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Category Archives: architecture
Day 11: A Day in the Country at Conisborough
Today we drove south into Yorkist country, and headed for Conisborough Castle. It sat on the sidelines during the Wars of the Roses, but it’s an architectural gem with a quirky history. The castle was built by William, Earl of … Continue reading
Posted in 2019 England's Wars of the Roses, architecture, castles, English history
Tagged conisbrough, Walter Scott
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Day 10: Castles & Walls
For our last day in this area, we drove south again, on England’s A1 motorway (essentially a modern version of the 500-year-old Great North Road between London and Edinburgh). An hour later, we arrived at a small hill studded with … Continue reading
Posted in 2019 England's Wars of the Roses, architecture, castles, English history, medieval history
Tagged pontefract, sandal castle, wakefield, York
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Day 9: York Cathedral, From Bottom to Top
I had a perfect day today at York Minster (Cathedral). I started below it, continued above it, and finished in the center of it. The first church on the site was built in 627CE. One big fire and a few … Continue reading
Day 6: Medieval Abbeys, Connected By a Steam Train
Fully rested (and fully windblown), I finally bid farewell to the little seaside town of Redcar and headed south along the coast to another little seaside town, Whitby. Except this town hosted a blockbuster attraction—Whitby Abbey. Whitby Abbey started as … Continue reading
Ending the U.K. Trip in Christchurch
My last day in England was spent in and around Oxford’s magnificent Christchurch College and Cathedral. To whet my appetite, we started the day at the Ashmolean museum. The airy, multi-story building has a bit of everything, from a full-size … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, English history, medieval history
Tagged cathedral, dissolution of the monasteries, reformation, stained glass
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A Thousand Years of Oxford
Canterbury to London to Oxford by westbound trains, and here I am in another ancient English city. The Saxons settled it due to its strategic location on the Thames (oxford=a place where oxen could ford the river). A century later … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, English history, medieval history
Tagged gothic, medieval history, stained glass
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Magna Carta, Sandwich, & the Puritans
The town of Sandwich was already 300 years old when Richard The Lionheart came through on his way back from the Third Crusade in 1194. A half-hour east of Canterbury, it was one of southeastern England’s Cinque (Five) Ports … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, English history, medieval history
Tagged magna carta, reformation, stained glass
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For Anglicans, the Center of the Universe
Just months after William the Conqueror successfully invaded southeastern England from Normandy, he began to build a church in Canterbury. These Normans were planning to stay. Some ten centuries later, I spent the morning in the cathedral that grew … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, castles, medieval history, Uncategorized
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The Vikings Were Here—Along With Everyone Else
My flight left SFO 2 hours late. Late in first class is better than late in coach, but it’s still late. Better food, wine in glass glasses, but we were as late as the people in the very last row. … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, English history, medieval commerce, medieval history
Tagged cathedral, dissolution of the monasteries, vikings
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