display in the areas of water purification, energy extraction, multifunctional climate forests, timber cultivation, youth education and youth care, art and theater. A notable part of the waterpark in Het Lankheet are the “Kidney Pools”: two kidney-shaped, interlocking ponds like yin and yang: symbols of purification, but also of balanced proportions. A path of stepping stones allows people to walk through the two ponds. Apart from being a place of meditation, the “Kidney Pools” are also a place of entertainment for young and old.

The Paleispark (Palace Park) is a part of Kroondomein Het Loo (Het Loo Royal Estate). With an area of 650 hectare the park is ideal for strolling and walking. It lies adjacent to “Het Loo Palace” and around Castle Het Oude Loo . Traditionally this park was for the relaxation of the royal residents of the palace. and their guests. The origins of the park can be traced back to stadtholder Willem III, who purchased hunting lodge Het Oude Loo in 1684 together with 200 hectare land. “Het Loo Royal Estate” was also very important for Queen Wilhelmina. She purchased many acres of land and donated this to the State in 1959, retaining the rights of usage for the reigning monarch. This explains the name for the whole area: “Het Loo Royal Estate”. The palace park is only a small part of “Het Loo Royal Estate”. The park features ponds, a tea pavilion (main image and PiP1), which was often used by Queen Wilhelmina, a bath-house (PiP2), a royal horse cemetery, an old shooting range, a hunting lodge and several follies. The park is open - against a small fee - the whole year round, the part around Het Oude Loo is open for visitors only during the months April and May.

Dunster Castle in Somerset captured from the main A39 road on a cold March day. The castle was built on the side of a 200 ft steep hill called the Tor overlooking Dunster village. The original castle was a timber motte and bailey building built after the Battle of Hastings in 1066 by William de Mohun. At the time the base of the Tor would have been surrounded by sea, offering a natural defence. In the 13th Century the castle was partially rebuilt in stone and in 1330 the castle passed into the hands of John de Mohun who was soon severely in debt, leaving his wife Joan to take over the running of the estate. She agreed upon John's death to sell the castle to Elizabeth Lutterell when she herself died However Joan outlived Elizabeth and Sir Hugh Lutterell took over the castle in 1404. The castle was extended and renovated over the years and the family lived in the property until the late 20th Century. In 1976 Colonel Walter Lutterell gave the castle and much of its contents to the National Trust. Dunster Castle is a Grade 1 listed building Here is a song by Don McLean 'Castles in the Air' www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI9NjQK_xm8 Details from wikipedia. Please view large for the detail

The Gatehouse, walls and moat at the Bishops's Palace in Wells, Somerset. The Bishop's Palace has been the residence of the Bishop of Bath and Wells since the early 13th Century. Construction of the Palace commenced in 1210 but the gatehouse, walls and moat were added in the 14th Century. The drawbridge dating from 1341. has a working drawbridge. It has been a tradition that the resident swans ring a bell at the gatehouse to be fed! The Bishop's Palace has been used as a film location for scenes from Hot Fuzz, The Huntsman and the White Princess amongst other films and programmes and became the french prison in Poldark. It was a lovely day and quite peaceful here. I liked the shadows across the walls.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of tricycles . An undated snapshot of three kids riding their tricycles on a bright sunny day.

It was a little cloudy outside, but I think I saw it!

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of arm in arm . A Mennonite couple -- notice the woman's plain dress -- stand arm in arm in front of a picket fence as they pose for this photo, which I purchased in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Two farm buildings are partially visible in the background. On the right-hand side is a barn with a ramp leading to its second level, which is a typical feature of barns in Lancaster County. The building on the left-hand side may be a tobacco barn, which is also commonly found on farms in the area. See a cropped version of the photo for a better view of the couple.

Photobooth Girl -- see Photobooth Girl in Forty Poses -- posed with a friend whose eyes were half closed. The next photo in the photobooth strip showed her friend with eyes completely closed.