It's time for instalment number 5 of the big UK holiday trip. This time we're off to Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire, Cumbria and Northumberland.
Stop number 23
Staffordshire was set up as a county in 1889. This is the home county of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, it was originally bred for hunting purposes.
First we're off to Biddulph Grange, a garden designed by James Bateman from 1811 till 1897. In 1871 Biddulph Grange was purchased by Robert Heath. The house on the grounds burnt down in 1896 and Thomas Bower later rebuilt it. The house served as a children's hospital from 1923 until the 1960s.
Next stop is at Tamworth Castle, a Norman castle first built around 1070. Today the castle is one of the best preserved Norman motte-and-bailey castles in England. It is also the second largest motte in England, after Windsor Castle.
Time to pay a visit to the Shugborough Estate. The Estate is the ancestral home of the Earls of Lichfield. There is a fine Georgian mansion house overlooking magnificent views of the riverside garden terraces. It is rumoured that the estate has connections to the Holy Grail.
Next on the list is Lichfield Cathedral. A church was first built on this site in 672. A Norman Cathedral replaced this church in 1085 till the early 12th century. It had additions in 1195 and 1500.
It's time for a bit of aeronautical education at the Royal Air Force Museum.
Derbyshire is the next county on the list. Derbyshire can boast the claim to the first national park established in Britain - the Peak National Park.
First off is Hardwick Hall, a late Elizabethan manor house. The house was built in the late 1500's by Bess of Hardwick. The house contains a collection of 16th Century furniture and paintings. The grounds are also home rare breeds of cattle and sheep.
Ashby de la Zouch Castle is the next place to visit. During the 12th century the building was a manor house and in the 15th century it was upgraded to a castle.
Sutton Scarsdale Hall is the next stop. We are visiting the ghostly remains of this Georgian mansion built in 1724 to 1729. The Hall has been ruins since around 1919.
The next hall to visit is Kedleston, a Neo-classical mansion. Kedleston Hall has been the family home of the Curzon's since the 12th-century. 'The Duchess', starring Keira Knightly used the Hall as it's main filming location.
Time for a bit of fun now with a trip to Red House Stables. Established in 1946, Red House has the finest collection of original horse drawn vehicles and equipment in Britain. Carriage rides can be organised.
Welcome to Cheshire!
First stop is at Lyme Park - House and Gardens. The house was built in the Edwardian era and sits on 1300 acres of ground.
Next is a visit to the Mouldsworth Motor Museum. James Peacop was granted permission to use the disused building for vintage car storage in 1971. The museum started with 10 cars and has been growing every day.
Last stop is another little bit of fun, The Museum of Policing in Cheshire. The museum is the passion of retired PC Peter Wroe who began to organise items at Warrington into a museum. He was able to add pieces to the museum by persuading former officers and their families to donate their belongings.
Stop number 26
Merseyside is a quick stop in the big road trip.
First place to visit is the childhood homes of The Beatles. Well those of John Lennon and Sir Paul McCartney anyway. Both of these homes played part in the early career of the band.
Next and last stop in this county is Sudley House. Today the house serves as a museum and art gallery. It was built for Mayor Nicholas Robinson in the early 19th century.
Lancashire is the next county to call home, at least for a few days.
To start this point of the trip off we are stopping at Clitheroe Castle, a motte and bailey castle built on a limestone outcrop. The original construction date of the castle isn't certain but one was built around 1186 by Robert de Lacy.
Next is Jubilee Tower, also known as Darwen Tower. To commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee the tower was completed in 1898. On the 24 September 1898 it was opened to the public.
Next we're off to Samlesbury Hall, the Southworth family home until the early 1600's. The Hall was built in 1325 by Gilbert de Southworth.
Towneley Hall is the last stop, a historic house set in 400 acres of ground. The house dates back to the 14th Century. Today the Hall is home to a museum and art gallery. Inside the Hall it's possible to experience life as a servant and view the priests hole.
Stop number 28
Cumbria is next on the list. This county was created in 1974, formally called Cumberland & Westmoreland.
First off is Appleby Castle, a castle built in Norman times. There are 25 acres of parkland surrounding the castle. The castle has an attached mansion built in the late 17th century.
Next, a castle again, is Brougham Castle. Originally a Roman Fort stood where the castle does today. The Vieuxpont family built the first section of castle during the Norman period. In 1296 Robert Clifford upgraded the castles defences. Around 1676 is when the castle fell into ruin.
I'll mix it up a bit now with a stop at the Duddon Iron Furnace. The Ironwork was established by the Cunsey Company in 1736 and operated closed in1866. The site then became derelict and has now been partially restored.
Ok, back to the amazing house. This one is Kirklinton Hall and Gardens, the Appleby family home built in 1660. They extended the home in 1875. It has also played host as an RAF base, a school, a hotel, a nightclub, casino and gangsters’ gambling den.
Time for a story, or a visit to Hill Top, the country home to Beatrix Potter from 1905.
Last stop in Cumbria and it's time for something so different you won't believe me. We are going to have a look at The Bowder Stone. A 2000 ton, 30 feet high, fifty feet across and ninety feet in circumference boulder that is balancing very precariously. The rock isn't the same as those around it and is believed to have been carried here during in the Ice Age.
Last stop for this post in the journey is Northumberland. Lets do this leg in size order, so we'll start with castles. First one is Dunstanburgh Castle, built in 1313.
Next is Alnwick Castle, a castle that show's it's 1000 years of history. 700 of those years the Castle has been the Percy family home. Potter fans will recognise this castle, I hope, it was used in the first two movies.
Time to downsize a bit, onto Seaton Delaval Hall. The Delavals built the house in the 1720's. In 1822 the house fell victim to a fire and spent the next 40 years without a roof. The East Wing was used as a POW camp during World War II.
Smaller again is Cragside, the first house in the world to be lit using hydroelectric power.
Last stop in this leg of the journey is at Belsay Hall, a Classical Greek Revival villa. Building work on the hall commenced in 1807.
Until next time
Comments
Post a Comment