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
The Fountains of Trafalgar Square
Bradshaw in hand I wrote this post, and discovered that the fountains in Trafalgar are second-generation – the originals were shipped to Canada. Well, one thing leads to another and here is an unintended exploration of the Fountains of Trafalgar Square!
Bradshaw’s Hand Book to London, The West, Day 5, District III, St James’s Palace and Green Park, (no.21)
In the 1100s Henry II granted a charter to the Sisters in charge of the Hospital of St James for leprosy sufferers, in the parish of St Margaret’s, Westminster. (Fascinating Gresham Lecture on Medieaval Hospitals here.) The Hospital may have dated … Continued
Bradshaw’s Hand Book, The West, Day 5, District III, St James’s Street (no.22)
St James’s Street changed dramatically during the 19th century when grand club houses replaced residential housing and coffee and chocolate houses, although the purpose of the area remained roughly similar (Peter Ackroyd‘s ‘continuation of purpose’ again).
Bradshaw’s Hand Book to London, The West, District III, Pall Mall, (no.19)
This route covers the area known as St James’s which falls into three main parts (Pevsner): the L-shape of Pall Mall and St James’s Street, the 17C suburb planned by Henry Jermyn, Earl of St Albans, and centred on St James’s Square, … Continued
Westminster Abbey and Westminster Palace, a Tudor map
This fascinating map (blog) really caught my imagination and when I found myself bombarding a friend with details I clearly had to explore the area in more detail, if only to protect his sanity! I was excited by the prospect of … Continued
Bradshaw’s Hand Book, Part III, The West – Westminster Abbey and precincts (no.17)
Westminster Abbey, says Mr Bradshaw is a ‘..magnificent edifice, .. said to have been founded by Sebert, King of the East Saxons in 616. This spot of ground was then a small insulated tract, surrounded by the Thames, and called Thorney Island..’. … Continued
Parliament Square
This extraordinary and iconic space carries a weight of history. A Hall over 1,000 years old – And memorials to men who have shaped history –
Bradshaw’s Hand Book, Part III, The West, District II (no.16) Charing Cross, Whitehall, Westminster
Today’s route begins at Charing Cross and ends at Chelsea New Bridge, from where Mr Bradshaw suggests ‘..we can take an omnibus back to Charing Cross, or stroll leisurely through St James’s Park, by way of varying our return..’. Well, … Continued