
Not sure? How about if I take you to one end?

Can you tell now?

It is an artillery gun, made of bronze. I came across it and many other guns at Fort Nelson in Hampshire. This Victorian fort is spread out over 19 acres on top of Portsdown Hill, and was once one of five defensive forts on the hill. It was operational for less than 20years, and by the 1950s had been abandoned by the army.
It became a museum in the 1990s and I was surprised how interesting it is. Away from the huge gun collection you can discover more about the lives of the soldiers who once worked and lived here, and perhaps best of all there are fabulous views of the Solent and Hampshire countryside. You may wish though to avoid the daily live firing demonstrations!
I must admit I struggle to get my head around the decorative engravings on artillery guns, in fact on any guns at all. I realise they were, and probably still are, status symbols that are expensive to make, but somehow it seems wrong to cover an item of destruction in artwork.
amazingly ornate for a gun!! 😉
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it is isn’t it!
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I just noticed something in this photo. Is that a clover rooftop?
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It is a grass roof 🙂 and yes think there was quite a bit of clover up there. Well spotted!
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Lovely perspectives Becky.The closer you look they greater is the admiration ! Superb Artistry ! Thank you for the treat.
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I think they had too much time on their hands. Some magic or???
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Odd isn’t it the more devices we get to make our lives easier the less time we have!
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Devices suck our attention for sure! A unicorn cannon who thought of that??
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Interesting! I was drawn to the horse.Then I saw his tail is not really a horse’s tail. Then I thought I saw a horn on his head. A unicorn? Hmmmm….
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Fascinating isn’t it how unicorns appear throughout our cultures.
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That’s a fancy gun
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Really is, isn’t it!
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Not what I expected 🙂 Great photos, Becky.
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Thanks Clare 🙂
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Seems like there’s always been artistic flourishes to weapons, especially if there’s a ceremonial element to them. Spears, swords, hand guns, and rifles, can be quite artistic, sometimes to assert, or inspire, the elan and bravery of the user. I’m not surprised there are artillery pieces like that. Did the museum have anything about the history of the guns? Here’s my square: https://grahamsisland.com/2020/07/27/a-plane-and-the-moon/
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It did on some of the guns, but must admit this one I didn’t really notice as it was at the entrance and I wasn’t really paying much attention to the notices!!
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Not paying attention! Shocked I am, shocked. I guess that’ll be a reason to go back sometime.
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hee hee I had poppies on my mind, sorry! But yes great excuse to return
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Love the mystery reveal – in squares too! I also have a problem accepting artwork on a gun. Very odd.
My square for today:
http://oneletterup.com/2020/07/27/macro-monday-leaflets
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I know it just doesn’t feel comfortable does it
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No it doesn’t!
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very intricate design. so odd for an artillery gun. here is mine: https://lolawi.blog/2020/07/27/coreopsis-and-phlox/
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extraordinary isn’t it
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So beautiful, but odd for a weapon. I love that patination.
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It’s gorgeous isn’t it – reason why I took so many photos of it!
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I can see why.
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