Write down the rabbit hole…
If there one period of history I love most it's got to be ancient history. The pre-history of the UK holds a special fascination and seeing as I live here, it's easier for me to visit what remains of it. Chysauster Ancient Village near Penzance in Cornwall, is an Iron Age settlement consisting of a… Continue reading Follow the ancestors – Chysauster Ancient Village
St. Ives is a beautiful town on the North coast of Cornwall.. For years it's been the home of many artists. In fact, in 1993 The Tate created "The Tate, St. Ives" overlooking one of its amazing beaches. And as with many of the places in this part of the UK, it can be very… Continue reading An Oasis of Creativity – The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden
If you're not familiar with BBC series "Poldark" let me sum it up - set in Cornwall in the eighteenth century, it focuses on Ross Poldark, played by Aidan Turner, who's trying to make his fortunes by mining copper, and has a penchant for scything things with his top off. Ok, so there's actually far… Continue reading A Visit to Poldark Country – Cornwall, UK
If you're a regular reader, you'll know I'm rather interested in history and cemeteries. So the 'Roman Dead' exhibition at 'The Museum of London Docklands' was definitely worth a visit. And as an added bonus it was free. The exhibition showcases finds from excavations around London, with the focus being on a stunning sarcophagus… Continue reading Notebook Collection: Roman Dead – The Museum of London Docklands
Brookwood Cemetery is the UK's largest graveyard. It was built in 1854 and covers around 400 acres. In Victorian times trains carried the dead, divided by class, from the London Necropolis Station to this quiet, leafy town. I've wanted to visit Brookwood ever since reading 'Necropolis: London and its Dead' by Catharine Arnold. I've passed it… Continue reading Brookwood Cemetery – A Final Resting Place in the Woods
HMS Victory was the flagship of Lord Nelson, Vice Admiral of the British Navy. At Trafalgar, he and his ship won the day, but Nelson lost his life. Today Victory sits at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard where she's been carefully preserved providing a fantastic porthole into Navy life. I've been to Victory a number of times,… Continue reading Notebook Collection: Cast off! HMS Victory
It's always nice to find an unexpected treat. At 'Velvet Rose' in Whitchurch, we discovered a whole shop full of them. If you love quirky, vintage jewellery, scarves, skirts, gloves and much more, this is the place for you. And as if it was meant to be, I'm now the proud owner of this gorgeous… Continue reading Jewellery for Bookworms
I wanted to share a few photos of this exhibition, currently on in the Weston Library, but photography isn't allowed. That's understandable so instead please enjoy these photos of the notebook and badges I bought at the library shop. The exhibition itself isn't big but it's free and packed with artifacts from Tolkiens life and… Continue reading Notebook collection: Tolkien – Maker of Middle Earth
There are some places you never think you'll see the inside of and a modern-day prison is certainly one of them. Dana Prison in Shrewsbury, which closed in 2013, offers visitors a rare glimpse behind bars. Originally opened in 1793, the current main building dates from 1877. It was stripped of most of its fixtures… Continue reading Unlocking the Secrets of Dana Prison, Shrewsbury
Underneath Barcelona lies an ancient Roman world. After you enter the Museu d'Historia de Barcelona, you're at first confronted with standard exhibits. But then you enter a lift and go down, down, down back in time to when Romans walked the streets. Over 4000 m2 of beautifully preserved streets, factories and shops lie under metal… Continue reading Roman riches – Placa del Rei, Museu d’Historia de Barcelona
