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Andrew's Travels
Andrew's Travels

Andrew's Travels

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  • Andrew's TravelsRoots - where I grew upTraveler

    Dartford, part 2; historic town centre

    November 2, 2020 in England ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    The Romans paved over an ancient Celtic trackway as part of their main Dover to London road and crossed the River Darent by ford (hence the name Dartford).

    We start on the far side of the River Darent, a tributary of the Thames (see London LOOP post), having crossed the bridge here to view the Holy Trinity Church. We cross back over the bridge onto the High Street to see the other side of the church, which is close to the Wat Tyler pub. Wat Tyler is famous for having been a leader of the Kentish part of the 1381 Peasants Revolt, basically an uprising about workers rights. Close by, on One Bell Corner, is a large mural entitled 'One Town That Changed The World" celebrating "the pioneering industrial heritage of Dartford".

    The Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel is Dartford's oldest inn and pilgrims were able to stay here (as well as that originally on One Bell Corner) in medieval times on The Pilgrim's Way to Canterbury and beyond; the inn was rebuilt in 1703 with a gallery overlooking the yard and these both are still visible today (albeit covered now).

    A short walk away is Dartford Priory, England's only Dominican Convent. Founded in 1346, the Dissolution of the Monasteries led to Henry VIII replacing it with a Manor House, of which only the Gatehouse survives.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsRoots - where I grew upTraveler

    Dartford, part 1; school and other

    November 2, 2020 in England ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    Born in Erith and raised in Slade Green, but Dartford is where I spent my formative years as this where I went to secondary school; I passed the 11+ exam and went to Dartford Grammar School, DGS (my mum went to DGS for Girls round the corner) - famous alumni from DGS include Mick Jagger (see subsequent post). Although the school was founded in 1576,, the school house dates from 1864; this is where the sixth formers used to hang out at breaks etc and play the music of the day (prog rock and rock in our case). The school motto "ora et labora" means "pray and work" which I have only just found out from Google; I honestly thought it meant "play and work" - a maxim I have adhered to during my life, although not as a result of it being the school motto (which I thought it was!)

    My grandad lived with us in Slade Green for several years in the late 1960s and used to come to Dartford to go to The Malt Shovel pub to read his paper and drink real ale in the wood panelled tap bar there; unfortunately, the pub was closed when I visited on a Monday, but I have been there many times previously. It was, and still is, a Youngs pub and grandad and my uncle (his son, mum's brother) got me into real ale and I have been drinking it all my life.

    Some parts of Dartford have been modernised beyond recognition but other parts are still as they were; not far from the railway station, the Orchard Theatre has a modern clock tower by it and on the other side of town - passing through the historic centre (see next post) - we have the 1916 Dartford Central Library and Museum on the edge of Central Park.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsWiltshireTraveler

    Westbury White Horse and Avebury Henge

    October 19, 2020 in England ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Wiltshire is well known for its White Horse hill figures and they have become a symbol of the county. The origins of such hill figures are obscure and of the original 13 only 8 now survive; the Westbury White Horse is the oldest and is carved on to a chalk escarpment on the Salisbury Plain. Hill figures lose their shape over time due to growth of vegetation etc and maintenance is necessary; indeed, in the 1950s, the Westbury White Horse was concreted over by the local council! We viewed both from afar and close up on the short walk above it.

    Next stop is the Avebury World Heritage Site, to see the the Stone Circle. This is a Neolithic henge monument comprising a bank and ditch surrounding a roughly circular flat area; inside this particular henge are two small stone circles within a much larger stone circle - with a diameter of 330m, this is the largest megalithic stone circle in the world. Once again the original purpose is unknown, but construction is thought to have been around 2,600 BC. We enjoy our walk around the entire stone circle; it originally comprised about 100 stones - many are not there now and part of the circle now includes a corner of Avebury village. Another stunning site and a good way to end this visit to Wiltshire.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsWiltshireTraveler

    Stonehenge

    October 18, 2020 in England ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument comprising a ring of standing stones set within an earthworks. It evolved in several construction phases, with the third phase being when the iconic Stone Circle was erected using bluestone and sarsen stone (3,000 - 2,200 BC). It was probably constructed for religious ceremonies.

    The entrance to the Stone Circle is where the four vertical stones with three horizontal stones stand. We walk around taking many photos, but they all look quite similar! It is a truly wonderful place to visit.

    Before visiting the Stone Circle, there is an interesting exhibition and the chance to see reconstructed Neolithic houses where the locals lived. On the walk to the Stone Circle we see the Stonehenge Cursus, a 3km ditch built several hundreds of years before, and the cursus barrows, a barrow cemetery.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsWiltshireTraveler

    Old Sarum

    October 18, 2020 in England ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Old Sarum was originally an Iron Age Hillfort, built around 400 BC at the intersection of two trade paths, before becoming a Roman and then a Saxon settlement. William the Conqueror used the site to build a Motte and Bailey castle and a cathedral, and King Henry I added a royal palace. The city declined due to a lack of water and being windswept and subsequent arguments between soldiers and clergy, and a new cathedral was built on the Salisbury Plain - the city of New Sarum, or Salisbury as it became, was established.

    It was interesting to walk over the outer bailey, cross the ditch where the drawbridge would have been and go up to the inner bailey where the palace and castle are situated; the remains of the original cathedral are behind, on the outer bailey.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsWiltshireTraveler

    Salisbury, part 3; The Cathedral

    October 17, 2020 in England ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Salisbury Cathedral is incredible; it has the tallest spire in the UK (404 feet), as well as the largest cloister and cathedral close. The original site was at Old Sarum, but bad relations between clergy and military led to relocation further south on the Salisbury Plain; building started in 1220. The Cathedral clock (1386) is the oldest in the world and the large font (2008) has reflections.

    The Cathedral is also famous for having the best preserved of the four remaining Magna Carta documents; a replica of this is housed between the magnificent nave and choir - the original, which we saw in the Chapter House, cannot be photographed. The Magna Carta was a Royal Charter of Rights agreed by King John and signed at Runnymede, near Windsor, in 1215 to make peace with rebel barons; it is still cited today as a statement of personal liberty.

    After the truly amazing experience of seeing an original,Magna Carta document, we exit tbe Cathedral via the cloister.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsWiltshireTraveler

    Salisbury, part 2; Water Meadows

    October 17, 2020 in England ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    We leave the town centre via the High Street Gate and enter the beautiful Cathedral Close area; Mompresson House is closed due to the pandemic and the Cathedral itself well deserves a separate post, but it is a great place to see. Ted Heath used to live in the Close at Arundells; this was also closed and both the Rifles Museum and the Salisbury Museum did not appeal after the Cathedral visit (will see next time).

    We cross over the Cathedral green, look at Bishop's Walk and proceed to Churchill Gardens on the River Avon. Then up the Harnham Road to cross the green there back to the Avon to the 16th century Old Mill, now a hotel. This marks the start of the path across the Water Meadows, with its iconic views of the Cathedral. We are reminded of the equally iconic view of King's Chapel Cambridge with cows grazing in front of it.

    It has been a busy day and we relax with excellent beer at The Haunch of Venison later. This pub has "a nationally important historic interior as the main bar, the Commons, is timber panelled and has a rare zinc topped bar" (a quote from Camra - I'm a member of the Campaign for Real Ale).    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsWiltshireTraveler

    Salisbury, part 1; Town Centre

    October 17, 2020 in England ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    We walk in via the Queen Elizabeth Gardens and turn into Fisherton Street, noting Salisbury Clock Tower, and reach the Poultry Cross; behind are some beautiful old buildings, including The Haunch of Venison pub.....

    We arrive at the large Market Place and see the Salisbury Guildhall. Close by is the lovely St Thomas Church which contains the oldest Doom painting in the UK; these show the Last Judgement and depict, amongst other things, people being sent to Hell.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsDorsetTraveler

    Kingston Lacy

    October 16, 2020 in England ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Following the "slighting" of Corfe Castle after the English Civil War, Dame Mary Bankes and family relocated to Kingston Lacy country house and estate. The original house has been extensively altered by subsequent generations of Bankes's and is now reimagined as a Venetian Palace by William John Bankes in the late 19th century. The house, together with the entire Bankes estate (including Corfe Castle and Shell Bay), was bequeathed to the National Trust in 1981.

    We visit the house and see a statue of Mary with her sword of defiance and castle keys - they were returned to her and can be seen in the Salon here. We see the incredible Spanish Room. Next, we walk in the Formal Gardens, noting the Philae Obelisk shipped back from Upper Egypt. We stroll the 3 mile Woodland Trail and finish bsck at the lovely Japanese Garden.

    The Badbury Rings are a few minutes drive away by road, but still part of the Estate; they are the site of an Iron Age Hill Fort, with its ditches and ramparts, and there is much evidence of Bronze age barrows in the area. In the Roman era, several Roman roads converged here.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsDorsetTraveler

    Lulworth Castle and Worth Matravers

    October 15, 2020 in England ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Lulworth Castle was originally a hunting lodge on the Lulworth Estate built in the style of a fortified castle, but now houses a museum: access is via the converted stables. Next to the castle is St Mary's Chapel, a Catholic church built in the style of a Greek mausoleum; this was done so that it did not look like a church - it was the first Roman Catholic church to be built in England after the Reformation.

    The Square and Compass at Worth Matravers is an incredible pub; it only has a hatch for service (no bar!) and real ale and home pressed cider is served directly from the barrels. The pub has been in the same family since 1907 and we are put in the tap room, in which "a returning Victorian labourer would find nothing out of place" (according to my recent Camra Beer magazine) - it is a correct description, this is an extraordinary place.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsThe Jurassic CoastTraveler

    4. Kimmeridge Bay to Durdle Door

    October 15, 2020 in England ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Kimmeridge Bay, aka Purbeck Marine Wildlife Preserve, is renowned for fossils and is a site of Special Scientific Interest; it is semi-circular in shape with a wave cut platform and rock pools beneath the cliffs. Clavell Tower on the overlooking Hen Cliff was built as both an observatory and a folly.

    Next up is Lulworth Cove, one of the world's finest examples of a natural cove; the nearby Stair Hole, an infant cove, shows how it may have looked many thousands of years ago. Lulworth Cove has been shaped as a result of wave diffraction through the narrow, hard Purbeck entrance into the softer clays behind it which are bordered behind by hard greensand and chalk .

    We walk on to Durdle Door, a natural limestone arch; the same rock strata as Lulworth Cove have been folded 90 degrees. Wonderful!    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsThe Jurassic CoastTraveler

    3. Dancing Ledge to Chapman's Pool

    October 14, 2020 in England ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    The walk from Dancing Ledge brings us first to Headbury Quarry, where an old cannon on the rocks is visible - it is from a ship wrecked in a storm in 1786 whilst on its way to India. Next, we pass Seacombe Cliff and reach Winspit, a disused quarry with caves that has been used as a TV setting for Blake's 7 and Dr Who. There are great views before and after Winspit; for the latter, we can see back to Anvil Point and its lighthouse.

    We reach St Aldhelm's Point, the most southerly part of the Isle of Purbeck peninsula, where is another National Coastwatch Institution look-out point. There is also a Radar Memorial and St Aldhelm's Chapel, a Norman Church rebuilt in the 19th century.

    There is a very steep descent followed by an ascent up Emmett's Hill before we enjoy a wonderful view of Chapman's Pool, a small cove below, and of Egmont Point; the Kimmeridge Ledges and Kimmeridge Bay are beyond.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsThe Jurassic CoastTraveler

    2. Swanage to Dancing Ledge

    October 13, 2020 in England ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    We proceed through Swanage to Peveril Point - a promontory where there is a National Coastwatch Institution look out point manned by volunteers - and on further to Durlston Bay, a renowned site for fossils.

    The bay borders Durlston Country Park where Durlston Castle, originally built as a folly by George Burt on Durlston Head, is now the visitor centre. Burt also commissioned the Great Globe which is made from Purbeck Stone; at 3m diameter and 40 tons in weight, it is one of the largest stone spheres in the world. A little further on are the Tilly Whim Caves, originally quarries for the valuable Purbeck Stone; the "Purbeck Beds" extend from here to St Aldhem's Head. Now closed to tourists, the caves are a sanctuary for bats. Still within the grounds of the country park, we reach Anvil Point and its lighthouse.

    Leaving the park area and a couple of miles futher on is Dancing Ledge; this is a flat area of rock at the base of a small cliff that was also used for quarrying, since ships could come right up to the sheer edge due the depth of the water. There is a lot of rock climbing going on and the views are splendid.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsThe Jurassic CoastTraveler

    1. Old Harry Rocks to Swanage

    October 12, 2020 in England ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    We walk across high chalk grassland to reach the Old Harry Rocks; these mark the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast (a UNESCO world heritage site) which starts here and finishes at Orcombe Point, near Exmouth. The rocks are chalk and the original formation used to stretch as far as the Isle of Wight, linking up with The Needles there. They are really impressive, but you do not want to get too close to the edge of the steep cliff!

    Not far from here are the pointed chalk stacks known as The Pinnacles. We walk further, crossing the end of Ballard Down at Ballard Point and the start of the Purbeck Way, to reach the steep, but stepped, descent to New Swanage. From here we see Ballard Down behind beach groynes, which help intercept water flow and sediment movement.

    We have good views of Swanage as we enter it, noting the Wellington clock tower (originally built for London Bridge) and Swanage Pier in the distance, as well as beach huts closer by.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsDorsetTraveler

    Sandbanks and Studland Bay

    October 12, 2020 in England ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    We drive to Swanage and take the bus and then chain ferry to Sandbanks, a small peninsula on the end of a spit crossing the mouth of Poole Harbour: it is famed for being one of the most expensive places in the world for real estate. We walk on the beach and circle back via Panorama Avenue - Rick Stein's restaurant is on the junction next to Caff (their spelling) and an estate agent.

    We take the chain ferry back, about a 5 minute journey, and enjoy a view of Bournemouth in the distance. We start at the beginning of the South West Coast Path - of which the Jurassic Coast Walk forms part - and enjoy walking on the beach of Studland Bay; this section is extremely popular with dog walkers and people of a certain age!

    We reach Redend Point and have an excellent view of thecOld Harry Rocks. We also see the Dragon's Teeth - apparently Studland Bay was considered an invasion point during WWII and these are anti -tank fortifications. We also go into Fort Henry, an observation bunker overlooking the bay, on the route to Handfast Point and the Old Harry Rocks.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsDorsetTraveler
    The Keep
    King John's GlorietteCorfe Castle village from the castleCorfe CommonCorfe Castle and Common viewed from KingstonSt James's Church, Kingston

    Corfe Castle

    October 11, 2020 in England ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    Corfe Castle itself was built in a strategic position between a gap in the natural chalk hills; its elevation means that they could also see Poole Harbour. Originally a Roman site, the castle was established by William the Conqueror, with the large keep added added by Henry I. It was demolished to its present state after the Engish Civil War ended in 1651.

    After visiting the castle and Corfe Castle village, we set off on a circular walk across Corfe Common, up the hill to Kingston and then back across another part of the "common land"; Kingston has a magnificent church with a disproportionate tower; the church is built from Purbeck stone and appears pink - due to algae, apparently.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsDorsetTraveler
    Custom House
    West End HouseThe GuildhallPoole Museum exhibitView of High Street from the museumEnjoying dinner with old friends from Duxford

    Poole - The Old Town

    October 10, 2020 in England ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    After lunch we follow the so-called Cockle Trail through Poole Old Town.

    We start at the Quayside and see the Custom House, a Grade II listed Georgian building now used as a restaurant. We walk up Thames Street, past many beautiful buildings and St James Church (closed), to reach the lovely West End House, built by a Newfoundland merchant. We go up Market Street to Guildhall, enjoying a new lease of life as a wedding venue. From here we double back down High Street, with its many old buildings, to Poole Museum. We see the Poole logboat, an Iron Age boat found in the harbour; the museum is extremely interesting and features local history.

    Later, we meet up with two old friends who moved to this area from Duxford six years ago. Beers and an excellent Indian dinner follow!    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsDorsetTraveler
    Fisherman's Dock
    QuaysideSea Music SculptureTwin Sails BridgeRNLI College and Training CentreRNLI Memorial Sculpture

    Poole - The Quays

    October 10, 2020 in England ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Poole is a large coastal town in Dorset, well known for its natural harbour. We arrive there on the Purbeck Breezer bus from Corfe Castle village and embark on the Rotary Club Five Quays Walk.

    We walk through Baiter Park and arrive at the interesting Fisherman's Dock on Poole Harbour before proceeding along Poole Quay - lots of nice pubs here (two were visited later in the day). We walk along Great Quay, passing the Sea Music Sculpture, and walk onto the Twin Sails Bridge; we were lucky as it opened a little later and we saw why is named so from West Quay. Lifeboat Quay is the home of the RNLI College and Trainng Centre; there is incredible architecture and a beautiful memorial honouring all lifeboats men who have lost their lives (they are all named).Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsDorsetTraveler

    Knowlton Church and Wimborne Minster

    October 9, 2020 in England ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    We have an excellent journey to Dorset and head for Knowlton Church. Why? It is a ruined Norman Church built inside a Neolithic henge monument (trenched earthworks) - together they also known as the Knowlton Circles.

    A detour from the main road takes us via some extremely pretty villages to Wimborne Minster, a beautiful market town with lovely old buildings. Not least of these is the Minster itself, a Saxon Church dedicated to St Cuthburga. There is some great stuff inside it, but unfortunately the church is closed most of the time now as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The bell tower has a soldier guading the bells....... We then visit the tourist information office and embark on a walking tour. After this, we go to the Wimborne Model Town and Gardens, which feture a 1:10 scale model of the town as it was in the 1950s. This is really interesting and there is also a model railway and dolls house exhibition - both better than they sound!

    We head to Corfe Castle, where we are renting a cottage for a week.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsRoots - where I grew upTraveler

    Crayford

    September 28, 2020 in England ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    My father was born and raised in Crayford and my grandparents continued to live there until they passed on in the late 1960s.  I used to go to Crayford a lot as a child.
     
    Crayford Social Club is a working man's club close to the Waterside and was built in 1925; my parents used to take the family there on Saturday evenings. Nearby, the Crayford and Bexleyheath Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium; we knew it as Crayford Dogs and, as children, went there on several occasions.  In 1985 it was rebuilt as part of a development project by Ladbrokes into a new greyhound track and sports stadium and renamed Crayford Stadium.  I took my father there in 2016 as a treat and the picture shows greyhounds being paraded before a race (I didn't back the winner!)

    The Penny Farthing micopub opened in 2014 in what was originally an old bicylce shop on the Waterside; it is a superb place. There is no music, mobiles are not to be used for talking and beer is served from the wood - the picture shows me and dad enjoying a pint after the greyhound racing.

    Crayford Clock Tower, a commemoration of the coronation of Edward VII, was constructed in 1902. It has a secondary purpose; it is also a sewage lift station - there are vents at the top of the tower. 
     
    Looking up the High Street, we see the Dukes Head pub on the left and the green top of the Masjid Abu Makar (the Methodist Church was converted to a mosque in 2007); at the top of the hill is the tower of St Paulinus Church.  This church is of great relevance to the family as my parents were married there and now buried there too; my father was christened there, as was I.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsRoots - where I grew upTraveler

    Walk 2 - Slade Green to Crayford

    September 28, 2020 in England ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    The walk from Slade Green to Crayford is also part of the London LOOP. We walk to of Moat Lane and turn right, enjoying the view of the Dartford Crossing, and reach another river confluence; this is for the River Darent and its tributary the River Cray – the Darent continues on to Dartford in Kent whereas we follow the Cray to Crayford in Greater London.

    We pass through another industrial area and reach Thames Road - the Jolly Farmers Pub stood at the corner, but is now gone - before crossing over to rejoin the Cray Riverway Walk (as this section is known). As we proceed through Barnes Cray, there is a lot of building development on our right; we reach Maiden Lane and cross this road to join the other side of the riverbank. Barnes Cray Road runs parallel to the river and much to my surprise we see from the bridge that some of the modest houses here have rigged up moorings for small boats at the ends of their back gardens.

    We reach Crayford and its lovely Waterside Gardens, a landscaped small park either side of the river in the centre of the town; they were refurbished in 2009 and now feature a large modern sculpture and a footbridge - the excellent Penny Farthing micropub beckons on the right hand side of the river from behind a signpost and the footbridge. On the right of this is Vintage Lindy Lou, a family run vintage tea room set in Waterside garden; it has beautiful internal decor now - a vast improvement on the building's previous life as a Crayford public convenience!    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsSussexTraveler

    South Downs National Park; Midhurst area

    September 19, 2020 in England ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    The New Lipchis Way is a walking trail that links Chichester Harbour, a large natural harbour area south west of Chichester, with Liphook, a large village in East Hamphire. It passes through the heart of the South Downs National Park, including Midhurst where we link up with it as it passes through a pretty section of the Rother Valley. We join at the weir and follow the route along the river through Woolbeding Parkland to a bridge, where we cross and follow the river north. We pass Stedham Mill and the magnificent Stedham House. We leave this trail at Iping and cross the A272 to get to Iping and Stedham Common, where we link up with the next trail.

    The Serpent Trail is appropriately named; it runs from Petersfield to Haslemere; 11 miles apart as the crow flies, yet the trail is 64 miles long! The Common is managed sandy heathland and we cross it to reach Woolmer Bridge where we pass through the Severals Woods en route to Midhurst. Next morning, we pick up the trail across Midhurst Common and then follow Pitsham Lane to Cocking Causeway. Here we see a large obelisk, which turns out to be a memorial to Richard Cobden; he was born locally and as a Victorian MP, reformer and statesman was involved with the Corn Laws. The memorial states "Free Trade, Peace, Goodwill Among Nations" - still topical. We carry on down Dunford Hollow and reach the neglected Dunford House - this was built by the same Richard Cobden and gifted by him to the YMCA Charity on condition it was used for educational purposes. It is now, controversially, up for sale..... We leave the Serpent Trail after walking along the Goldbslls Plantation and proceed back to Midhurst - this is with the New Lipchis Trail again - along the outskirts of the Cowdray Estate.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsSussexTraveler

    Midhurst

    September 19, 2020 in England ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    A random choice of a central place to stay close to the Living Museum turns out to be a stroke of good fortune. The market town of Midhurst is very much still a Tudor town; it lies on the River Rother and is an extremely interesting place to visit.

    Within a short walk of the town centre is Cowdray House; albeit in ruins, it was one of England's great Tudor houses but destroyed by an unfortunate accident in 1793. Henry VIII and his daughter Elizabeth both stayed there as monarchs.

    Carrying on with our town walk, we climb up St Anne's Hill to see the foundations of St Anne's Castle, all that remain now; the castle was originally a Norman earth and timber ringwork fortress that was converted to a stone and mortar manor house in 1160. South Pond, as it is known locally now, was originally the castle fishpond.

    Walking north into the town from the pond, we see the Anglican Church of St Mary Magdalene and St Denys.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsSussexTraveler
    Medieval period; Hangleton flint cottage, 13th century
    Tudor period; Bayleaf farmhouse, Chiddingstone, 1540Stuart period farmhouse; Pendean, Midhurst, 1609Geogian preiod; Tindall's Cottage, Ticehurst, 1725

    Weald and Downland Living Museum

    September 18, 2020 in England ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Stopping here on our journey to Midhurst, we find a large site covering 40 acres and surrounded by beautiful South Downs countryside. The Living Museum has over 50 historic buildings from South East England that were all threatened with destruction and have been dismantled, conserved and rebuilt in their historical context.

    We see houses from many periods, old stables, a working woodyard, a market square area and a craft and industries section. Not forgetting the modern Downland Gridshell, a lightweight structure made of oak laths.

    The Living Museum is also the venue for a popular BBC2 programme, "The Repair Shop", in which a team of conservators breath new life into old household treasures that viewers bring in for their consideration, comment and possible rejuvenation.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsSussexTraveler

    Chichester

    September 17, 2020 in England ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Originally an old Roman town, Chichester is now a cathedral city. The thick Roman walls have been replaced by thinner medieval walls built on their foundations.

    Formerly kown as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Chichester Cathedral was established in 1075. It has a beautiful interior and a guide pointed out the Arundel Tomb to us; this is unusual as there are two figures lying side by side - the Earl of Arundel and his second wife, Eleanor - and is commemorated in a famous Philip Larkin poem. There are also Roman mosaic remains on view in the cathedral. We explore the Bishop's Garden before walking to the city centre.

    Here, the Roman nature of the city is further confirmed by the NS and WE roads from the city gates meeting; the Chichester Cross now stands at this central point - this is where the market used to be held.

    Rejoining the city walls we reach Priory Park which houses the remains of Chichester Castle; originally built in 1154 only the motte remains today. Close to it is the Guildhall, a fine example of 13th century architecture (apparently).    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsHampshireTraveler

    Portchester Castle and Bosham

    September 17, 2020 in England ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Portchester Castle has been descibed as "a Medieval Castle within a Roman Fort". It was originally built by the Romans as one of the "Forts of the Saxon Shore" in the late 3rd century to defend against Saxon pirates. The first picture shows the castle as viewed from our Portsmouth Harbour tour (it became an important port due to its location at the head of the harbour) and the second shows Helen and part of the Roman Walls (which are still almost completely intact). Portchester was developed as a castle in the 13th century, with a keep and an Inner Bailey (courtyard) in one corner, and used as a prison in the 17th and 19rh centuries, during the Anglo Dutch war and the Spanish Succession, respectively. The rest of the enclosure now has a small, local church and lots of open space within the walls.

    We travel on to Chichester in West Sussex via Bosham, a beautiful coastal village on an inlet which forms part of the Chichester Harbour area. We see the Holy Trinity Church and walk round the small harbour - stunning.    Read more

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