Churches and a Monastery in Sandwich
Similar to all the Mediaeval towns I have seen, there are several churches and a former monastery in Sandwich. READ MORE
Richborough Castle
It was time to return to London and we visited Richborough Castle and Chilham on the way, reluctant to return to work. The days in Sandwich were interesting, and relaxing, and we are... READ MORE
Exploring in Sandwich!
Exploring in Sandwich was fun! It is a Mediaeval town and so the streets are higgledy-piggledy and there are surprises around every corner. Sandwich evolved from a sea port to today’s inland town... READ MORE
Guildhall in Sandwich
The Guildhall in Sandwich is a very attractive old building which also houses the museum. We started the day here before going out of the town to explore the Monks Wall Nature Reserve.... READ MORE
River Stour nature reserves in Sandwich
We enjoyed walks in two more River Stour nature reserves in Sandwich, after we had explored the Gazen Salts nature reserve. And we were lucky with the weather too. READ MORE
Gazen Salts Nature Reserve
In Roman times, Gazen Salts Nature Reserve was the bottom of the Wantsum Channel, the channel of water which divided Kent from the Isle of Thanet. John Gason was once a leaseholder here,... READ MORE
Latest Posts
Bradshaw’s Hand Book, The West, District III, Hyde Park, Kensington Palace, Holland House, (no.30)
The Manor of Eia (consisting of Ebury, Neate, and Hyde) was held by Geoffrey de Mandeville (d.1100) after the Conquest. He was one of the ten richest men in England at the time and it was he who gave the land to Westminster … Continued
A Trail of Two Valleys
This walk through ancient woodland and open, upland country, links two of the prettiest river valleys in High Suffolk. There are fine views, interesting and aged vernacular buildings, and a stretch of Roman road, making this an interesting walk, with … Continued
Bradshaw’s Hand Book, The West, District III, Kensington Park & Holland Park, (No.29)
Another beautiful afternoon and a few hours of quiet enjoyment. Today Mr Bradshaw encouraged me to visit Kensington Park and Holland Park.
Bradshaw’s Hand Book, The West, District III, Hyde Park (no.28)
It was a beautiful afternoon in London and Mr Bradshaw took me to Hyde Park. I was going to follow a strict schedule but the day was a gift and I just enjoyed it!
Bradshaw’s Hand Book to London, The West, District III, Piccadilly and the Haymarket (no.27)
‘..Piccadilly is shown in a map of London of the time of Queen Elizabeth as a rudely defined road out of the town..and a windmill to the east..’, the memory of which is preserved in ‘Windmill Street’.
Bradshaw’s Hand Book, The West, Berkeley Square (no.26)
‘..Berkeley Street leads to the aristocratic Berkeley Square…’
The Shotley Peninsular
It was a fine day to explore the Shotley Peninsular,starting just under the Orwell Bridge on the A12 east of Ipswich.
Helmingham Hall & Classic and Vintage Cars
The Tollemache family came to England from Avranches, Normandy, around the time of the Norman invasion, establishing a family home at Bentley, near Ipswich. (Simon talks of the church in Bentley here.) The name was ‘Talemache’ which apparently meant ‘cup … Continued
Bradshaw’s Hand Book, The West, District III, between St James’s Street & Green Park (no.23)
As we walked through Green Park Mr Bradshaw mentioned that ‘..the eastern side is bounded by many of the finest mansions of the nobility..’, so I set off to investigate and this map explains the area which occupied me.
Bradshaw’s Hand Book to London, The West, District III, St James’s Square (no.24)
Mr Bradshaw briefly mentions St James’s Square as ‘..the most fashionable in London..’, but this only teases and I need to explore for a fuller picture of aristocratic life around the Palace of St James in earlier times. Today St James’s Square remains exclusive, … Continued