Edinburgh – York – Stratford – London

Photo 1: Floors Castle, Scotland.

Photo 2: part of Hadrian's Wall. Note how thick it was.

Photo 3: The Shambles, York.

Photo 4: the shell of Coventry Cathedral, bombed in World War Two.

Photo 5: Anne Hathaway's Cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon. Note the thatched roof.

Photo 6: Blenheim Palace.

Photo 7: a view of the grounds of Blenheim Palace.

 

On Monday 17 June we left Edinburgh and visited Floors Castle in Southern Scotland, home of the Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe. The huge castle was built in the early 18^th century and extended during the Victorian era. It had a real ‘stately home’ feeling. We then proceeded south towards York and on the way visited some of the few remains of Hadrian’s Wall, built by that Roman Emperor in the second century to keep the Scots out of Roman England. The Romans built things to last, but nothing could stop local people from seizing the fine dressed stone to build their own houses. Some people have no respect for heritage…

In York we visited the Cathedral, York Minster, and the old Elizabethan butchers’ market known as the Shambles (from the Old English ‘shamel’ meaning benches on which meat is displayed). The law prevented meat from being displayed in sunlight, so the meat was hung on hooks on the ground floor of houses which were built with two or more additional floors overlapping inwards towards the street – a very typical style for that period. It was fascinating to see what for the most part was a street of buildings 400 plus years old and still in use.

On Tuesday we drove to Coventry and visited the Cathedral that was bombed during World War Two and its modern replacement completed in 1956. The bell tower and most of the shell of the old Cathedral have been preserved and stand as a monument to the tragic stupidity of war. The words above the altar say “Father Forgive”. What more can be said.

The new Cathedral is very impressive for a modern style of building made of beautiful reddish brown stone. Even though it was built in the 1950s they managed to avoid the architectural sterility of that period. It soars aloft the way a Cathedral should and provokes much the same feeling of awe that a great building should.  This was the morning (for us) that the Brumbies played the British Lions.  With a Welsh driver and an English tour guide who thinks Rugby is a religion, it was a sweet win by “Our Boys”!!!  He thought we should shout the bus drinks to celebrate.  In your dreams was our reply!!!

Later that day we arrived in Stratford-upon-Avon and visited Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The latter is well presented as an historical site with the rooms furnished and fitted out as they were in Shakespeare’s time.

On Wednesday we headed for London and the end of the tour having travelled over 6000 kms around the British Isles. However there was one final stop – Blenheim Palace, home of Sir Winston Churchill. This stately home dates from the early 1700s when it was built for the first Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill, with funds gifted by Queen Ann as a reward for the Duke’s victory against the French at Blenheim. The Palace is simply beautiful. Many rooms contain huge tapestries depicting the Duke’s battles that are centuries old but still in great condition. The walls are covered in portraits by famous artists of the period and many ceilings are decorated in 24 carat gold leaf. The gorgeous gardens were created by the most famous landscaper of the period Lancelot Brown, known as Capability Brown. He created a maze with fountains and beautiful flowers gardens beyond which lies a large artificial lake surrounded by trees. The effect is stunning, by now Sue is over ABC’s – all bloody castles and all bloody cathedrals!!!

We came to the end of the tour with some sadness at parting from new friends but also much relief at the prospect of taking back control of our daily lives and even sleeping in a little.  The whole bus has been coping with a very nasty cold and flu bug, but as yet we have not succumbed.  Fingers crossed we stay healthy as we have lots to see and do in London, and a special wedding to attend.