Derry, Prehen House

Well i spent an enjoyable afternoon at Prehen House, Derry yesterday, chatting and taking some photos. Oireash Historical services where doing a historical display based on the siege (18 April to 28 July 1689), known as Léigear Dhoire in Gaelic. So with nice weather, pleasant company, some tea and a chance to chat with Colin Peck (who has a very wry and droll sense of humour, which i found great fun) and his guests.

Prehen House, is a Grade A listed Georgian building c. 1740 (it is well worth a visit) situated on the high ground overlooking the river Foyle on the waterside (east shore), from it you can understand why they chose here to build. Here's the Prehen House link:

http://www.prehenhouse.com/

While there, I also got to see the present archaeological dig of the Prehen fort taking place at the back of the house. This is thought to be a bawn which has at least one flanker tower (gun loop extant and curved wall) c. 1600-50. The tower seems to have been converted into some form of Folly in later centuries with elements of the original left and is situated in a walled enclosure/garden/bawn.

As Oireash were present and i have been meaning to take a dander to Prehen again, i headed for the waterside camera and sketch book in hand. After we had a chat we decided to take some photos, of Tomas and Brian assaulting the breach and manning the walls and defending the walls. These were taken with permission of Collin Peck...it was nice to get an opportunity to get some pics with very little modern life or tourist photo-bombing the enterprise ;¬)

Tomas was dressed, armed and accoutred in the old style equipment (matchlock and baldric) with a captured French Giberne, while Brian as Grenadier dragoon (his cap is that of engineers)is a la mode ;¬) this was done to illustrate the ad hoc nature of the war with the raising of civilians militia and army expansion on both sides, which was parallel to established regiments. Some later became major regiments in their own right such as the Inniskillings, Royal Irish and Inniskilling Dragoons etc.

Anyway have a look at the images and i hope you enjoy them?








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