Counter
Users Today : 93
Users Yesterday : 177
This Month : 2992
Views Today : 214VISIT MY FLICKR GALLERY
ENGLAND 2023 – IV
Lunch at the wonderfully historic Waggon & Horses Pub in Marlborough then a visit to the Avebury Henge and Stone Circles (See previous post)
Waggon and Horses, Beckhampton, Marlborough, Wiltshire, England UK
Originally a 17th-century house, two storeys in stone with a thatched roof, is now the Waggon and Horses pub; additions in the late 19th century and early 20th are described as picturesque by Historic England.
Inside the Waggon and Horses
Field Gates on Pathway to Avebury Henge & Stone Circles, Avebury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, England UK
Pathway to Avebury Henge & Stone Circles, Avebury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, England UK
Old Shed, Pathway to Avebury Henge & Stone Circles, Avebury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, England UK
Raindrops, Avebury Henge & Stone Circles, Avebury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, England UK
Yard Gate, Pathway to Avebury Henge & Stone Circles, Avebury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, England UK
ENGLAND 2023 – III
On our way to the Cotswolds, we passed the famous neolithic sites of Silbury Hill and the Avebury Henge and Stone Circles
Silbury Hill, A4, West Kennet, Marlborough, Wiltshire, England UK
Composed mainly of chalk and clay excavated from the surrounding area, the mound stands 40 metres (131 ft) high and covers about 2 hectares (5 acres). The hill was constructed in several stages between c.2400–2300 BC and displays immense technical skill and prolonged control over labour and resources. Archaeologists calculate that it took 18 million person-hours, equivalent to 500 people working for 15 years to deposit and shape 248,000 cubic metres (324,000 cu yd) of earth and fill. Euan Mackie, a British archaeologist and anthropologist, asserts that no simple late Neolithic tribal structure as usually imagined could have sustained this and similar projects, and envisages an authoritarian theocratic power elite with broad-ranging control across southern Britain.
Avebury Henge & Stone Circles, Avebury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, England UK
Built and much altered during the Neolithic period, roughly between 2850 BC and 2200 BC, the henge survives as a huge circular bank and ditch, encircling an area that includes part of Avebury village. Within the henge is the largest stone circle in Britain – originally of about 100 stones – which in turn encloses two smaller stone circles.
Avebury is part of an extraordinary set of Neolithic and Bronze Age ceremonial sites that seemingly formed a vast sacred landscape. They include West Kennet Avenue, West Kennet Long Barrow, The Sanctuary, Windmill Hill, and the mysterious Silbury Hill.
ENGLAND 2023 – II
Signs and Posters of some of the many pubs and bars seen during the drive around UK. Sadly, I did not get experience the atmosphere in each and every one.
The Greyhound, Hampton Street, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England UK
The Snooty Fox, Market Place, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England UK
West Country Ales, The Crown, Gumstool Hill, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England UK
The Crown, Gumstool Hill, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England UK
WH Smith & Son, Castle Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England UK
Not a pub but a great hanging sign…
The Crown, West Market Place, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England UK
The White Horse, Cross Keys Road, Biddestone, Gloucestershire, England UK
Biddestone Arms, Cross Keys Road, Biddestone, Gloucestershire, England UK
Parsons Nose, High Street, Melksham, Gloucestershire, England UK
The Old Bell Hotel, Abbey Row, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, England UK
The Kings Arms, High Street, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, England UK
The Smoking Dog, High Street, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, England UK
The Black Horse, Castle Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England UK
The Crown, Black Jack Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England UK
The Golden Cross, Black Jack Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England UK
The Marlborough Arms, Sheep Street, Cirencester, Gloucestshire, England UK
The Royal British Legion, Market Street, Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Wales UK
The Black Boy (Buoy) Inn, Stryd Pedwar a Chwech, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales UK
Prior to 1828, the pub was known as the ‘Black Boy’. Though still referred to by its traditional name, it was officially altered to the ‘King’s Arms’ and, later, the ‘Fleur de Lys’, until a change of ownership led to the restoration of the old name and the creation of the “Black Boy Inn” as it is today. The Inn signs each show a ‘black buoy’ on one side and a ‘black boy’ on the other.
The Inn’s name has caused controversy and there are at least three theories to explain its name. One is believed to come from a ‘black buoy’ which existed in the harbour in the early days of the Inn. Another refers to the nickname given to Charles II by his mother Henrietta Maria of France because of the darkness of his skin and eyes, as well as the fact that Royalists met at the Inn secretly at that time. Later, the place became the local fishermen’s favourite drinking place and the name of ‘black boy’ may come from this period.
In Caernarfon’s heyday as a port-town, Northgate Street – on which the Black Boy Inn is situated – was the heart of the red-light district. Northgate Street’s Welsh name Stryd Pedwar a Chwech translates to “Four [shillings] and Six [pence] Street”: what the sailors are reputed to have paid for a room, a bottle of gin, and the services of a woman for the night.
The ‘North Gate’ archway found at the end of Northgate Street was added in or about the 1820s. It was designed to help facilitate the flow of traffic in and out of the old town, and is not part of the original town wall design. Prior to the ‘North Gate’ archway, a census carried out in 1794 revealed this street was commonly referred to as ‘Black Boy’ street. The earliest reference to the “Black Boy” can be found in Caernarfon’s archives dated 1717, a Deed of Sale of a house in “Street Y Black Boy” between Thomas Wynne, Glynllifon and a Henry Robyns.
The ghost of a nun is said to pass through the inn on her way to a nunnery that was once situated at the rear.
The pub is a listed building.
The Palace Vaults, Stryd Pedwar a Chwech, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales UK
Stryd Pedwar a Chwech is Welsh for Fourth & Sixth Street
The Crown, High Street, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales UK
Y Goron is Welsh for The Crown
Tŷ Dre, High Street, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales UK
Tŷ Dre is Welsh for Town House – Our accommodation for a couple of days in Caernarfon
Welsh Brewers The Black Boy, Tŷ Dre, High Street, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales UK
Y Twll yn y Wal, Hole in the Wall Street, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales UK
Y Twll yn y Wal is Welsh for The Hole in The Wall
Tafarn Y Porth, Greengate Street, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales UK
Tafarn Y Porth is Welsh for Porth Pub
Morgan Lloyd, Castle Square, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales UK
Guinness Sign, Bar Bach, Tan y Bont, Caernarfon, Gwynned, Wales UK
Happy Hour Sign, Bar Bach, Tan y Bont, Caernarfon, Gwynned, Wales UK
Tafarn Lleiaf Cymru – The Smallest Pub in Wales
The Smugglers Cove, Royal Albert Dock, Gower Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, England UK
The One O’Clock Gun, Britannia Pavilion, Royal Albert Dock, Gower Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, England UK
Turncoat Bar, Salthouse Quay, Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool, Merseyside, England UK
Revolution, Royal Albert Dock, Salthouse Quay, Liverpool, Merseyside, England UK
White Lion, Bridge Gate, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, England UK
Built in 1657 the pub is reputed to be the oldest building in town. We spent a few days here.
The White Swan, Bridge Gate, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, England UK
Crown Inn, Crown Street, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, England UK
The Albert, Albert Street, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, England UK
Shoulder of Mutton, Cnr St George’s Street & Bridge Gate, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, England UK
Old Gate, Old Gate, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, England UK
The Railway, New Road, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, England UK
Marshall’s Bar, Carlton Street, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, England UK
Elephant & Castle, Hollowgate, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, England UK
General Havelock Inn, Ratcliffe Road, Haydon Bridge, Northumberland, England UK
The Railway Hotel, Church Street, Haydon Bridge, Northumberland, England UK
We stayed here for a few days in Haydon Bridge
Anchor Hotel, John Martin Street, Haydon Bridge, Northumberland, England UK
The Kings Head, Market Place, Allendale Town, Hexham, Northumberland, England UK
The Hawes Inn, Newhalls Road, South Queensferry, West Lothian, Scotland UK
This is where we stayed for a few days in South Queensferry – right beneath the famous Firth of Forth Rail Bridge
The Staghead Hotel, High Street, South Queensferry, West Lothian, Scotland UK
The Ferry Tap, High Street, South Queensferry, West Lothian, Scotland UK
Orocco Pier, High Street, South Queensferry, West Lothian, Scotland UK
No. 12, Quality Street, North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland UK
The Eagle Inn, High Street, Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland UK
The Bear & Bull, High Street, Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland UK
The Ship Inn, Front Street, Lindisfarne, Holy Island, Northumberland, England UK
The George, Bondgate Within, Alnwick, Northumberland, England UK
Ye Olde Reine Deer Inn, Parsons Street, Banbury, Oxfordshire, England UK
The Old Auctioneer, Parsons Street, Banbury, Oxfordshire, England UK
Horse & Jockey, West Bar Street, Banbury, Oxfordshire, England UK
The Cromwell Lodge, North Bar Street, Banbury, Oxfordshire, England UK
Dog & Gun, North Bar Street, Banbury, Oxfordshire, England UK
The Coach & Horses, Butcher’s Row, Banbury, Oxfordshire, England UK
Banbury Cross, Butcher’s Row, Banbury, Oxfordshire, England UK
The Bell, Junction Oddington Road, Lower Park Street, Park Street, Maugersbury Road, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, England UK
The Lamb & Lion, Lower Borough Walls, Bath, Somerset, England UK
The Black Fox, Junction of Lower Borough Walls, Saint James’s Parade & Hot Bath Street, Bath, Somerset, England UK
Our pub stay while in Bath
ENGLAND 2023 – I
HAMPTON COURT PALACE
Our first day in England and we re-visited Hampton Court Palace having previously done so on our first UK visit in 2013.
Hampton Court Palace is a Grade I listed royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, 12 miles (19 kilometres) south-west and upstream of central London on the River Thames.
The building of the palace began in 1514 for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, the chief minister of Henry VIII. In 1529, as Wolsey fell from favour, the cardinal gave the palace to the king to check his disgrace. The palace went on to become one of Henry’s most favoured residences; soon after acquiring the property, he arranged for it to be enlarged so it could accommodate his sizeable retinue of courtiers. The palace is in the possession of King Charles III and the Crown.
Hampton Court Palace Across The Thames, Hampton Court Bridge, Molesey, London, England UK
River Thames & Hampton Court Palace, Hampton Court Bridge, Molesey, London, England UK
Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Light Standards, Hampton Court Bridge, Molesey, London, England UK
Palace Entrance, Hampton Court Palace, Hampton Court Way, Molesey, London, England UK
Moat, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
A decorative feature but it has flooded in years gone by depending on weather.
A Side Gate, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Base Court Entry, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Sculpture at Base Court Entry, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Inside of Base Court Entry, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Lead Lined Window, Base Court, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Decorative Ceiling, Anne Boelyn’s Gateway, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Hammerbeam Ceiling, The Great Hall, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Interior Staircase, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Fountain Court, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Light Standard, Fountain Court, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Cloister off Chapel Court Garden, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Passageway Staircase, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Royal Crest, Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Chapel Court Garden, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Wine Cellar, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Astronomical Clock, Anne Boleyn’s Gatehouse, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
The clock was installed in 1540 on the gatehouse to the inner court at Hampton Court Palace. This pre-Copernican and pre-Galilean astronomical clock is still functioning.
Alley, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
The Great Vine, Wilderness Cottage, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
The Great Vine, Vitis vinifera ‘Schiava Grossa’ (synonym: Black Hamburg), is now 250 years old and is the largest grape vine in the world. It was planted in 1768 while Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown was in charge of the gardens at Hampton Court.
Garden Avenue, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
The Pond Gardens, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Misshapen Tree, The Pond Garden, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Arbor, The Privy Garden, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Roman Soldier Statue, The Privy Garden, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Sundials, The Privy Garden, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Brick Alcove, The Privy Garden, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Entrance/Exit Gates, The Privy Garden, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Gate Handle, The Privy Garden, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Shire Horse Drawn Tourist Ride, The Board Walk, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
The Great Fountain Garden, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Long Water, Hampton Court Park, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
The Three Graces, The Great Fountain Garden, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Drinking Fountain, Tilt Yard, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Jousting Knights Sculptures, Tilt Yard, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Garden Hedges, Tilt Yard, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Daffodils, The Tilt Yard, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Gnarley Tree, The Wilderness, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
Gateway, Tennis Court Lane, Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, London, England UK
SPAIN 2023 – XV
The final images from Tarragona and the last of our stay in Spain. Next stop – UK!
Entrance, Marriott Hotel, Avinguda de Roma, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
Street View, Avinguda de Roma, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
Torre de les Monges, Rambla Vella, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
a.k.a. Tower of The Monks
Steps below Torre de les Monges, Rambla Vella, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
Mural, Circ Romà, Rambla Vella, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
The Circ Romà is where horse and chariot races were held. It had capacity for 20,000 people. It was built during the reign of Emperor Domitian (81–96 AD) and remained in operation until the 9th century AD. Today it is classified as a World Heritge Site.
Ruins, Circ Romà, Rambla Vella, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
Sculpture in the Wall, Circ Romà, Rambla Vella, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
Tunnels, Circ Romà, Rambla Vella, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
Torre del Pretori, Castell del Rei, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
a.k.a. – Castle of The King. The Romanesque castle was largely the result of the rehabilitation of a large Roman building that had been part of the provincial forum in the 12th century.
Bricked In, Parròquia de la Santíssima Trinitat, Carrer de Santa Anna, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
Doorway, Museu Nacional Arqueològic, Plaza del Rei, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
View to Plaza del Rei from Torre del Pretori o Castell del Rei, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
Catedral Basílica Metropolitana i Primada de Santa Tecla de Tarragona, Plaza de la Seu, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
View to Coast, Torre del Pretori, Passeig Saint Antoni, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
Amfiteatre de Tarragona, Carrer de William J Bryan, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
The 2nd image was photographed from the top of The King’s Castle, a building traditionally known as the Roman pretories of Augustus or Pilate Tower. The amphitheatre is a World Heritage site constructed in the 2nd century. It could hold up to 15,000 spectators for Roman events.
Plaque, Subdelegación de Defensa en Tarragona, Rambla Vella, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
Department of Defense
Monument a Jacint Verdaguer, Plaça de Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
Casa de la Punxa, Rambla Nova, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain c.1940
Parc de la Ciutat, Avinguda de Roma, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
Parking is at a Premium, Carrer d’August, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
SPAIN 2023 – XIV
After the Alhambra, we travelled to Ronda to see its famous bridge over the gorge created by the Guadalevín River before heading back towards Barcelona.
Tourist Carriages, Paseo de Blas Infante, Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
Tajo de Ronda, Paseo de Kazunori Yamahuchi, Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
Monumento al Toro de lidia, Plaza Teniente Arce, Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
Alfresco Dining, Calle José Aparicio, Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
Monument to Antonio de los Rios Rosas, Plaza de España, Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
Plaza de España, Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
Hotel Parador de Ronda, Plaza de España, Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
Puente Nuevo from Paseo de Kazunori Yamahuchi, Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
Rio Guadalevin Gorge, Puente Nuevo, Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
Stone Seat, Puente Nuevo, Ronda, Málaga, Aldalusia, Spain
Puento Nuevo Roadway, Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
Tajo de Ronda, Puente Nuevo, Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
De los Viajeros Romanticos (Of the Romantic Travelers), Information Board, Paseo de Kazunori Yamahuchi, Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
Tajo de Ronda, Paseo de Kazunori Yamahuchi, Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
Street Sign, Paseo de Kazunori Yamahuchi, Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
Museo Lara, Calle Armiñán, Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
The museum houses a private collection of historic weapons, clocks, scientific instruments & witchcraft-related items.
Calle González Campos, Ronda, Andalusia, Spain
Alminar de San Sebastián (Minaret of San Sebastian), Plaza Abul Beka, Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
Callejón de los Tramposos (Cheats Alley), Calle Armiñán, Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor, Plaza Duquesa de Parcent, Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
14th century mosque converted to a Catholic church in the 20th century.
Fuente de agua (Duquesa de Parcent), Water Fountain of the Parcent Duchess), Plaza duquesa de Parcent, Ronda, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain
Artwork, Avenida Primero de Julio, Valdepeñas, Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Everything on Tap, Avenida Primero de Julio, Valdepeñas, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
You just never know when you will need a sex toy at 3:00 AM. It’s good to know there’s an outlet open.
Statue “Don Quixote”, Avenida Primero de Julio, Valdepeñas, Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Iglesia parroquial la Asunción de Nuestra Señora, Plaza de España, Valdepeñas, Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Rooftops, Valdepeñas, Cuidad Real, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Social Icon