The Impact of the Norman Conquest on Anglo Saxon Gardens
The Impact of the Norman Conquest on Anglo Saxon Gardens The arrival of the Normans in the 2nd half of the 11th century irreparably improved The Anglo-Saxon lifestyle. Engineering and horticulture were skills that the Normans excelled in, trumping that of the Anglo-Saxons at the time of the occupation. But before centering on home-life or having the occasion to consider domestic architecture or decoration, the Normans had to subjugate an entire society. Because of this, castles were cruder buildings than monasteries: Monasteries were often immense stone buildings located in the biggest and most fecund valleys, while castles were constructed on windy crests where their residents devoted time and space to tasks for offense and defense. The sterile fortresses did not provide for the peaceful avocation of horticulture. Berkeley Castle is most likely the most complete model in existence today of the early Anglo-Norman style of architecture. The keep is said to date from William the Conqueror's time. An enormous terrace encompasses the building, serving as an impediment to assailants wanting to excavate under the castle walls. A picturesque bowling green, enveloped in grass and enclosed by battlements cut out of an ancient yew hedge, forms one of the terraces.Wall Water Fountains: An Amazing Display
Wall Water Fountains: An Amazing Display Leave a positive impression on your loved ones by including a wall fountain in your interior design. In addition to the calming background sounds a wall water feature contributes to any living space, it also imparts charm.
Wall elements are an ideal choice if the space you occupy is more modern in appearance. They can also add an element of chic to your decor since they are also made in modern-day materials including glass and stainless steel. Is space limited in your house or business? The best option for you is incorporating a wall water fountain. Since they are hung on a wall, these features do not take up valuable room. These types of fountains are particularly prevalent in bustling office buildings. You can also mount wall fountains outdoors. Fiberglass or resin wall water features can be installed outside. Back yards, porches, or other outdoor spaces needing a stylish touch should include a water fountain made of one of these weather-proof materials.
Wall fountains can be found in a number of different styles, ranging from ultra-sleek to traditional and rustic. You can choose the best style based upon your individual tastes. A city dweller’s decoration ideas might call for polished glass whereas a mountaineer might prefer a more traditional material such as slate for a mountain lodge. The material you get depends solely on your decoration ideas. Fountains are features which most certainly thrill those who visit your home.
Contemporary Garden Decor: Large Outdoor Water Fountains and their Beginnings

The main purpose of a fountain was originally strictly practical. Cities, towns and villages made use of nearby aqueducts or springs to provide them with potable water as well as water where they could bathe or wash. Up until the nineteenth, fountains had to be more elevated and closer to a water supply, such as aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to benefit from gravity which fed the fountains. Fountains were not only utilized as a water source for drinking water, but also to adorn homes and celebrate the designer who created it. The main components used by the Romans to create their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly depicting animals or heroes. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden planners incorporated fountains to create mini depictions of the gardens of paradise. Fountains played a significant role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exert his power over nature. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries manufactured baroque decorative fountains to glorify the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the location where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.
Indoor plumbing became the main source of water by the end of the 19th century thereby restricting urban fountains to mere decorative elements. Gravity was substituted by mechanical pumps in order to enable fountains to bring in clean water and allow for beautiful water displays.
Modern-day fountains serve mostly as decoration for community spaces, to honor individuals or events, and compliment entertainment and recreational gatherings.
Ancient Crete & The Minoans: Wall Fountains
Ancient Crete & The Minoans: Wall Fountains During archaeological digs on the island of Crete, a variety of types of conduits have been detected. These supplied water and eliminated it, including water from waste and deluges. Most were prepared from clay or rock. Terracotta was employed for canals and pipes, both rectangle-shaped and circular. These included cone-like and U-shaped terracotta pipes that were unique to the Minoans. Knossos Palace had a sophisticated plumbing system made of clay pipes which ran up to three meters under ground.