On the cover of my school history textbook was a photograph of a jewelled purse lid of gold and garnets – one of the treasures of the Sutton Hoo Ship Burial. Later, studying history at university in London, I spent … Continue reading Sutton Hoo at last
When I was small, I was sometimes taken to visit my grandparents’ cousins’ farm at Swan Bottom in Buckinghamshire. On the way I always looked out for the figurehead of Admiral Lord Howe at The Lee. An incongruous place for … Continue reading Figureheads
You could say that we had a whale of a time when we returned to Hull for a weekend in June. Which would give us something in common with Herman Melville, the author of Moby Dick. Hull is a great … Continue reading Back to Hull
After ten days in Scotland, it was time to make our way back down south. Events having brought a certain historic market town in county Durham to our attention, we decided we had to pay a visit to Barnard Castle. … Continue reading A sight for sore eyes
Covid has changed the face of travel. This weekend I have experienced the new reality of hotel stays for the first time. We are in Stratford upon Avon, somewhere we stay once or twice a year, and in a hotel, … Continue reading Travel in the Time of Covid – Part 1
Near Melksham in Wiltshire in the parish of Great Chalfield, is a fifteenth century manor house built by a remarkable gentleman and Member of Parliament, Thomas Tropnell. Like many other upwardly-mobile gentlemen of the period, he was a lawyer. He … Continue reading Legal Title
There are most definitely two sides to Eltham Palace. In medieval times it was an important royal palace. Anthony Bek, the powerful Bishop of Durham acquired the manor of Eltham from William de Vescy in 1295 as part of the … Continue reading Medieval and Modern
“Have you ever been to a Cat Café before?” “Yes, in Vilnius.” I think my answer slightly confused the owner of what claims to be the first Cat Café in the Midlands, located in Stratford-upon-Avon and called (what else?) the … Continue reading Another town, another Cat Cafe
I had never been to the Lake District, so when my husband was spending a few days there for work, I took the opportunity to join him at the weekend. My work schedule meant that I reached Penrith late on … Continue reading A Day in the Lakes
Fish, Ale, Old Town and Poetry: Finding the connection between these subjects seems like it might be a round on the BBC quiz programme Only Connect. In fact they are all the subjects of ‘trails’ which can be followed round … Continue reading Trailing Around Hull
Travels with me aren't 