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Tixall Hall, Gate House.

Posted by MaryB (Staffordshire, United Kingdom) on 10 February 2009 in Architecture.

This impressive looking building was built in 1580 and was once where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned for two weeks in 1586.
Now you can rent this wonderful building for a holiday :)

Taken in a snow storm on Tuesday 2nd February 09.

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Any tips or constructive criticism are welcome :)
I really appreciate all your comments, thank you so much. I'm only sorry I've not got time to respond. I do read all the comments and will try to answer any questions you have

Comments (28)

Mike from Lichfield, United Kingdom

I did wonder after the photo from a couple of days back if you'd taken one of Tixall Hall. What a day to get a picture of it. The driving snow is wonderful and in black and white it makes for an awesome photo. I had no idea it could be hired for a holiday. How cool would that be!

10 Feb 2009 6:08am

zOOm from Paris, France

Very nice and unusual architecture... So Mary spend some times here, before beeing sentenced to death by Elysabeth I ?

10 Feb 2009 6:11am

Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom

Excellent picture Mary.... the offset framing, the old tree, and driving snow... just wonderful.

10 Feb 2009 6:13am

Alun Lambert from cheshire, United Kingdom

very nice picture, a ruff night to be out shooting

10 Feb 2009 6:42am

Rags from Plano, United States

I like the head on shooting of this image. It has so much character to it, especially in BW.

10 Feb 2009 6:48am

Marion from Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Wonderful picture Mary. But it looks cold and bleak. Would love to see the inside.

10 Feb 2009 8:24am

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

I love this very much, wonderfully composed!

10 Feb 2009 8:29am

MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany

Marvellous shot, a decent place for imprisoning queens. :)

10 Feb 2009 9:09am

@MadScientist: Thanks MS it is, Mary Queen of Scots seemed to spend a lot of time locked up, she was even in Carlisle Castle for a few weeks.
PS thanks for the link you gave me on Pugin, it's really good :)

Ronnie 2¢ from London, United Kingdom

I have a feeling this gatehouse would look bleak even on a bright day . . but how extra-special it looks in a snowstorm !

10 Feb 2009 9:44am

Peter Miller from Lichfield, United Kingdom

I have seen this many times but not portrayed this way. It is an interesting view with a hint of antiquity and behind the lens a brave photographer (Brrrrrrr)

10 Feb 2009 9:58am

Cheryl from Texas, United States

beautiful image! this place looks magical with the snow fall!! awsome capture

10 Feb 2009 11:47am

Judy from Brooksville-Florida,, United States

Oh, what a marvelous place this could be for an AM3 gathering ... let's rent it! :D

10 Feb 2009 1:35pm

Mandy from South Africa

it looks marvellous and what a treat it would be to rent!!@ All that history - fabulous capture Mary

10 Feb 2009 4:33pm

peter from new york, United States

a beautiful and powerful b&w shot with such interesting history. bravo!

10 Feb 2009 5:56pm

Steve Rice from Olympia, United States

Takes my breath away. This is a truly gorgeous image. Your composition is superb.

10 Feb 2009 6:36pm

António Pires from Lisbon, Portugal

Well composed photo.

10 Feb 2009 6:55pm

Graham Russon from Cape Town, South Africa

Stunning shot, nice atmosphere you've captured

10 Feb 2009 7:42pm

Tracey from Maryland, United States

Wowzers! What a formidable building! I would love to stay there and try it out...although I might be afraid of ghosts. The snow storm adds an additional layer of mystery to this place!

10 Feb 2009 8:16pm

vu@granby - gilles daigneault from Granby, Québec, Canada

Nice, very nice Mary!
Thank you for this shot
and for your visit on our 500th.

gilles d.

10 Feb 2009 8:21pm

Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom

You must be crazy to be out in that blizzard, but by heck, you came back with some fantastic images, this is great.

10 Feb 2009 9:47pm

Elisa from Massachusetts, United States

fabulous capture MaryB!!

10 Feb 2009 10:32pm

Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia

Beautifully seen and processed, Mary.

11 Feb 2009 2:23am

Ti from Alpharetta, United States

This photo gives me the chill. At first glance it feels like prison to me, then I realize it was used as a prison! I was curious to see how it might change my perception of it in a different season so I checked it out on line...not much better.

Then I notice it does not have a set perimeter! No boundaries, no fences, no landscape or hardscape to define it's belonging, to this place and site. It can be moved and built anywhere and you wouldn't know it's missing from here. I guess my architectural training for rationale has overceeded the sensational part of me to view this picture....but really, it doesn't matter if you move the building 50 or 100 feet in any direction, you won't know it is out of place...

11 Feb 2009 2:42am

Barbara from Florida, United States

Nice composition here. Interesting structure, it's age impressive. I would be a mysterious place to rent.

11 Feb 2009 4:50am

Anthony Lambert from Bielefeld, Germany

Stunning winter shot !!

11 Feb 2009 5:18pm

Rich from Stafford, United Kingdom

Ah so this is the gatehouse. It looks ace in B&W, with the snow and all.

Good little write up too, I never knew any of it's history.

I took a pic of this the other day just before the snow, but it looks very bland compared to this one!!

12 Feb 2009 12:41am

Melissa W. from Warsaw, Indiana, United States

This is really beautiful! Love the snowy scene.

12 Feb 2009 4:08pm

Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan

The falling snow is improving the already dramatic aspect of this image. I'd have thought of it as a drawing in B&W.....the composition being very attractive.

10 Mar 2009 2:59am

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Nikon D40X
1/60 second
F/8.0
ISO 200
82 mm (35mm equiv.)