All posts filed under: Medieval

Castle Warwick by InspiredImages on Pixabay

Warwick, famous for its medieval castle, is a town bursting with character. Its hidden gardens, rich mix of architecture and historic attractions make it a great place for a short break.

Published by Henry Henry

Recent excavations at Warwick have found evidence of Neolithic people living in the area. Since then, it was a Saxon settlement, afforded protection to William the Conqueror and his army, and survived The Great Fire of 1694. The town boasts buildings from every period of the last thousand years, even though the Great Fire of […]

Portsmouth by 921563 on Pixabay

The city of Portsmouth, with its historic dockyard, proud home of HMS Victory, is a vibrant and popular destination which blends the old and the new.

Published by Geoffrey MacLeod

At the entrance to the Harbour, The Point and the Camber, visitor to Portsmouth will find some of the oldest, and many listed, buildings. In 1180 a wealthy merchant founded a chapel. In time it became the Parish church for the settlement which grew around the Point and Camber, Portmouth. Richard I granted the town […]

Lavenham Suffolk by MemoryCatcher on Pixabay

Visit Lavenham, a Suffolk wool town, to find a treasure chest of medieval timbered buildings. In its heyday it was one of the wealthiest settlements in England.

Published by Henry Henry

The history of Lavenham is one of gains and losses. In 1524 the village, a successful wool settlement, paid more in taxes than either Lincoln or York. Yet, 500 years later in 1824 the village was struggling with poverty. Today, it has recovered and is one of the best preserved medieval English villages. Lavenham in […]

Royal Crescent, Bath © visitbath.co.uk

Visit the beautiful City of Bath from where the first Penny Black was posted in May 1840.

Published by Henry Henry

The golden city of Bath has been welcoming visitors for over 2,000 years. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city is home to some of the most impressive buildings in the world. These include the Royal Crescent, the Circus and Pulteney Bridge. The Royal Crescent is C18th; designed by John Wood the younger, it is […]

Briggate Leeds © Hannah

Enjoy a huge slice of British history in the bustling City of Leeds in West Yorkshire

Published by Geoffrey MacLeod

Leeds has more listed buildings than any other city outside London. The built heritage here is one to marvel at and enjoy. For a slice of British history the city has plenty to offer. It has a number of nearby historic houses, including Harewood House and Temple Newsam. While Kirkstall Abbey, is one of the […]

Windsor Street Chertsey © Visit Surrey

Chertsey on the Thames had some of the finest medieval floor tiles in England.

Published by Siobhan Clarke

Chertsey is a market town on the banks of the Thames which grew around a Benedictine Abbey founded in 666. The Vikings destroyed the Abbey in 871 killing the Abbott and 90 monks. King Edgar refounded the Abbey in 964 and some ruins, mostly the gardens, still remain. The Abbey fishponds remain and fill with […]

High Street © Gulidford Borough Council

Historic Guildford in the centre of Surrey has architecture from Saxon times through to the C20th. Enjoy a walk along the tow path by the River Wey, or take a boat trip from Dapdune Wharf.

Published by Stella May

The early town grew in importance because of its situation on the River Wey. It was a resting place for pilgrims on the medieval Pilgrims Way. Later the town was a coaching stop on the route from London to Portsmouth. The Angel Inn, a medieval timber-framed building on the High Street, remains a hotel to […]

Windsor is famous world wide for its Royal connections which go back to William the Conqueror

Published by Stella May

Windsor Castle has the distinction to be the residence of the Royal Family. And is the oldest and the largest occupied castle anywhere in the world. It has been home to 39 monarchs. The first Norman castle was the typical motte and bailey, which was part of the Conqueror’s ring of castles surrounding London. It […]

Trowbridge Town Hall shows summer flower displays and hanging baskets © Visit Wiltshire

Trowbridge in Wiltshire, here you can wander through the streets where Romans, Saxons and Normans have all left their mark.

Published by Siobhan Clarke

In the heart of west Wiltshire, Trowbridge is a vibrant town with truly ancient roots. Here you can wander through streets where Romans, Saxons and Normans have all left their mark. In the C13th the town was the headquarters of a Magna Carta Baron. With 24 others, he forced King John to sign the ‘great […]

St Mary's Chepstow showing the town, the Castle and the 1816 bridge© John Burrows

Chepstow has always been a forward looking, modern town. At the gateway to the Wales Coast Path, you can stand on its Bridge and have one foot in Wales and the other foot in England.

Published by Stella May

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. […]