Tag: history

Exploring Wharram Percy – Yorkshire’s village of the living dead

Wharram Percy is a long abandoned village in the beautiful Yorkshire Wolds. A few years ago scientists discovered a grisly past …

I’d never heard of Wharram Percy. At least not until I spotted a guide book for it in the English Heritage shop at Pickering Castle. A quick flick through – abandoned village, not too far away, a steep sometimes slippery track to get to it (so best visited on a dry sunny day like today), zombies – and I was sold. I was with the friend I’d visited the abandoned village of Tyneham with at Easter and he didn’t take much convincing to change our afternoon plans and head to Wharram Percy instead.

(And yes, I did say zombies, it wasn’t a typo)

Continue reading “Exploring Wharram Percy – Yorkshire’s village of the living dead”

The Hardy Tree in Old St Pancras Burial Ground

Just behind St Pancras Station there’s an old burial ground with lots of history and lots of literary connections. And a very macabre tree.

I’m off to Dorset at Easter. Mainly for a conference but, as it’s a beautiful part of the country and as I’m off work, it would be a wasted opportunity if I didn’t tag on a few days’ holiday.

Thinking of Dorset has made me think of Thomas Hardy.

Continue reading “The Hardy Tree in Old St Pancras Burial Ground”

Exploring the National Museum of Scotland

From Bonnie Prince Charlie’s cutlery to Dolly the sheep and from Lewis Chessmen to the St Ninian’s hoard, here are 9 reasons why exploring the National Museum of Scotland should be part of your Scotland itinerary.

The National Museum of Scotland might not be high on your list of must-sees when you visit Edinburgh, but you really should try to find the time to squeeze a visit in.

Here are 9 reasons why you should explore the National Museum of Scotland.

Continue reading “Exploring the National Museum of Scotland”

Exploring Mey – Scotland’s Homeliest Castle

The Queen Mother turned a derelict castle on the far north coast of Scotland into a beautiful home. I went to explore and found a place I never wanted to leave.

Who doesn’t love exploring an old castle? Whether it’s clambering around ruins or wandering through stately rooms decked out for the 1800s there’s just something about a castle that will pique most people’s interest.

The best kind of castle though, at least to me, is one I really could imagine living in. And to help facilitate my imagination it’s best if the castle actually looks like a home I’d want to live in; the sort where I really have to restrain myself from pulling a book off the shelves, flopping on the sofa, putting my feet up and pouring myself a coffee from the silver pot (there’s always a silver pot).

The Castle of Mey is just such a castle.

Continue reading “Exploring Mey – Scotland’s Homeliest Castle”

A Tale of Two Castles

Did you know that Shetland used to be part of Norway? And that a lot of the Norse ways survived even after the islands became Scottish? Visiting the two castles is a good way of learning about the history of Shetland during the time of the Earls. This tale of two castles gives a brief outline of the history and helps you to plan your visit to the castles.

Shetland has two castles both of which date back to the time when the Isles were ruled by Earls. Even though both castles are in ruins, there’s enough left of each one to make them fun to explore.

I’ve been to them both several times now and each time I go back I feel surprised by how much of them there is left once you get inside. With both castles, but especially Scalloway Castle, I always get the feeling that they’re bigger on the inside. Now where have I heard that before? Continue reading “A Tale of Two Castles”

A Castle Themed Road Trip

My recent road trip took me down the A49 and into Wales. I saw a lot of castles.

Look at a map showing the route the A49 takes through the county of Shropshire and you’ll spot a whole lot of castle symbols. The county is absolutely packed to the brim with castles.

The Shropshire tourism website claims the county has 32 castles plus 25 hillforts and quite a few abbeys and monasteries. Continue reading “A Castle Themed Road Trip”

Fusilier Museum, Bury

You don’t have to be a military history buff to be fascinated by the many stories told in this museum.

I’m not particularly into military history which was a bit of a problem when I was given a unit of local history to teach. The unit  included lessons on the Lancashire Fusiliers which I was expected to plan myself. Fortunately Bury is home to the Lancashire Fusilier Museum so I took myself along one Saturday to do a bit of research and recce it for a potential class trip. Continue reading “Fusilier Museum, Bury”

Kensington Palace

A Christmas trip to Kensington Palace involved music, gambling and an early version of a ‘Shewee’.

Over the Christmas break I took my ten old niece on her first ever trip to London. As a princess obsessive, when I suggested a visit to Kensington Palace, London home of Will and Kate, she jumped at the chance. Continue reading “Kensington Palace”

The Heights of Abraham at Matlock

The only time I’ve travelled by cable car to visit a cave.

I’ve visited Matlock in the south of England’s Peak District several times, but always stayed at the bottom of the gorge wandering round the shops and walking along the river.

When a friend and her seven year old son visited for the weekend, we decided to take a trip in the cable car up to the Heights of Abraham at the top of the gorge. Continue reading “The Heights of Abraham at Matlock”

Friday Flickr – Outer Hebrides: Mingulay

An abandoned island lying to the south of the Outer Hebrides is the theme for this week’s Friday Flickr.

I visited Mingulay as as day trip from Barra.

Mingulay was the southern most inhabited island in the Outer Hebrides until 1912 when it was finally abandoned, its remaining population unable to sustain their lives there any longer. Continue reading “Friday Flickr – Outer Hebrides: Mingulay”