The beautiful medieval market town of East Grinstead is in reach of Gatwick Airport, London, Ashdown Forest and the South Coast. It is therefore an ideal base from which to explore the South East. The Bluebell Railway runs steam trains from East Grinstead to Sheffield Park Station. And, the return journey covers 20 miles of […]
Harpenden has 30,000 residents and a growing number of businesses, but still has a village feel. It has an unspoiled tree-lined High Street, town greens, and period cottages. The Common with 96.39 hectares of open space that supports cricket, football and Golf clubs is a County Wildlife Site. Harpenden Shopping Centre The Town Centre offers […]
William FitzOsbern, cousin of William the Conqueror, founded the Castle, Priory, and Town at Chepstow. He was joint 2nd in command of the Normans in the Norman conquest of 1066. So afterward, William I made him Earl of Hereford. Chepstow Castle The priority for both the Conqueror and FitzOsbern was to secure the English-Welsh border. […]
In the heart of Cumbria, Penrith is the social and commercial centre of the Eden District. It is the perfect base from which visitors can explore the Eden Valley and the Lake District National Park. The cobbled lanes in the town centre have independent shops and a range of eateries which range from cafes to […]
Eastbourne was a large coastal community that lived on fishing and farming. In 1232 it was granted a market charter, but it remained a village. The town became more popular in the C18th as a health resort and the King’s family stayed here. However, transport was difficult on poor roads and travel was expensive. Once […]
Rochester is a very old city, within the walls of a Roman town where Watling Street crosses the river Medway. Later Anglo Saxons built Rochester Bridge which has ten timber spans across the Medway; a great achievement. Named landowners were responsible for the upkeep of piers or spans. Rochester Castle The first castle dates from […]
Bishop Edward Storey gave the Market Cross to Chichester in 1501 to shelter the itinerant merchants. As he market grew, the town added more market buildings. The Buttermarket of 1807, built by John Nash, still survives with its six Doric columns and Coat of Arms. It leads now to an indoor market. West from the […]
Inverness is full of surprises; I think it has the heart of a city with a town’s character. There are always events to participate in, shows and live music to go to. There are plenty of activities such as trampoline, ice skating, wall climbing, water flumes, golf, and cinema in the city. And, there’s an […]
Stevenage in Hertfordshire was once a quiet country town, but in 1946 it became Britain’s first New Town. These provided quality housing and community facilities in response to the post-war housing shortage. The new town of Stevenage was six self-contained residential areas arranged around the original town. Now called Stevenage Old Town, this original part […]
Milford-on-Sea in Hampshire sits on the New Forest Coast and offers something for all ages whatever the weather. It’s one of the few remaining coastal villages in Hampshire, and being on top of the cliff offers wonderful views. Download a map of the village here. All Saints Church Milford-on-Sea All Saints is an C11th church; […]
