Waverly Abbey was the first Cistercian abbey in England founded in 1128. Unfortunately, being built on a flood plain, it was flooded more than once, leaving the inhabitants at the mercy of poverty and famine. The ruins are sparse but give the impression of how impressive the abbey would have looked in its day. There's a... Continue Reading →
Chances are if asked to imagine a castle, you'd think of something like Arundel Castle. Towering above the small historic town it gets its name from, the castle has it all - towers, slit windows, a portcullis, moat, ginormous walls. It's the kind of castle where it's easy to imagine medieval knights and ladies. But... Continue Reading →
Places to go (when we can go places) I'm digging out and sprucing up blog posts to bring fantastically inspiring places to all you writers out there. Stay safe.#4 St Micheal's Mount, Cornwall Just off the coast of Marazion, Cornwall, is a tiny island called St Micheal's Mount. When the tide is low, you can... Continue Reading →
If you're looking for a top class castle ruin, look no further than the dramatic Corfe Castle. Perched above the small town of Corfe in Dorset, it's a popular tourist destination (if you plan to visit, be aware that it will get busy), managed by the National Trust. And as the post title alludes to,... Continue Reading →
November 1943. WWII raged across Europe. In the small village of Tyneham, Dorset, the 225 residents were told they had 28 days to leave their homes. The army was commandeering the area for military use. The inhabitants left their homes believing they would be able to return once the war was over. But they never... Continue Reading →
In a quiet corner of a typical English churchyard, lies a man who was definitely not typical. In fact, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, would probably have a few things to say about being buried here at all. All Saints Church in Minstead is a quirky building, added to over the years... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
I've never read any of Christie's books but I'm very aware of her contribution to literature. Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot are legendary characters. I'm especially familiar with the latter thanks to David Suchet's portrayal of him in the TV series my mother loved to watch. Despite her huge success, Agatha Christie is buried in... Continue Reading →
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