> SPRING-BREAK UP-NORTH

The North, UK
14-17th April 2017

It's the long spring break! So, what better excuse to jump in the car and head North?... We also go see what the mini Lego builders have been up to in Durham...

Off again, heading North to see friends in Durham, we take a leisurely drive from Southampton via a few places of interest and a quick pop-in on family too. It all went a little like this...

Friday 14th - We enjoy a smooth crossing on the ferry and, once on the motorway, we are eating up the mile on the way to Rotherham. En-route, we stop off at Canons Ashby in Northamptonshire. This is a great spot to enjoy our sarnies while a short, sharp shower passes over. This Tudor Manor House and terraced grounds is well worth visiting. The House is a hotchpotch of styles and the gardens are beautiful. We continue our journey and reach Rotherham by 4pm, nice to catch up with Family.

Canons Ashby

The scarecrow of Canons Ashby

Fountains Abbey

 The Abbey Gardens

Saturday 15th - Up early to make the most of the good weather, we have breakfast and are soon on our way. Today is all about Durham! En-route today we visit the mighty Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal water gardens. These ruins and landscaped gardens are spectacular... We have talked about visiting for many years, I am really glad that we have at last managed to squeeze in a short visit. On the road again and we head to Durham for a fun eve with friends.

National Glass Centre 

Souter Lighthouse

Alex and a ball 

Dave and the gang

Sunday 16th - Up and out early to maximise time for visits and activities... First up a short drive North East to Sunderland, here we visit the National Glass Centre. This excellent facility is packed with information, fantastic examples of glass craftsmanship and a fascinating live workshop where you can see the experts at play. We break for coffee and are soon back on the road heading to our next port of call. The Souter lighthouse at Whitburn is certainly impressive, the landscape is pretty stunning too... We climb the narrow spiral staircase to the very top and take in the views.

The Durham Lego Cathedral

Monday 17th - We chill in the morning before packing our bags, saying goodbye to our chums and heading into the City of Durham. This place is beautiful and always makes us happy. A short walk upto the Cathedral is a must, the Lego Cathedral inside the mighty original is fantastic! In the eve we grab a pizza and a drink before heading back to the hotel to relax.

Tuesday 18th - a very early start for me as I am catching the 6:12am train to London for work. Dave has a more leisurely morning before heading back to Rotherham to pick up family for their stay on the Isle of Wight.

8 out of 10.

>LULLINGSTONE ROMAN VILLA

Near Eynsford, Kent
11 October 08


www.english-heritage.org.uk

• www.bbc.co.uk

Lullingstone Roman Villa was discovered in 1939 and is considered to be one of the best preserved and most exciting archaeological finds in the country?

Excavations commenced after the war in 1949, and in 1958 the site was taken into the guardianship of the 'Ministry of Works and Ancient Monuments'. Once excavated Lullingstone Roman Villa was preserved by the erection of a protective building, and was opened to the public in 1963. Between 2006-08 a much needed £1.8m renovation and redisplay project was carried out. You can now enjoy a very well produced audio-visual presentation and interactive light show that really helps to bring the history of this site to life.

The Lullingstone Villa was positioned to overlook the river Darenth and was surrounded by outbuildings and gardens. It stood at the the centre of a farm totalling at least 200 acres. The construction date of the original Villa is believed to be around AD75, originally using timber and daub, being reconstructed of stone in the 2nd century. As is often the case with buildings that survive several centuries, the Villa underwent many improvements during its lifetime.

The central spectacle of this Villa has to be the Mosaic floor in the dining room which has two main sections. In the apse, there is a scene depicting the 'Rape of Europa by Jupiter', and in the main area another shows 'Bellerophon riding Pegasus killing the Chimaera', a fire breathing lion-like monster. These have been wonderfully preserved and are still so vivid! Another interesting aspects of Lullingstone is that for a while at least Christian and Pagan worship were practiced concurrently on different floors in the same building.

...Dave and I stumbled across this English Heritage gem whilst enjoying a fabulous walk in the Kent countryside. The sun was out - the sky was blue, what more could you wish for?

8 out of 10

>BRADING ROMAN VILLA

Brading, Isle of Wight
26 August 08

www.bradingromanvilla.org.uk

Brading Roman Villa is one of the finest Romano-British archaeological sites in the UK. The award-winning Exhibition and Visitor Centre offers a unique insight into Roman life in Britain, from beautifully preserved mosaic floors to an extensive collection of Roman archaeology, including coins, pottery and tools...

You are on the Isle of Wight, it's raining... what do you do? Well, you could always visit the fantastic Roman Villa at Brading! Now housed in a spectacular Visitor Center the extensive remains of a Roman house, dating from at least the mid 2nd century, can be explored at your leisure. Five of the rooms in the main Villa have very well preserved mosaics, they depict scenes of Roman fables and characters, and reflect the wealth and education of the occupants. Orpheus, Bacchus, a cock-headed man, gladiators, Medusa and even Mermen can all be found if you look hard enough! Also on the site is a nymphaeum (Roman water feature), agricultural buildings and a replica Roman garden. The coffee shop is also well above your typical standard, all in all - a great few hours worth of educational entertainment!

Really worth a visit while on the Isle!

9 out of 10

>SIR JOHN SOANE'S MUSEUM

Lincoln's Inn Fields, London
7 June 08

www.soane.org

• Good Picture ref. here
• www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk
• www.british-history.ac.uk

An eclectic labyrinth of Architectural wonders!

The former residence of neo-classical architect Sir John Soane, The Soane Museum is an eclectic tribute to the man and his collections of paintings, drawings and antiquities. There are over 30,000 pieces in the museum. Most are on show but some are ingeniously stored on folding screens, making them even more exciting once you find them! A priceless collection of artwork is also housed here, Hogarth's eight Rake's Progress canvasses, three major Canaletto views of Venice, numerous etchings and vintage photographic prints.

Today, this wonderful legacy is one of London's most treasured 'hidden' museums, and remains a free 'Academy of Architecture', just as Soan's intended on his death bed!

Sir John Soane (1753-1837) was a successful architect known for his love of the Neo-classical style! His architectural works are distinguished by their clean lines, decisive detailing, careful proportions and skillful use of light sources. The influence of his work, coming at the end of the Georgian era, was swamped by the revival styles of the 19th century. It was not until the late 19th century that the influence of Soan's architecture was widely felt. He designed many beautiful structures including the Dulwich Picture gallery, the Royal Hospital in Chelsea and the mighty Bank of England!

It is impossible to sum up just how fascinating and important this museum is! try to imagine a 'pocket sized' British museum and National Gallery, (a very rough indication of just how diverse and culturally rich this little gem is).

A 'must see' treat! (Check website for details. Remember, it can get busy at weekends)

9 out of 10

>AVEBURY STONE CIRCLE

Like Stonehenge, only better!
2850 BC >


www.nationaltrust.org.uk

• Avebury Pagan Events Calendar
• Silbury Hill
  

An aweinspiring landscape and World Heritage Site voted the country's third most spiritual place!

Avebury is the site of a large henge and several stone circles in the English county of Wiltshire surrounding the village of Avebury. It is one of the largest Neolithic monuments in Europe dating to around 2850 BC. It is even older than the megalithic stages of Stonehenge. This site lies approximately midway between the towns of Marlborough and Calne, just off the main A4 on the northbound A4361 towards Wroughton. Do also take the time to explore the Alexander Keiller Museum located within the site.

Silbury Hill is the largest prehistoric man-made mound in Europe. It was built over 4,000 years ago in the Neolithic period. Today part of the Avebury World Heritage Site, the monument’s purpose and significance for prehistoric people remains unknown. You can't miss this huge mound as you drive to Avebury ...very impresive!

...These rocks ROCK!

9 out of 10