Return to Europe (in style)

[TheRealTMA]

Avebury isn't far from Great Bedwyn, and on the way to Wells, so I dropped by. Haven't been here in 20 years.

There is a Neolithic henge (ditch and embankment) at Avebury and the largest stone circle in GB (abt 100), with 2 smaller circles within it.

West Kennett Avenue was originally a row of 100 pairs of stones

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And the circles and henge at Avebury village. Constructed between 2850 BC to about 2200 BC

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Favourite place! Did you go to the Red Lion pub and recreate the Spinal Tap experience?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Some more of Avebury

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Shows the henge very well - the ditch was originally much deeper and steeper.

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My family tree?

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Nearby Silbury Hill . From English Heritage:



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Atkinson's discovery of winged ants led him to propose that Silbury Hill was built at the beginning of August!

 

[RooFlyer]

Folks, will be putting this TR in abeyance for a while. Something's cropped up - I'm OK but no correspondence, please.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Folks, will be putting this TR in abeyance for a while. Something's cropped up - I'm OK but no correspondence, please.

Hope that's not the result of drinking Kanga Rouge on the BA flights?

 

[Cossie]

Hope that's not the result of drinking Kanga Rouge on the BA flights?

If so, I hope it wasn’t the same as this. I had some in Sweden a few years ago, it gave me the worst alcohol induced headache that I have had for years, actually decades!

AUSSIE Kangarouge Shiraz

Ungdomlig, fruktig smak med inslag av björnbär, körsbär och sötlakrits.

www.systembolaget.se

Back on topic, hope things are ok, I have been enjoying your tr.

 

[Drakecula]

Then there is the Morley Library, donated by George Morley, Bishop of Winchester in the late 1600s; original shelves from 1600s too. Again, Wikipedia pic; pretty yummy, eh, @Drakecula ?

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So atmospheric! I bet it smells really good too. (That's not weird, right?)

 

[OATEK]

<SNIP>
And, just what I was hoping for - lardy cake!! Wikipedia: A traditional English tea bread popular in country areas in England. It is made from plain bread dough which is enriched with sticky sweet lard and sugar and as well as dried fruit and mixed spices.

Just yum. We had a piece each with tea and I was sent away with the rest.

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We always make a point of visiting the Huffkins cafe and bakery in Burford when in the area (as we were mid-April), for their Lardy cake.

 

[Flashback]

We always make a point of visiting the Huffkins cafe and bakery in Burford when in the area (as we were mid-April), for their Lardy cake.

I have never heard of this before. I must try it out.

 

[RooFlyer]

Not sure if detail is necessary but in short, I had to rush home for my best friend who had a heart attack; I just made it in time. Will continue as I need the distraction ...

From Lichfield, I drove to Manchester, to visit an old Uni mate and his (English) family and to watch the Coronation.

The local area was decked out.




We had a jolly old time, including afternoon tea at a neighbours. No street party (they live on a main road ...)









Actually the neighbour had a very good supply of decent French reds ... it ended up quite a nice evening!!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Rooey so sorry to hear your sad news - that is the bummer of our lives in the second half where we should be enjoying every second and yet these dreadful events rear their heads and kill the moments / experiences. Keep your head up mate exactly like that cobber of yours would be telling you

 

[RooFlyer]

I left Manchester and drove to Durham



... for the Durham Cathedral





In 875, monks from the monastery of Lindisfarne at Holy Island, to the NE, fled under possible attack by Vikings. They took with them the body of St Cuthbert (lived in the 600s), previously at the centre of the Lindisfarne place or worship and said to be the creator of many miracles. After a year of wandering with Cuthbert's remains, they settled at Durham and established a new religious centre there. St Cuthbert was a major attraction for pilgrims, within a succession of churches.

The present cathedral was built over a 40 year period from 1093 on the direction of William the Conqueror, along with the adjacent castle , as a signal of domination of the local Anglo Saxons, and also possible Scots intruders. The Bishop was granted extraordinary powers by the King - ability to levy taxes, mint his own money and raise his own army. The Bishop was formally known as "Prince-Bishop".

The pilgrims kept coming and the cathedral became a huge cash (and valuable in-kind) cow. This only came to an end when Henry VIII's reformation dissolved the monasteries and the cash was directed his way.

The knocker on the church door, used by anyone seeking sanctuary (such as any felon!) for 37 days.



St Cuthbert's remains are behind the altar; at the other end of the nave is the tomb of the 'Venerable Bede'. Bede was a monk from Northumbria and one of the greatest scholars of the Medieval period (700s).



The 'Neville' rood screen, of French stone, missing over 100 statues which were removed to save them from the ravages of Henry VIII's troops. Still missing.



The shrine of St Cuthbert. It was destroyed by H8's troops, but the saint's body was found to be still fresh and intact, so was left alone; it was exhumed and re-interred here.



Overhead (I've turned the image)

 

[RooFlyer]

The cathedral since 1986 has had UNESCO World Heritage status, oddly, you would think, one of the earliest sites in Britain to have it.

The rose window from the 15th century





View up the central tower. The ribbed vaulting is some of the earliest in Europe, as was the use of pointed (as opposed to rounded) arches, which allowed a higher structure for the amount of column support.







Great West Window depicting the Tree of Jesse, from the 1860s.



Astronomical clock from the late 15th century. After the Battle of Dunbar in 1650, Oliver Cromwell placed several thousand prisoners in the building, under terrible conditions. They used must of the available wood for fires, but left the clock, possibly, its said, because of the thistle at its top.



Cloisters. Some of Harry Potter films were done here. Harry Potter Filming Locations at Durham Cathedral - Durham Cathedral

 

[RooFlyer]

My visit was cut short, and mate from Manchester's son is at Durham Uni and ensconced in the nearby Durham Castle, now used as student accommodation. He's studying for exams (Russian and Italian language and literature!) but during a break phoned me to give me a tour of the castle, usually off limits to the public.

Side of Palace Green, between the cathedral and the Castle





Entrance gate to the castle



... while on the other side, you can see the influence of the students ...




Stories of students running amok after hours here ...





The refectory, formerly or still the Great Hall of the castle.

 

[ellen10]

So sorry to hear about your best mate , fortunately you get to see him. Take care

 

[RooFlyer]

Took friend's son to a cafe and then hit the road again for the night's digs - the Tankerville Arms at the village of Eglington. Chose this from booking.com as a decent-looking place within reach of Holy Island and Lindisfarne monastery, a little to the NE on the coast, which I was to visit early the next morning.





The room was pretty typical of the old pubs - narrow, steep stairs and creaking floors. Comfortable enough.







I needed a walk, so up the road was St Maurice's church and churchyard. It was a lovely peaceful evening, with birds warbling etc. I love churchyards, having spent much time in them on family history! The church tower is from the 13th century.



I was intrigued by these headstones. Never seen that style before. Must investigate further.

 

[RooFlyer]

Dinner in the pub. Few beers first





Dinner, not lunch





Mushrooms on toast



Roast pork and crackling - and the biggest Yorkshire pud I've ever seen!! Very much, too much.



Brekkie the next morning was very good. They accommodated me at 8am Vs regular 9am breakfast.

 

[RooFlyer]

Next day - it poured!! Nevertheless, I headed up for Holy Island hoping there would be breaks in the rain.

Nope. To get to Holy Island you have to cross (and get back) at low tide across a causeway. I had perfect timing, but it just kept raining and blowing.





At least I wasn't walking, like many folk I passed on the road. Absolutely barmy (or devout).



I got to the car-park and waited a while then bailed as it wasn't going to stop raining. I was also going to look at a few villages in the area, as a chap I'm researching came from here, but I knew I'd have to come back, and gave them away too. Just down the road was Bamburgh Castle. Wikipedia:

The site was originally the location of a Celtic Brittonic fort known as Din Guarie and may have been the capital of the kingdom of Bernicia from its foundation in c. 420 to 547. In that latter year, it was captured by King Ida of Bernicia. After passing between the Britons and the Anglo-Saxons three times, the fort came under Anglo-Saxon control in 590. The fort was destroyed by Vikings in 993, and the Normans later built a new castle on the site, which forms the core of the present one. After a revolt in 1095 supported by the castle's owner, it became the property of the English monarch.

In the 17th century, financial difficulties led to the castle deteriorating, but it was restored by various owners during the 18th and 19th centuries. It was finally bought by the Victorian era industrialist William Armstrong, who completed its restoration. The castle still belongs to the Armstrong family and is open to the public.

Just as I reached the car-park and took this pic, another squall hit and that was it for me.







Off to York Plans to look at Thirsk and Whitby also given up. Complete day wiped out.

 

[VPS]

Took friend's son to a cafe and then hit the road again for the night's digs - the Tankerville Arms at the village of Eglington. Chose this from booking.com as a decent-looking place within reach of Holy Island and Lindisfarne monastery, a little to the NE on the coast, which I was to visit early the next morning.

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The room was pretty typical of the old pubs - narrow, steep stairs and creaking floors. Comfortable enough.

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I needed a walk, so up the road was St Maurice's church and churchyard. It was a lovely peaceful evening, with birds warbling etc. I love churchyards, having spent much time in them on family history! The church tower is from the 13th century.

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I was intrigued by these headstones. Never seen that style before. Must investigate further.

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Interesting gravestones - I've visited a lot of churchyards and not seen any like that. I'd be interested in what you find out in your research.

Take care

 

[RooFlyer]

At York, I had booked the Doubletree York, as it was close to York Minster. Although I'm Diamond with Hilton, its via Virgin Plat I think so I'm not really au fait with the standards of the categories, although I've stayed at DT Flinders St in Melbourne and like it.

The wet and cold weather didn't help, but I didn't like this one at all. Bizarrely, they had the double front doors propped open and the lobby was freezing and ... bare ...



Checked in with the guy having a very thick accent (OK then ... I'm the one with the thick accent!!) and I honestly couldn't understand him.

Only an upgrade to a family room given as Diamond amenity - and, I thought, parking on site. This was not the case - I was charged 20 pounds (!!! ) at check-out. When I questioned, told it's never given as an amenity and the cost is on the web site (it is).

I declined the upgrade (again) as it was on the main road. I just wanted a quiet room, and this one certainly was.







Very basic room which others have said in the Hilton Elite thread is pretty normal for DT. The view, which I didn't mind - it made it quiet.



Overall the place was tatty and uninviting. I'd never stay here again.





As I was early into York, I went to the Minster. They make you buy tickets in 30 minute entry blocks. I bought mine for opening tomorrow, 9:30am. I went up to the guy managing the entry queue and asked if I could enter now, using my ticket for tomorrow. Answer: no - but I could buy a ticket if I wanted to go in now. SO no capacity constraint - just, I dunno ... stuffed?

So I went for a walk. Out the front of the Minster, a new statue of QEII, which was in theme of the recent coronation



And coronation decorations still everywhere

 

[boomy]

At York, I had booked the Doubletree York, as it was close to York Minster. Although I'm Diamond with Hilton, its via Virgin Plat I think so I'm not really au fait with the standards of the categories, although I've stayed at DT Flinders St in Melbourne and like it.

The wet and cold weather didn't help, but I didn't like this one at all. Bizarrely, they had the double front doors propped open and the lobby was freezing and ... bare ...

View attachment 328833

Checked in with the guy having a very thick accent (OK then ... I'm the one with the thick accent!!) and I honestly couldn't understand him.

Only an upgrade to a family room given as Diamond amenity - and, I thought, parking on site. This was not the case - I was charged 20 pounds (!!! ) at check-out. When I questioned, told it's never given as an amenity and the cost is on the web site (it is).

I declined the upgrade (again) as it was on the main road. I just wanted a quiet room, and this one certainly was.

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Very basic room which others have said in the Hilton Elite thread is pretty normal for DT. The view, which I didn't mind - it made it quiet.

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Overall the place was tatty and uninviting. I'd never stay here again.

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As I was early into York, I went to the Minster. They make you buy tickets in 30 minute entry blocks. I bought mine for opening tomorrow, 9:30am. I went up to the guy managing the entry queue and asked if I could enter now, using my ticket for tomorrow. Answer: no - but I could buy a ticket if I wanted to go in now. SO no capacity constraint - just, I dunno ... stuffed?

So I went for a walk. Out the front of the Minster, a new statue of QEII, which was in theme of the recent coronation

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And coronation decorations still everywhere

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Oh no I booked my parents into that hotel in July.
Better go and change for the proper Hilton York which will hopefully be better (as it’s far more expensive).