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  • TravelerNorfolk
    2

    Castle Acre; Town, Castle and Priory

    April 14 in England ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    We're staying in Old Hunstanton in North Norfolk for a week and stop off at Castle Acre on the way here.

    Castle Acre is a rare and complete survival of a planned Norman settlement; it includes a castle, town, parish church, and associated monastery. It is situated on Peddar's Way, a trade and pilgrim route. There is a 12th century Bailey Gate as you enter the main street

    The Castle was founded as a country house after the Norman Conquest by William de Warenne, a Norman Knight who fought at Hastings. It was converted to a strong keep in the 12th century.

    From the Castle, we walk up to the Church of St James the Great; this has Norman origins but was restored in the 14th and 19th centuries - it is very large, reflecting how busy the town was then.

    Castle Acre Priory is one of the best preserved Monastic sites in England. It was founded around 1090 by the son of William de Warenne and was inspired by the monastery at Clunes, France. We enter via a 15th century gatehouse; the Priory has a spectacular west frontage, with access to the 12th century Priory Church. We follow the route via the nave, cloister, and chapter house to the Prior's lodging, chamber, and chapel (dating from the Tudor times).

    A spectacular start to our week away.    Read more

  • TravelerHertfordshire

    Reed, Buckland, Anstey, and Nuthampstead

    April 10 in England ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    This post describes a 12 mile circular walk from Reed done with the Cambridge Rambling Club, combined with a follow-up trip by car to visit the churches properly.

    Reed is a small, pretty village in North Hertfordshire and is situated on a chalk ridge approximately 3 miles south of Royston.  We walk around the village green, past the old chapel (used as the local school for many years before becoming a private residence) and down to St Mary's Church; this had a new organ installed at a cost of £170,000! We then walk north for a while to the main footpath and past Reed Wood on the route to Buckland (another small village).  Then it is east and over towards Anstey, passing Anstey chalk pit.  The church here, St George's, is cruciform in shape and noted for its stained glass windows in memory of the USAAF 398th Bombardment Group who lost their lives in combat in WWII - they flew from the nearby former air station at Nuthampstead.  This is a short distance away, and we walk up along one of the runways of what was USAAF Station 131 during the war; the airfield was constructed by the U.S. Army engineer battalions starting in 1942.  We pass the Barkway DVOR (Doppler Very high frequency Omnidirectional Range Station), an aeroplane navigation aid that is in active use.  There is another monument to the USAAF 398th outside the Nuthampstead Airfield Museum, but this is unfortunately closed.  

    After a break - we have walked over 8 miles so far - it is back to Barkway via a footpath along the Cokenach Estate and then back to Reed.  Another great day out in a local area not that far from Duxford.    Read more

  • TravelerCambridgeshire; East District

    Six Mile Bottom and Burrough Green

    April 3 in England ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    This post describes a 12-mile walk with the Cambridge Rambling Club.  

    Six Mile Bottom is a hamlet within the parish of Little Wilbraham, near Cambridge; it is 6 miles from Newmarket and located in a "valley."  There are few houses here and a small church, but the A1304 main road runs through it and it is on the Cambridge to Ipswich railway line; the station here was closed in 1967, however, and is now a private residence.

    We circle round the back of Six Mile Bottom and cross open countryside towards Weston Colville; we then join the Icknield Way Trail and head through Brinkley towards Burrough Green - this is a small parish in Cambridgeshire, close to the Suffolk border, and also 6 miles from Newmarket.  There is a lovely village green here, a pub and the parish church of Church of St Augustine (a Grade II listed building dating from the 13th century); nearby the church is the Old Hall, a manor house which is now a farm.  Also of note is the primary school, which has been operating for over 400 years and the Reading Room dating from 1887.

    We then walk to Westley Waterless; this is a small, long, and thin village that is featured in the Domesday Book.  The recently restored Parish Church of St Mary-the-Less is known for its 1324 brass monument to Sir John de Creke and his wife, Alyne (Anne) Clopton.

    It has been a really interesting walk.    Read more

  • TravelerCambridgeshire; South District

    Cambourne and neighbouring villages

    March 20 in England ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Cambourne is the largest town within the South Cambridgeshire district, comprising the villages of Lower, Great, Upper, and West Cambourne.  It is a new town, and construction began in June 1998 on what was previously the land of Monkfield Farm, with Upper Cambourne completed in 2016. In January 2017, outline planning consent was granted for a further 2,350 homes to the west of Lower Cambourne.  The name of the community was created from the names of Cambridge, the nearest city, and Bourn, a nearby village; the local area is interesting, with some good walks - this post is a compilation from two of them.

    We start off from Cambourne, up to the local nature reserve and pass by couple of small lakes (see picture captions) enroute towards Bourn, but not into the village itself; we visit the local landmark that is Bourn Mill, which dates from 1636 and has been recently restored (thanks to the Cambridge Past, Present and Future organisation).  Another nearby village is Eltisley, which has a large village green and an interesting church with a lychgate (a covered gateway found at the entrance to a traditional English or English-style churchyard).  We then walk to Cambourne via the village of Caxton; note that Caxton Gibbet (now a replica of the original) is a long way outside of Caxton itself, on small knoll on Ermine Street (now the A1198) - the original was reputed to be a gruesome example of the cage variation of the gibbet, into which live victims were allegedly placed until they died from starvation, dehydration or exposure!

    It has been an interesting couple of walks, and there is more to the Cambourne area than I originally thought.    Read more

  • TravelerNorfolk
    1

    Blickling Hall, Gardens, and Estate

    February 27 in England ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    After a visit to Cromer yesterday, as part of a circular walk from the hotel, we are now on our way home and visit Blickling Hall en-route (this is also a National Trust property).

    Blickling Hall is a Jacobean stately home built on the ruins of a Tudor house; this is believed to have been the birthplace of Anne Boleyn, one of the future six wives of King Henry VIII.  During the Second World War, RAF air crew were billeted here while its owner, Lord Lothian, influenced Winston Churchill’s actions; the Hall was the Officer's mess, whereas service men where in Nissen huts. Blickling Hall is very large and really beautiful, a jewel in the NT crown; we are able to walk round parts of the ground and first floors (see captions on photos) - the Long Gallery, now the library, has 12,500 books and is the largest book collection cared for by the NT.  

    We visit the Gardens - seeing the parterre garden, the Doric Temple and the Orangery - before setting off on an Estate Walk (excellent maps are provided by the NT).  We walk up past the lake behind Blickling Hall and across to the Great Wood, seeing The Mausoleum; this large pyramid was built in 1794 for John Hobart, the second Earl of Buckinghamshire.  Then it's across to The Tower; this was built in the 18th century as a grandstand for the steeplechase racecourse that occupied what is now Tower Park (now a grazing area).  Then it is through Plantation Wood and via Pond Meadow to Blickling to pass the Church of St Andrew on our way back to Blickling Hall. It has been another excellent walk; this is followed by a quick lunch and the journey back home to reality!    Read more

  • TravelerNorfolk

    Felbrigg Hall, Gardens and Estate

    February 25 in England ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C

    We're off to Cromer in Norfolk for a couple of nights and stop off at Felbrigg Hall en-route (to make full use of our National Trust Membership!).

    Felbrigg Hall is a 17th-century English country house noted for its Jacobean architecture and fine Georgian interior.  We visit the house interior (see captions on photos); it is very attractive and interesting.  We look round the Walled Garden (not the ideal time of year to do so, unfortunately) and then head off from the Hall on a circular walk via the Estate (seeing St Margaret's Church and Felbrigg Lake) and through the nearby villages of Metton and Sustead; it is 6.2 miles and a good walk.

    After that, it's off the Cromer Country Club, where I enjoy a swim, hot jacuzzi, steam room, and sauna before dinner!  A good day.    Read more

  • TravelerHertfordshire

    Ashwell, Hinxworth, and Caldecote

    February 21 in England ⋅ 🌧 9 °C

    This walk was done with the Cambridge Rambling Club, taking in 3 villages off the beaten track on the border of Hertfordshire with Cambridgeshire.

    Ashwell is 4 miles north-east of Baldock; it is a pretty town that I explore over the lunch break, with some of the sites being seen on the walk back.  It is well preserved, with many listed and other buildings of note (see captions on photographs); these include a the 16th-century town house (now a local museum) and the Maltings (now converted into flats).  Ashwell Bury, a large Victorian house, was remodelled by Edwin Lutyens in the 1920s; Lutyens also designed the Grade 2 listed Ashwell War Memorial, unveiled in 1922.  

    The village is noted for Ashwell Springs, a site of Special Scientific Interest; the site consists of a series of freshwater springs, which form the start of the river Rhee, one of the main sources of the River Cam.
    The Cam flows through the centre of Cambridge, then to Ely, where it joins the Great Ouse and eventually reaches the Wash 65 miles away.

    We leave Ashwell via the Church and follow footpaths, including part of the 12th century Ridgeway, to Hinxworth; we stop at the Church of St Nicholas and pass the home of John W Mills, a British Sculptor.  We continue on to Caldecote; this tiny village consists of a cluster of cottages around the redundant Church of St. Mary Magdalene, which dates from the 14th and 15th centuries and is currently in the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches charity.  From here, we walk back to Ashwell via Newnham Hill; it has been an enjoyable 7.1 mile walk (although the conditions were rather muddy).    Read more

  • TravelerCambridge University Colleges

    3; King's College

    February 17 in England ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    The King's College of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge, known as simply King's College, was founded in 1441 by King Henry VI soon after he had founded its sister institution at Eton College.  King's College Chapel is regarded as one of the finest examples of late English Gothic architecture and has the world's largest fan vault ceiling, while its stained-glass windows and wooden chancel screen are considered some of the finest from their era; the building is an emblem of Cambridge.

    We enter via the Gate House along King's Parade and face the magnificent Front Court with the Chapel on our right, Gibb's Building (used for teaching, study and admin) straight ahead and the Wilkin's Building (used for dining) on our left; in the centre of the Front Court is the Fountain with a statue of Henry VI, the "boy-king", on it - he was born in 1421, the only child of Henry V, and succeeded to the English throne at the age of nine months upon his father's death!  We enter the chapel and see the dark screen from the ante-chapel area, before passing through this to the magnificent choir area with its many stalls; ahead of us is the Great East Window and the Rubens painting "The Adoration of the Magi", a gift to King's College in 1961.  We visit the Chapel of All Souls and St Edward's Chapel before passing an exhibition housed in various side chapels.  

    We exit the chapel and walk around the Back Lawn to the bridge over the River Cam; just after this is the Xu Zhimo memorial stone and Chinese Garden built in his memory. He was a student here in 1922 and his poem “Second Farewell to Cambridge” has become emblematic of modernist Chinese poetry - it has been learnt by millions of schoolchildren in China. Chinese tourists have flocked to Cambridge ever since in search of the scenes that so inspired him. 

    We exit via the backs; what a day!    Read more

  • TravelerCambridge University Colleges

    2; Trinity College

    February 17 in England ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Trinity College was founded by King Henry VIII in 1546, by merging the existing colleges of Michaelhouse and King’s Hall; Michaelhouse had existed since 1324, whereas King’s Hall had been established by Edward II in 1317 and re-founded by Edward III in 1337.  Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any college at either Cambridge or Oxford.

    We enter via The Great Gate, the main entrance to the college; a statue of the college founder, Henry VIII, stands in a niche above the doorway.  We cross the Great Court, and from the far side, we have a great overview of the Clock Tower, Trinity Chapel, the Fountain, and the rear of The Great Gate.  We enter the chapel via the clock tower and see the fine statues of notable Trinity College alumni in the ante-chapel; the chapel itself is magnificent with a fine organ and stained glass windows.

    From here, we leave to visit King's College.    Read more

  • TravelerCambridge University Colleges
    1

    1; St John's College

    February 17 in England ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    We are out with our daughter Sarah today; as an employee of one of the Colleges, we can visit them with her - even if they are not open for visitors.  First of all, we visit St John's College; St John’s is one of 31 colleges at the University of Cambridge and was founded in 1511 - it is one of the largest colleges here.  Although self-governing, colleges are all part of the university.  

    St John's entrance is via the Great Gate (1516) and features a carving of the coat of arms of the Foundress, Lady Margaret Beaufort, supported by mythical beasts called yales; above is a statue of St. John the Evangelist and at his feet is an eagle, the traditional symbol of the Saint. From here we cross the First Court and visit St John's Chapel before crossing the Second Court to have a quick lunch at the College cafe; from here we cross the Third Court and pass over the Bridge of Sighs.  Named for the famous Venice landmark, this 1831 covered arch bridge connects College buildings on the other side of the River Cam, on the Backs; the bridge is a famous Cambridge landmark, usually only visible from a punt.  We see The New Court at St. John’s College,  a significant building built in response to increased demand for housing inside the college during the 1820s; it has a Gothic Revival design.

    From here, we leave St John's on our way to visit Trinity College, the next college along.    Read more

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