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.
The life of B 
That’s fascinating, the detail of the horse … but you have to wonder why it is detailed like that .. back in the day, surely the soldiers would not have time to stop and marvel at the ‘beauty’ of their guns.
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I am guessing many of them were for ceremonial purposes only, but even so . . . it is very strange
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WOW! So beautiful dear BeckB, I couldn’t guess… What a great handcraft… Thank you, Love, nia
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Thanks Nia 🙂
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We’ve been there, and I agree. The views are spectacular and the museum is very interesting. I’d like to think the ornamentation on the cannon is a beautiful example of excellent craftsmanship. Someone took great pride in his work.
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yay, so glad someone else has been here and fell in love with the views too!
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I have a very dear friend who lives in Portsmouth and we’ve visited several times.
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Was a first time visit for me and I have been in Hampshire 20years!
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We’ve been to Portsmouth five times!
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You’ll have to travel up the road next time and come to Winchester, only half hour away
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This is pretty. And here is mine for today. https://mywanderings.travel.blog/2020/07/27/stop-and-look-at-the-walls/
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And by the way, your co-challenge host for the day, over at Monday Windows, is doing military history today too: https://mondaywindow.wordpress.com/2020/07/27/monday-window-july-27-2020/
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well . . love how blogging minds come together!
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The engraving is beautiful. either the craftman took real pride in his work or the king/queen wanted to show off his/her wealth. Or maybe both.
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Think you are right, probably both
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That was intriguing! I’d love for this museum to have been there when I lived in Portsmouth, but it’s long before my years there. There’s memories of the past in my post today, too: https://margaret21.wordpress.com/2020/07/27/a-train-ride-in-london-docklands/
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You’ll have to come down for a Hampshire visit – revisit places and discover new ones such as this 🙂
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I’d love to! Back then, in the early 70s, we didn’t have a car, and many of the places we’d love to have seen weren’t easy to get to on public transport.
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We will look forward to your visit 🙂
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https://geriatrixfotogallerie.wordpress.com/2020/07/27/with-the-perspective-of-almonds/
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Another six-worder! 🙂 🙂 Much too pretty to fire in anger.
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I agree . . . can’t recall if it ever was. I didn’t really read the notice!
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Yes it does seem strange ..but lovely engraving
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Wonderful isn’t it
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Wow! It is really beautiful for a weapon! https://365daysblog.com/2020/07/26/209-of-365-2/
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There were so many there will wonderful engravings. Found it most odd.
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