Hatfield House

Hatfield House has been the home of earls of Salisury since the reign of James I. The building seen in these photos is what survives of the former Royal Palace of Hatfield, where Elizabeth I spent most of her childhood. As there were a number of schoolchildren touring the old hall, it was not open to the public when we visited. Photography within Hatfield House itself is not allowed, nor is access to the best views of the mansion from the outside. It is an impressive structure both within and without (see link above). The gardens were open and it was perfect day to enjoy them. Check out the giant "weed" in the fourth photo and the sought-after shape for the hedge in the last.

Kensington Gardens

On our last day, we wandered through Kensington Gardens and had tea at the Orangery. We enjoyed the sunken Italian garden and the flower walk, but skipped the Diana memorial and the palace. Anyone who is a fan of the series As Time Goes By may recognize the flower walk. There are signs posted all over saying it is illegal to feed the squirrels and pigeons. As might be expected, we passed a gentleman sitting on a bench next to two large bags from which pigeons and squirrels were helping themselves. The stick left for the dog in the fountain provided just the right touch of whimsy.

Windsor Castle

While the phrase "Mind the gap" brings up visions of the London Tube, it was impossible not to mind the 15" vertical and 12" horizontal gaps between the train carriage and the platform at Windsor station. Windsor Castle was pleasant, with a nice garden in the dry moat, and the airplanes landing and taking off at nearby Heathrow Airport a constant reminder that the Windsors do not have the political influence that they once enjoyed.

Phil's Kersey

Our friend Phil's family hails from Kersey in Suffolk, which was once famous for the large number of homes painted pink. We were in the area and decided to drop by. That's the main road to Kersey below. It is about 10' wide. The hedge rows were about that in height. We did find a few pink houses, but it seems a lot of the homes were recently painted in more vivid colors. Kersey probably was the most colorful small place we came across. And this place was small, with not much more than a pub on the main street.

Abbey Gardens

The abbey at Bury St. Edmunds was once one of the largest and richest in England. When Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, the populace wasted little time in expropriating the stone and brick for their own uses elsewhere. Outside of this gate and the wall, what remains of the abbey has been aptly described as resembling petrified porridge. These days, the gardens within the walls are beautiful. The cathedral in one of the photographs is St. Edmundsbury. Until the gothic revival tower was completed in 2005, it was said to be the only cathedral in Europe without one.

The Angel

"The coach rattled through the streets of a handsome town of thriving and cleanly appearance and stopped before a large Inn situated in a wide open street facing the old abbey. "This must be Bury St. Edmunds, and this" said Mr Pickwick, looking up "is The Angel".

-Charles Dickens

The Angel easily ranks as one of our favorite hotels. The central location was perfect, the rooms imaginatively furnished and equipped, the staff helpful, and the rate exceedingly good. Behind the simple facade hid a warren of hallways, twists, turns, sloping floors and small patios. The restaurant was marvelous and featured the work of local artists on the walls.

Primrose Lane

Well, not really. But it was a park-and-ride & bus station outside of Cambridge. Definitely the most scenic either of us has ever seen.

Odds-and-Ends

Some odd names for stores we ran across, as well as one college, the joke about which only family members will understand.

Berwick-on-Tweed

From the train, about which the less said the better. (The train, not Berwick, which we only passed through.)

Haddon Hall

Haddon Hall, near Bakewell in the Peak District, was virtually abandoned by succeeding dukes of Rutland for over 200 years, thereby emerging reasonably unscathed as a premier example of an Elizabethan manor.

York Castle Museum

The York Castle Museum was a special place. Unlike almost every other place we visited, this museum celebrated the common person. The pictures I took were mainly from the section showing representative rooms from different periods, but the coverage of instrument of daily life, from agricultural implements to laundry equipment was fascinating. What didn't come out were pictures of a magnificent Victorian-era street scene replete with a couple of dozen store-fronts. (It was too dark, even with the flash.) The women working in the stores (in costume), were particularly engaging. On our way out, we ran into the ice cream truck.