|
|
|
|
St Matthews Church, Pacific Palisades, CA Winchester
The historic city of
Winchester has been welcoming groups for centuries, ever since the first
pilgrims visited the shrine of St Wwithun. Already an important town in
Roman times, it became the capital under the Anglo Saxons, and in Alfreds time
871-901 was a great centre of learning. William the Conqueror kept
Winchester as his capital and as late as the 17th Century Charles II planned a
palace here. The city is rich in important buildings, one such building is
the Great Hall, completed in 1235 it is a magnificent example of 13th Century
domestic architecture. It is now an Assize Court. Sir Walter Raleigh was
condemned to death here in 1603 and on the wall hangs what is called King
Arthurs Round Table, marked out and inscribed for his knights. However one
building stands out above all others, the cathedral. Winchester Cathedral
The
building was started in 1079 and consecrated in 1093. Work from this
period can still be seen in the crypt, transepts and east part of the cloister.
Between 1189 and 1204 the lady chapel was built and the choir extended. It
is the longest Medieval Cathedral in Europe (556ft) in 1110 the central tower
collapsed and was rebuilt with the supporting piers greatly strengthened (they
are now 20ft in width). Among its treasures is the Great Winchester Bible dating
back to the 12th Century, this illuminated copy was written in the scriptorium
at Winchester and is now preserved in the Cathedral library. Exbury Gardens
Few gardens in England can
celebrate the glory of spring quite like Exbury. Here in a peaceful corner
of the New Forest, this remarkable 200 acre woodland garden overlooking the
Beaulieu River was created by Lionel de Rothschild in the 20 years leading upto
the Second World War. The gardens now contain one of the most spectacular
and colourful springtime displays of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and
magnolias anywhere.
Beaulieu
Originally a 13th Century Cistercian Abbey, the stately home grew up
round the gatehouse and became the home of the Lords of Beaulieu. Today a very
popular attraction which encompasses the ruins of the Abbey, the house, gardens
and the national motor museum of over 250 cars. Take advantage of some fun
things such as go-karts, fast trax (motor racing simulator) and miniature
motors.
Bucklers Hard
Situated on the banks of
the Beaulieu River in the heart of the New Forest National Park, the village
consists of just one broad street flanked by charming terraced 18th
Century houses. In the late 18th Century this was a centre for
ship building. The great New Forest oaks were felled and brought here to
build some of the Navy’s finest ships, many of which fought at the Battle of
Trafalgar.
Isle of Wight
Approx
9,000 years ago this area was still a part of the British mainland, however the
rise in sea levels at the end of the last great ice age opened up a waterway,
turning the land into a small island accessible via a short sea crossing.
The island is situated off the South coast of England and measures just 23 miles
by 13 miles. It is however rich in history that can be traced back to the
stone age. Osborne house
Built by Queen Victoria’s husband Albert between 1845-1851 as a family retreat
where the family could stay free from the state ceremonial. Much loved by
the Queen who right up till the late 1890s would spend at least 100 days a year
living in the house. In 1901 she returned to Osborne for the last time
dying here in her 83rd year. The rooms are still laid out in
the way she left them with treasured possessions such as paintings, furniture,
ornaments and personal bric a brac on show.
Ryde
The town stands on steep foothills and the area is well wooded. The parish
church of All Saints has the tallest spire around and is visible for miles.
A popular holiday resort with a population of approx 25,000. The famous pier is
half a mile long and the sandy beach stretches over 7 miles. A very nice
place to wander and have a bite to eat. Mermaid Street is well known
for its steep cobbled road lined with 15th and 17th Century houses. With the
Mermaid Inn a notorious haunt of smugglers in the 18th century. Chichester
A ancient
city dating back to 43AD when the Romans landed nearby and established a base
here. Evidence of their occupation in the remains of the defensive walls,
also nearby at Fishbourne they built a palace. One of the largest Roman
buildings uncovered in Britain. When the Romans left the Saxons
established a settlement here and the area continued to be quite peaceful and
prosperous. The present city lay out follows the original Roman plan of
walls and roads. North, South, East & West Streets crossing at the 16th
Century Butter Cross. Many fine Georgian houses exist especially in a
delightful street called Little London and the flat landscape makes it a fine
and very easy place to explore divided up as it is into four quadrants separated
by the main thoroughfares.
Chichester;
the Romans called this place Noviomagnus meaning new market from the two
Celtic words “Novus” meaning new and “Magus” meaning plain.
When the Saxons came, Aella first King of the Southern Saxons gave the word “Ceaster”
meaning Roman town to his eldest son Cissa. Hence we have “Cissa`s Ceaster”.
By 895 the settlement was recorded as “Cisseceastre” Chichester
Cathedral
The main
building began in about 1076 under the leadership of Bishop Stigand and
continued under Bishop Ralph De Luffa. A fire in 1114 hindered progress
but most of what we see today existed by 1123. The Cloisters were built in
approx. 1400, followed by the seven light window in the North Transept.
The Chapter House was also completed at about this time. The detached bell
tower was built during the early part of the 15th Century and while
many Cathedrals once has such building only the one at Chichester remains today.
It was built to take the weight of the massive eight bells from the Central
Tower. The spire and The Arundel Screen is also 15th Century.
The original Arundel Screen was removed in 1859 and this possibly precipitated
the collapse of the tower in 1861. In 1961 it was restored to its original
position as we see t today. The Prebendal School where the Choristers are
educated stands alongside the Cathedral and is the oldest school in Sussex and
was originally endowed by Edward Storey, Bishop in 1478. The vicars hall
bordering South Street is Circa 15th Century. The 12th
Century Undercroft is now the restaurant. The Vicars Close also early 15th
Century. The Deanery was built in 1725 and the gateway at the end of Canon
Lane leading to the Bishops Palace is Circa 1327. The Palace just South of
the Cathedral contains a lovely 12th Century Chapel. The
gardens and serenity of this Cathedral is a joy to behold.
Arundel
A
pleasant town on the
River
Arun.
A
lovely high street with a nice selection of shops and old houses.
The
town is dominated of course by the castle.
But does have
two Churches.
St Nicholas
rebuilt in 1380 after the black death.
Although
a Anglican
Church,
one end of it is the
Fitzalan
Chapel
where the family hold
Roman
Catholic
services. The
two areas divided by a
Sussex
iron screen.
During
the English
Civil
War
Parliamentarian
forces bombarded the castle using cannon fired from the
Church
tower hence most of the
castle
Norman
fortifications where destroyed.
The other
fine church is the Roman
Catholic
Cathedral
of St
Philip
Howard
built in 1870. It
became a Cathedral
in 1965.
There has
been a settlement here since pre-roman times.
The
town was strategically important due to its location crossing the river on the
main east west road route through
Sussex.
Arundel:
has its origins in the
French
word Hirondelle
meaning Swallow.
A
Swallow
is depicted in the towns
Coat
of Arms. Arundel
castle
A
castle has stood on this site since before
William
the Conquer
came in 1066.
However the oldest parts of
the existing building are probably
Norman
dating back to the time of
Roger
De
Montgomery
one of Williams
favourite knights. The
castle underwent several sieges and was extensively damaged by
Parliamentarian
forces during he Civil
War.
After
which it fell into a very dilapidated state being restored in the 18th
Century
and again in the 19th
Century
when a further two towers where added by the then 15th
Duke.
It has
been the home of the
Fitzalen
family for more than 500 years.
Earls of
Arundel
and through female descent the
Howards
(Dukes
of Norfolk)
the premier peers and hereditary
Earls
Marshal
of England.
Despite
religious persecution the family
has
remained Roman
Catholic.
The
interior contains some fine rooms especially the
Barons
Hall,
the library 117ft long and 35ft wide and constructed entirely in mahogany, plus
a Victorian
room especially designed for the visit of
Victoria
and Albert
in 1846. Hanging
from the walls art treasures including,
Van
Dyck,
Gainsborough,
Holbein,
Constable
and Reynolds,
together with fine tapestries and furniture collected by the family over many
centuries.
The
castle is surrounded by 1,000 acres of parkland and sits majestically
overlooking the surrounding landscape in similar fashion to that other great
castle at Windsor.
Stonehenge
There is nothing quite
like this awe inspiring monument anywhere else in the world, yet at first sight
it is curiously disappointing, probably because it is set on a plain so vast
that in comparison the stones seem quite insignificant. It is only when
man stands close to the stones that he seems so puny in comparison and it is
hard to imagine how centuries ago, with only primitive tools to help them, men
could possibly have placed these huge boulders into position. |
|
|