tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72378030880458336262024-03-05T05:20:02.482+00:00Heart of EnglandJohn Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-32679406711388776752012-11-01T15:27:00.000+00:002013-01-25T16:00:46.887+00:00Coughton Court Rose Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_zI6sJryPv0s/SyeA70brQJI/AAAAAAAAAgA/IozCPDND5BY/s1600/coughton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_zI6sJryPv0s/SyeA70brQJI/AAAAAAAAAgA/IozCPDND5BY/s320/coughton.jpg" /></a></div>
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The beautiful Rose Garden at Coughton Court has 200 varieties of roses. The best time to visit is in the last week of June or first week in July.<br />
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The centrepiece of the rose garden is a statue of Rosamund, lover of King Henry II. She is surrounded by a bed of rose 'Rosa Mundi'. This rose is named after her.<br />
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In addition to the rose garden, there is also a beautiful lake, with a little gazebo on the far side, which you can see right in the distance on this photograph:<br />
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John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-48853753969382453732011-11-01T15:21:00.002+00:002011-11-01T15:21:47.240+00:00Packwood House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYBO0nsv8PusaBZF-7eHhxUmnaPTc5Y9webGYTeUjZs7Vo0cOX4j_UNm9l6qtUy77Z9y3Hxy5qoHHLJ3S3Z34cDOKI-0dovEkp0ybzvo25U_uaGOWWDlg9r_iR-AYITa9d2ww0zLa_qs/s1600/packwood-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYBO0nsv8PusaBZF-7eHhxUmnaPTc5Y9webGYTeUjZs7Vo0cOX4j_UNm9l6qtUy77Z9y3Hxy5qoHHLJ3S3Z34cDOKI-0dovEkp0ybzvo25U_uaGOWWDlg9r_iR-AYITa9d2ww0zLa_qs/s320/packwood-10.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Packwood House, in Warwickshire, is a garden with a message. Described by Roy Strong as "capturing the atmosphere of religious emblematic horticulture".<br />
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The garden has some conventional herbaceaous borders, and an attractive sunken garden.<br />
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Most of these photos were taken at the end of the season and don't do the garden justice. This garden is very near to me, so I will revisit during this season, and get some far better photos.<br />
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This photo shows the sunken garden, which looks at its best in the Spring.<br />
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This feature is called the Terrace Walk.<br />
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You can see that the plants are getting a bit tired and ragged towards the end of the season. The photo enlarges if you want a closer look.<br />
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There's a lot of nice brickwork around the garden. <br />
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Now we get to the novelties.<br />
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The first unusual feature of this garden is a garden of yew trees. The yew garden was originally laid out around 1660.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI58ReUavHksUaDXg7KNE7FrSasksg5JXbi7DSztNqOap4qgcVO2Z6ckVH-vFqKWuHkJV4u18K9k6ry_iF_CovWPIAFK3wGKyHuHz2kY8MiQ4NXxU-h5LU9jWr-WQ1C3r_6zjhVa-HhRc/s1600/packwood-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI58ReUavHksUaDXg7KNE7FrSasksg5JXbi7DSztNqOap4qgcVO2Z6ckVH-vFqKWuHkJV4u18K9k6ry_iF_CovWPIAFK3wGKyHuHz2kY8MiQ4NXxU-h5LU9jWr-WQ1C3r_6zjhVa-HhRc/s640/packwood-17.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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There is an avenue of yews, and at the far end, another flight of brick steps (just visible in this photo), leading to....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zI6sJryPv0s/S0Lnv2Ctq8I/AAAAAAAAAz4/xcke9RrXgu4/s1600/packwood-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zI6sJryPv0s/S0Lnv2Ctq8I/AAAAAAAAAz4/xcke9RrXgu4/s320/packwood-21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A spiral walkway, which climbs up to a solitary yew.<br />
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If you enlarge the photo you can see two figures standing at the top of the walkway, beneath the solitary conical yew.<br />
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The entire yew garden is said to represent the Sermon on the Mount. The avenue of yews represents the Apostles, and the single yew is referred to as The Master.<br />
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Another novel feature of the garden is a number of clocks and sundials scatered around the garden and on the walls of the buildings. These are just a few... <br />
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Like the Yew garden, this collection of time-keeping devices is inviting us to consider something, about time and eternity.<br />
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This is a garden which is more than an arrangement of plants. It invites the visitor to engage their minds with the garden and to think about things.<br />
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This extract is from <i>The Renaissance Garden in England</i> by Roy Strong:<br />
<blockquote>"What the garden [in general] spoke about most powerfully of all was time. And the object which precipitated these darks thoughts was the sun-dial. Cupid and the Faithful Soul standing within the hortus conclusus point to it. The garden with its cycle of seasons of death and resurrection was a perpetual reminder of life.<br />
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One garden which is full of this symbolism and which still survives is Packwood House, Warwickshire. In the absence of any other surviving instance this re-creation seems to capture the atmosphere of this type of religious emblematic horticulture". </blockquote><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zI6sJryPv0s/S0H6S5VGSxI/AAAAAAAAAs0/KnPmnkVDneo/s1600/packwood-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zI6sJryPv0s/S0H6S5VGSxI/AAAAAAAAAs0/KnPmnkVDneo/s320/packwood-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The entrance to the property is also unique.<br />
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Originally, the approach to the property passed along an avenue of oak trees, a mile long. <br />
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The modern road entrance uses a different route, so most visitors today do not normally see the house from this viewpoint. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2x1kBiH0IFh6EYDlLSFjfHykMAe14V1H0_PM7R-yCPfr4s0zDwxsP6yJKsdWpqwpNAZovl1aSpgfRZv-Cb4lZtvjdo5rXpJs6AUz3gurYNljUzg3guoqGm-hDtjS0NgD3ed3xSrn_zA/s1600/packwood-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2x1kBiH0IFh6EYDlLSFjfHykMAe14V1H0_PM7R-yCPfr4s0zDwxsP6yJKsdWpqwpNAZovl1aSpgfRZv-Cb4lZtvjdo5rXpJs6AUz3gurYNljUzg3guoqGm-hDtjS0NgD3ed3xSrn_zA/s640/packwood-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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There is also much to be seen inside the house. These 3 photos are from the guidebook:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zI6sJryPv0s/S3E3a2c6hjI/AAAAAAAABk0/hsJ9oDO6IQg/packwood-interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_zI6sJryPv0s/S3E3a2c6hjI/AAAAAAAABk0/hsJ9oDO6IQg/packwood-interior.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQptvYLoRfY-HXRI-AqXbdMCc-gNBjyh1dA81JnotG7Vy1SA9_tp6c7n7spb7WvebmVkg48SOAmv120QKRObPLC0CziQE81pF_y3p2dCXDVEYGmLskirnii6D6J39Su57ATN7TVuoXsxk/s1600/packwood-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQptvYLoRfY-HXRI-AqXbdMCc-gNBjyh1dA81JnotG7Vy1SA9_tp6c7n7spb7WvebmVkg48SOAmv120QKRObPLC0CziQE81pF_y3p2dCXDVEYGmLskirnii6D6J39Su57ATN7TVuoXsxk/s320/packwood-25.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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The phrase 'A Thinking Man's Garden' is probably worth a post in itself.<br />
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On the whole I do think that a man's perception of a garden is different to a woman's. The woman's perception inclines more towards experiencing the garden in terms of senses rather than thought. Though having not been born inside a woman's body I don't know what it's like to experience a garden as woman do. I have to use my feeble brain to think about gardens instead.John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-54304646343407725852011-09-03T04:25:00.000+01:002019-02-19T08:33:21.471+00:00The Forest of Arden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nyNVc6yyAYgEf6cCz1Lx2tGr1O1UfRjfJVnH4KfwS4xJRSzZWDYeg42GEvcKsF5hyphenhyphennQ8VVZPeYComxZupkSpq21aWYjhQyE2JLj_orihn194GoGfY-3qCq7WL5SL7HA2xE27sS-PllA/s1600/crackley3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nyNVc6yyAYgEf6cCz1Lx2tGr1O1UfRjfJVnH4KfwS4xJRSzZWDYeg42GEvcKsF5hyphenhyphennQ8VVZPeYComxZupkSpq21aWYjhQyE2JLj_orihn194GoGfY-3qCq7WL5SL7HA2xE27sS-PllA/s400/crackley3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wide footpath inside Crakley Wood</td></tr>
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The part of Warwickshire North-West of the river Avon was the old Forest of Arden. <br />
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The name still occurs in the several place names in the region: Hampton-in-Arden and Henley-in-Arden. <br />
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Much of the Forest of Arden was cleared during the Middle Ages, and some of it earlier. By the time of Domesday, 1086, about 35% of North West Warwickshire is known to have been wooded. <br />
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Despite clearance, the entire area today still retains a wooded character. Everywhere can be seen oak trees, in small copses, in hedgerows, or marking places where hedgerows have been. <br />
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<b>Woodland Clearings - Place Names</b><br />
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Some useful evidence comes to us in the form of Anglo-Saxon place names.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxncLz97BURsOlCVOckDx9C2RhNyocveVPwqaU_yqvE198iKnoAcdZWqcYFe7nvnBp4Xqe2kdaqcFHwXP0EXuw5dDy8eK3j5HXil1bZvGDpoR9YaH7OMN2FN3iV_W61XT6RNO3jGxaTrw/s1600/stoneleigh-view1.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxncLz97BURsOlCVOckDx9C2RhNyocveVPwqaU_yqvE198iKnoAcdZWqcYFe7nvnBp4Xqe2kdaqcFHwXP0EXuw5dDy8eK3j5HXil1bZvGDpoR9YaH7OMN2FN3iV_W61XT6RNO3jGxaTrw/s400/stoneleigh-view1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old oaks liine the B4113 near Stoneleigh</td></tr>
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The names of many villages in the Arden area end with "ley" or "leigh", a Saxon suffix meaning "woodland clearing", and these settlements may have been cleared in Saxon times. <br />
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There are some 85 such place names in Warwickshire, almost all within the Forest of Arden area. The name is rare in Warwickshire outside the Arden region (only 4 occurences outside). <br />
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A "leah" could be either a man-made clearing, or a natural glade or open space. Some place names are based on the name of a family, but many have simple woodland meanings. Here are a few: <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrRPyPiS_sNA7uE6V90IqauicsazU0xDQPmk-5IR5OwrNKkzQxjDdoW4z2d3CqHYQCafeN0fi-rYwf5wR0S8yDo-vf0ADVk4ttEtWseYDytWlezT9Ph_b5P9AOnYPOBwlprlTOzj_YzA/s1600/baddesley2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrRPyPiS_sNA7uE6V90IqauicsazU0xDQPmk-5IR5OwrNKkzQxjDdoW4z2d3CqHYQCafeN0fi-rYwf5wR0S8yDo-vf0ADVk4ttEtWseYDytWlezT9Ph_b5P9AOnYPOBwlprlTOzj_YzA/s400/baddesley2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An old oak frames the Manor House at Baddesley Clinton</td></tr>
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Allesley, Ansley (hermitage in a leah), Aspley (aspen leah), Astley (eastern leah), Baddesley-Clinton (leah owned by Clinton), Baddesley-Ensor (leah owned by Ednesouere), Bentley (bent grass leah), Birchley (birch leah), Botley (bot=firewood), Canley, Corley (cranes forest), Crackley, Darley (deer leah), Fillongley, Haseley (hazel leah), Henley (high leah), Honiley (honey leah), Ipsley (leah on a hill), Keresley, Kingley, Knightley, Langley (long leah), Oakley (oak wood), Pinley (pinn=slope), Pooley (pool leah), Ragley (rag=moss leah), Ratley (rot=merry), Saltley (sallow=willow), Shelley (leah on slope), Shirley (shire leah, where a moot is held), Shrewley (sheriff's leah), Stoneleigh (stony leah), Studley (pasture for horses), Tackley (tack=sheep), Walmley (warm leah), Waverley (waver=brushwood), Whitley (white leah), Willey (willow leah), Windley (winn=meadow).<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfJpWGdU1l3MjuQpYyTYLpv7ZKXdKzSJGFsz9QPHgMDqxJW746XFEvB4HfLYTDy8PkYyExO-Z1OlGPLBeaJ34O61iCPXsdyrcU7f39U6by8uQFAYUVnTjd_Q2OlxDdBgMBcVuXuzYCas/s1600/prestonbagot3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfJpWGdU1l3MjuQpYyTYLpv7ZKXdKzSJGFsz9QPHgMDqxJW746XFEvB4HfLYTDy8PkYyExO-Z1OlGPLBeaJ34O61iCPXsdyrcU7f39U6by8uQFAYUVnTjd_Q2OlxDdBgMBcVuXuzYCas/s400/prestonbagot3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Footpath from Preston Bagot leading to Henley-in-Arden</td></tr>
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Such place names are evident in the three photos above, which were taken at Crack-ley, Stone-leigh, and Baddes-ley. And also in the photo right, taken near Hen-ley.<br />
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Virtually no Roman roads cross the region. It has been suggested that this was due to the difficulty of building roads through woodland.<br />
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The dominant tree in the Arden area of Warwickshire is oak. In some villages approximately 90% of the large trees are oaks.<br />
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The subsoil here is a generally a heavy deep clay. Digging a small hole, after about 9 inches down will hit clay, which is what oaks like, and many other trees don't. This heavy clay soil is less favourable to agriculture and so was less susceptible to being cleared for farmland.<br />
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<b>The Geology of the Area</b> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74NeBMCRmD7a6JghisIgG4HOinTMORUDvpTuZOd7OjM6BCvOSi9_maAdCs0jT4eQ8QTTLiUyBA6gzvy1T8byZsOAk-yM-IILD6o685Q6kF9sMBndk6rD3NI4Ts_663ddlzmOQ1cHT6jw/s1600/arden-map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74NeBMCRmD7a6JghisIgG4HOinTMORUDvpTuZOd7OjM6BCvOSi9_maAdCs0jT4eQ8QTTLiUyBA6gzvy1T8byZsOAk-yM-IILD6o685Q6kF9sMBndk6rD3NI4Ts_663ddlzmOQ1cHT6jw/s1600/arden-map.jpg" /></a>The Arden area is effectively bounded by Roman roads (shown in red on this map), the Fosse Way on the East side, and the Salt Road along the Southern boundary.<br />
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The area of the Forest of Arden correlates with an area of underlying Mercia Mudstone (shown in light brown) and Carboniferous Sandstones (grey). Sherwood Forest lies 40 miles to the North, on the same band of Mercia Mudstone, which forms a narrow arc across England. <br />
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The contrasting area of Warwickshire South-East of the Avon consists of much more open countryside. This overlays a band of Jurassic Lias Clay soils (shown in dark brown). In contrast to the Arden, the South-East area of Warwickshire is traditionally known as Feldon. The historian Dugdale speaks of the Avon dividing the "wooded part" from the Feldon. <br />
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<b>Shakespeare's Arden</b><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GgPI6ZNTMQpAz8dq4rXOuxxURUrBwGbK8zDT0HdBx4PWYI9Ll74tTQ6FtIosNXj1PCmFUBFw1K4Cu6j9J-5Ui4IugU-71WcVxlF8MDdRJu-fNOBqkRn_Fjax1uSxZWOFw1IDNRIuk1M/s1600/snitterfieldview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GgPI6ZNTMQpAz8dq4rXOuxxURUrBwGbK8zDT0HdBx4PWYI9Ll74tTQ6FtIosNXj1PCmFUBFw1K4Cu6j9J-5Ui4IugU-71WcVxlF8MDdRJu-fNOBqkRn_Fjax1uSxZWOFw1IDNRIuk1M/s400/snitterfieldview.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View outside Stratford, more typical of the landscape today</td></tr>
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The Forest of Arden is the setting for Shakespeare's play <i>As You Like It</i>. Besides the Forest of Arden in Warwickshire, there are two similary named woodlands in France. Shakespeare's play is an adaption of an earlier story written by Thomas Lodge, which was originally set in one of the French woodlands. By a coincidence Arden also happened to be the name of the woodland around Shakespeare's home, and also, by another coincidence Arden was the maiden name of Shakespeare's mother.<br />
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In Shakespeare's mind the woodland imagary would have come from his local wood. Shakespeare seems to have compared Arden with the Biblical Eden. The idylic ife inside the forest contrasts with the "fallen" world outside the forest. There are several allusions to the Biblical story in the play. The Forest is a magical place, where strange coincidences occur, strange apparitions appear, and where people are transformed through self-discovery, or by finding love. <br />
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<b>Modern Regeneration of Forest of Arden</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIrQ87QqrCtGQ1t6gWKHLgMWf78-ON2KyLAPxL4xEEBooyDqZlCN4BceCJ9D7vojSnpRTXqk62hlAD3dljpjPRloqhZwoLUtkKKSD-3kaZVC6I0nz0FKvEOMLv6pIs1ERwEjOOlvvRsk/s1600/forest-map.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIrQ87QqrCtGQ1t6gWKHLgMWf78-ON2KyLAPxL4xEEBooyDqZlCN4BceCJ9D7vojSnpRTXqk62hlAD3dljpjPRloqhZwoLUtkKKSD-3kaZVC6I0nz0FKvEOMLv6pIs1ERwEjOOlvvRsk/s320/forest-map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
In 1989, the UK Countryside Commision were investigating the possibility of creating a new National Forest. The combined local authorities of the Warwickshire area proposed a plan to regenerate the Forest of Arden. This map, from their proposal document, shows the proposed area of the new forest. This would have been similar to the area of the original forest, with the exceptions that the City of Coventry, and the Eastern perimeter of Birmingham, which did lie within the old forest, would have been excluded from the new forest. The new forest would not have extended South beyond Warwick. This is not a plan to introduce wall-to-wall forest, but to increase the proportion of land under woodland. The plan would have involved planting 150 million trees, including a high proportion of oak, in the area. For various political and economic reasons, no progress has been made to accomplish this. <br />
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<b>British Native Trees</b><br />
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There are 32 species of native British trees: alder, crab apple, ash, aspen, beech, birch (2 species), box, wild cherry (2), elm, hawthorn (2), hazel, holly, hornbeam, juniper, lime (2), maple, oak (2), scots pine, poplar, rowan, service tree, whitebeam, willow (4) and yew. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFMDi2KV9-RKzsSG2FtTwY4B7a7qLyuWnTps2B3pEjCRwgKnFk-1n_BF8Q_y5UV1jekriM7JU6rGPezzTEAUU6Vsp7XN5fgjaYEbZQf9AcDpiDX0X94FekmPRzYFX52XRU4QBL_nhKdU/s1600/withycombe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFMDi2KV9-RKzsSG2FtTwY4B7a7qLyuWnTps2B3pEjCRwgKnFk-1n_BF8Q_y5UV1jekriM7JU6rGPezzTEAUU6Vsp7XN5fgjaYEbZQf9AcDpiDX0X94FekmPRzYFX52XRU4QBL_nhKdU/s400/withycombe.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside Withycombe Wood, near Stratford</td></tr>
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The ecological values of trees can be measured by the number of different insects they host. Oak hosts 284 species; followed by willow (266); birch (229) and blackthorn (149). Sweet and horse chestnuts are popular as specimen trees on village greens in Warwickshire, but are foreign imports. Horse chestnut was introduced, in the 16th century from Turkey, and only hosts 4 insects. <br />
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The dominant tree in the Arden area of Warwickshire is oak. Silver birch is common (the 2nd most common tree in English woodlands) and grows very quickly. Ground left open here will first be covered by bramble and birch, and then, as oak grows up through and over it, the oak takes over. Elm used to be common in Warwickshire hedgerows, but was mainly wiped out by Dutch Elm disease about 10 years ago. <br />
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<b>Short History of British Woodlands</b><br />
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During the last ice age, 12,000 years ago, there were no trees at all across England. At the end of the ice age, trees began to move northwards from Southern Europe. 5,000 years ago, England was largely covered by wildwood. Pollen analysis shows that the commonest tree, throughout central and southern England was the lime.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJanfO5YYeUJ8r7Y7fY6y6tfXU678PA-Z88UirVPjvbCGJlV2_9bg-3TQF2KoZUwQn8sdusbzr2UGkXIvTbcJDjLaTNQtRwJNJw-kfV5OtxBF6BaVMJkBtfy5adL5vvMKvLfG1Ybs4QJE/s1600/crackley1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJanfO5YYeUJ8r7Y7fY6y6tfXU678PA-Z88UirVPjvbCGJlV2_9bg-3TQF2KoZUwQn8sdusbzr2UGkXIvTbcJDjLaTNQtRwJNJw-kfV5OtxBF6BaVMJkBtfy5adL5vvMKvLfG1Ybs4QJE/s400/crackley1.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside Crackley Wood</td></tr>
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Much of the extensive natural woodland covering of England was cleared in pre-Roman times. By the time of the Norman Conquest only around 15% of England remained wooded. Substantial areas of woodland remained in Warwickshire and Middlesex. These pre-Norman woodlands were not deserted wall-to-wall-forest, but contained within them clearings, natural and man-made, and thriving communities, raising pigs and other livestock, and sustainable harvesting of timber for building and for charcoal. <br />
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1066 - Norman Conquest. The Norman Kings wished to claim large areas of woodland for sport, and introduced the concept of Royal Forest. These designated areas included both wood, meadow and farmland. About 25% of England was brought under "Forest Law", with severe penalties for poaching the King's game. <br />
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In the 12th Century the Royal Forests became means for raising money, though fines and other mechanisms. Nobilty could buy leases from the Crown to farm areas of the Forest. <br />
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By the 16th Century English Kings had ambitions for national power and independence particularly against Catholic Spain. This demanded charcoal for iron, and timber for shipbuilding. The tanning of leather required the use of oak bark, which was another major demand specifically for oak. Large areas of forest were sold to enterprising nobility. A third of the entire Forest of Dean was felled in one year. <br />
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The 17th Century marked England's rise as a seafaring nation. To build a single large warship required 2,000 mature oaks. Only 12% of England remained wooded, and declining woodland became cause for concern. Within 80 years the number of oaks in Sherwood Forest alone had dwindled from 23,000 to 1,300. <br />
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By the 18th Century there was a shortage of naval timber, and the start of programs to plant new forest. By the end of the 18th Century several millions of new trees had been planted. <br />
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<br />John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-1438732725570593632011-08-31T03:46:00.000+01:002011-08-31T03:46:37.897+01:00Stratford to Coventry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmj3WhPibsshPyepO0rEPGJpwImPPxy6ahBJUi_rp6YpYCjew4e3Z4Qsi3V4fbEH2s8ugximG771dz56QELnky7D6UTDn8rexJQfibp7ryZsducag8mmeyXjLZTvFu4EMktS7WaZQMzg/s1600/x1bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmj3WhPibsshPyepO0rEPGJpwImPPxy6ahBJUi_rp6YpYCjew4e3Z4Qsi3V4fbEH2s8ugximG771dz56QELnky7D6UTDn8rexJQfibp7ryZsducag8mmeyXjLZTvFu4EMktS7WaZQMzg/s1600/x1bus.jpg" /></a></div>The Stagecoach 16 bus service provides a convenient way for visitors to Stratford to visit Warwick Castle, Kenilworth Castle and Coventry (and for visitors to Coventry and Warwick University to visit Stratford).<br />
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There's a full timetable, and route details here: <a href="http://www.stagecoachbus.com/GetUpload.ashx?Id=2992">Stagecoach Service 16 </a><br />
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This picture shows the Service 16 bus at its departure point in Wood Street, Stratford. (The bus may often be a single-decker bus). <br />
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All the remaining pictures on this page were taken from the top of the bus.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdFKSinYQcqQUvaHvn0O5pPlb71AJdcc54KN9Lm99iNbi5qgf4lxiHpp6JAEUPQ7ogClS_365Oly2G_ZfQycOm9stasW_SwZI68D2K50yY0AieF_E4qDs9_p59JjXcI3UKdgIeOjYeNU/s1600/x1a439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdFKSinYQcqQUvaHvn0O5pPlb71AJdcc54KN9Lm99iNbi5qgf4lxiHpp6JAEUPQ7ogClS_365Oly2G_ZfQycOm9stasW_SwZI68D2K50yY0AieF_E4qDs9_p59JjXcI3UKdgIeOjYeNU/s1600/x1a439.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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This is the A439, Warwick Road, as it leaves Stratford. <br />
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From the A439, there are some good long distance views to the right, looking across the Avon valley...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLqPOprVQtY_IE0b3t6sssglgRMaWXIpfU4bc-1YSMxfJb_PM877_9M27IGVNwxG8RB-j8MqaRVvySarNk6Z6Bp0m0vWmoe_QkaI81lYzQwhqnqSUbWsnhhSFmy5HGUsDZamHUtvrQrQ/s1600/x1snitterfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLqPOprVQtY_IE0b3t6sssglgRMaWXIpfU4bc-1YSMxfJb_PM877_9M27IGVNwxG8RB-j8MqaRVvySarNk6Z6Bp0m0vWmoe_QkaI81lYzQwhqnqSUbWsnhhSFmy5HGUsDZamHUtvrQrQ/s1600/x1snitterfield.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The countryside is flat and open here (this was called the Feldon). It becomes more wooded as we get North of Kenilworth (the Arden).<br />
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The photo above is taken near Snitterfield, the childhood home of John Shakespeare, Shakespeare's father. But the 16 bus does not pass through Snitterfield itself. If you want to visit Snitterfield, then you would need to catch a different, less frequent, local bus service. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy03towwcT9d7FnXNh7pre5YLUPl6Ky2Z2vDrtG1G5qnXbh0mV55vs-yrRnSednsA-bBVt3zsCQA4jaaBa9nWSxRq0ODnKsHTQ21K7JWn-gu75UPfjwEoN1wHh6zwdGVnfC9pT-s5IzDA/s1600/x1coplowhill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy03towwcT9d7FnXNh7pre5YLUPl6Ky2Z2vDrtG1G5qnXbh0mV55vs-yrRnSednsA-bBVt3zsCQA4jaaBa9nWSxRq0ODnKsHTQ21K7JWn-gu75UPfjwEoN1wHh6zwdGVnfC9pT-s5IzDA/s1600/x1coplowhill.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>Approaching Warwick, along the A46, near Coplow Hill, there is a good view of the town straight ahead.<br />
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You can very easily see St Mary's Church, Warwick. The towers of Warwick Castle are just visible, but these are largely obscured by trees. The tower of St Mary's Church is much higher than the towers of Warwick Castle. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MesSqqQ_BvvOl4uJISxJ6g4bYNt12RkRyLkYULs-SnDfWv_dwpujRyFgJ3A7t3LSncc0jBhjJ2ZR0ExLNJIe2wMSN8MXSC3wmuMelTK8qjseP0WGwFmz5RUNKqJRz1aZ3zNYunNYB4k/s1600/x1coplowhill2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MesSqqQ_BvvOl4uJISxJ6g4bYNt12RkRyLkYULs-SnDfWv_dwpujRyFgJ3A7t3LSncc0jBhjJ2ZR0ExLNJIe2wMSN8MXSC3wmuMelTK8qjseP0WGwFmz5RUNKqJRz1aZ3zNYunNYB4k/s1600/x1coplowhill2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Uq2-KCtcLcIQlJUdT9WMYrvhdfFID_CBHhtfq98VuBtSJioFVCircGRpuvgoqwLL5bk44Kv180HWZvLEcGyXL-CSMOWtYFOBRnUhYPk744qaYC35lI850KtWABS6oeAchhMecuhSJ2Y/s1600/x1longbridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Uq2-KCtcLcIQlJUdT9WMYrvhdfFID_CBHhtfq98VuBtSJioFVCircGRpuvgoqwLL5bk44Kv180HWZvLEcGyXL-CSMOWtYFOBRnUhYPk744qaYC35lI850KtWABS6oeAchhMecuhSJ2Y/s1600/x1longbridge.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Before we reach Warwick, we need to cross the Longbridge Island. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2Ose-8h-uCM65N8JBkj1Y36E8Ej2pJCSYTDZuzFTyRq5fbDIGuCHjTTLPc2olmwviXMrNQyQFL0UDGdWQApkuLETKZQD1KyNLVSCUxeB4LKE1_0HpVvainOcefHxurTVaMqgyRncOls/s1600/x1longbridge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2Ose-8h-uCM65N8JBkj1Y36E8Ej2pJCSYTDZuzFTyRq5fbDIGuCHjTTLPc2olmwviXMrNQyQFL0UDGdWQApkuLETKZQD1KyNLVSCUxeB4LKE1_0HpVvainOcefHxurTVaMqgyRncOls/s1600/x1longbridge2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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The Longbridge Island is a major junction where 3 main routes intersect: <br />
The M40 Motorway, which links London with Birmingham. <br />
The A46, which links Stratford to Coventry. <br />
The A429, which links Warwick to Cirencester and the Fosse Way.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoHOl0KBbMG5fgcx02ZLerTkN80Ie0uepqkg3vlS9vutw7bdDC95qZUPIU4Gj5n_Zvr03aKjXfEzkGQPF1BbA4tQmEgd0pWSfp_dn9LL68aEkhftPIcoy9-hh-erVNkY1m1vHCJvI8fM/s1600/x1m40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoHOl0KBbMG5fgcx02ZLerTkN80Ie0uepqkg3vlS9vutw7bdDC95qZUPIU4Gj5n_Zvr03aKjXfEzkGQPF1BbA4tQmEgd0pWSfp_dn9LL68aEkhftPIcoy9-hh-erVNkY1m1vHCJvI8fM/s1600/x1m40.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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This is a view looking along the M40 towards Birmingham, taken from the bus as it passes over the flyover at the Longbridge Island. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsu1xodux4IRtEVNoOzVsB34eCgj_vaBXR0T08Oz_aTpDXM88Bv5sU4JnvJVFXD0xp0dPgAxBUEYjJkZx_7pkfOvpJt9EFcSC-01c7TGhzdvlyCKJwGn8B67fDfCYB7l-7mszTiJrMCoQ/s1600/x1weststreet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsu1xodux4IRtEVNoOzVsB34eCgj_vaBXR0T08Oz_aTpDXM88Bv5sU4JnvJVFXD0xp0dPgAxBUEYjJkZx_7pkfOvpJt9EFcSC-01c7TGhzdvlyCKJwGn8B67fDfCYB7l-7mszTiJrMCoQ/s1600/x1weststreet.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Coming into Warwick, this is West Street.<br />
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The main entrance for cars to Warwick Castle is indicated by the red arrow. It isn't very well signposted. If you are on the bus, then there are also alternative entrances for pestestrians further around the castle. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4ROP-W_eJPiCQBysjymjqNfRqO23no1WchqBE_wMWa3ib9ahLTqO7L5pIhmL0J3IR_rUAxqhruxsdXwj0oIui1f8tAIBzIExIJJPI2Gxu0fAXaqgdBO3xq1tK3dIu6gFFWbQfhMz0N0/s1600/x1carentrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4ROP-W_eJPiCQBysjymjqNfRqO23no1WchqBE_wMWa3ib9ahLTqO7L5pIhmL0J3IR_rUAxqhruxsdXwj0oIui1f8tAIBzIExIJJPI2Gxu0fAXaqgdBO3xq1tK3dIu6gFFWbQfhMz0N0/s1600/x1carentrance.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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We pass by the main car entrance to Warwick Castle.<br />
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You can't see anything of the castle towers from any part of the bus ride (except the view from Coplow Hill). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtRqXCc31F3c9JKSHNX9SBCzKS8sYsTtA1TQeJ8rrhL3UH0Gw2udS3r-o6ruluzQS7H3nebamR4DFfLlniL75iGDTOKCdcd3hTsIEPb1G5iY0E-OE-uxaCX1TjJNNwgoVqc-g0iuAQvM/s1600/x1westgate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtRqXCc31F3c9JKSHNX9SBCzKS8sYsTtA1TQeJ8rrhL3UH0Gw2udS3r-o6ruluzQS7H3nebamR4DFfLlniL75iGDTOKCdcd3hTsIEPb1G5iY0E-OE-uxaCX1TjJNNwgoVqc-g0iuAQvM/s1600/x1westgate.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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The tall stone building at the top of the hill is West Gate, one of the gates around the old town.<br />
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There's also an East Gate, on the opposite side of the town, which the bus will pass by. And there was a North Gate, which no longer exists. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdLwmfX4Nno1rmlxDjqXn5OMFP8LiP_zoqlmsa-cTRKYt4kHVJWUx-SoXmZbbYAfYzqfSLuffUboCuS673xCkyIAy75dYzZVJzd4TXOOsVJOj5IiGQD-LVD8Gu_EbaiF7zZqvVXa6KQ8/s1600/x1museum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdLwmfX4Nno1rmlxDjqXn5OMFP8LiP_zoqlmsa-cTRKYt4kHVJWUx-SoXmZbbYAfYzqfSLuffUboCuS673xCkyIAy75dYzZVJzd4TXOOsVJOj5IiGQD-LVD8Gu_EbaiF7zZqvVXa6KQ8/s1600/x1museum.jpg" /></a></div>The centre of Warwick consists of some narrow and winding streets, on top of a small hill. The bus makes it's way, tortuously, to the small bus station.<br />
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This is the market square. The building in the centre of the picture is the former Market Hall, which is now used to house the Warwickshire County Museum. <br />
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The bus station is just round the corner. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyeQpaSckhOU9JEAs49URdQA-uR8U-1Z3kSX-g63dmthDKG4zue7GuDXX5hvDgY8iCB0OFw7IpDMrO-FEOYCcO2QNrRYFepSVGYUvLTlILjoXR3QCfVrFOQ1PjtNGQejIfy_iBJAOEpY/s1600/x1busstation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyeQpaSckhOU9JEAs49URdQA-uR8U-1Z3kSX-g63dmthDKG4zue7GuDXX5hvDgY8iCB0OFw7IpDMrO-FEOYCcO2QNrRYFepSVGYUvLTlILjoXR3QCfVrFOQ1PjtNGQejIfy_iBJAOEpY/s1600/x1busstation.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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The bus may wait for several minutes at the bus station. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KF96gmGGFogHCWmPm7J0XJmXlhtSz-1WtfzyUt81_JseepGqya2YC2T9gyry-xWI0GN7c66TwC1avByN7-IHxSFi1vNWoLtQeJavUZZda69Lek7GURO-5olRGa4Law9KU8SDDKzhGfA/s1600/x1northgatest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KF96gmGGFogHCWmPm7J0XJmXlhtSz-1WtfzyUt81_JseepGqya2YC2T9gyry-xWI0GN7c66TwC1avByN7-IHxSFi1vNWoLtQeJavUZZda69Lek7GURO-5olRGa4Law9KU8SDDKzhGfA/s1600/x1northgatest.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Leaving the bus station, the bus passes around the hillside, and passes the end of Northgate Street.<br />
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Looking up Northgate Street, we can catch a brief glimpse of St Mary's Church, and The Shire Hall (County Council administrative offices). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiii4KYM2G7bGEBeByWDoLpvqPKpwyP3kVrgrStIsn-wwUrJILmf5tIDLRFJL-o4yDCIssMKh1X6VpBwxYZmwhDfKRmFrdtRZICcLCmSqWrCKvRS5vlGl-yE4T4ke-mgDWhyphenhyphen_fhZDg-kUU/s1600/x1smithst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiii4KYM2G7bGEBeByWDoLpvqPKpwyP3kVrgrStIsn-wwUrJILmf5tIDLRFJL-o4yDCIssMKh1X6VpBwxYZmwhDfKRmFrdtRZICcLCmSqWrCKvRS5vlGl-yE4T4ke-mgDWhyphenhyphen_fhZDg-kUU/s1600/x1smithst.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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The bus leaves Warwick along Smith Street.<br />
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At the bottom of Smith Street the bus turns left. This is where Warwick railway station is. There is a bus stop outside the railway station. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVadfWy4bnrfSkFX-XZfMOHTretfdR38dpw023ixEGtSpr6VcwTCTdffpciWiF9F-jsFkugxcK-lYmwCKrNPudC37Cv76pAbRMQTx8QkmLKTtjVNUQjtalzEuWeLyzsBG4DKuoF4aH_zw/s1600/x1leekwootton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVadfWy4bnrfSkFX-XZfMOHTretfdR38dpw023ixEGtSpr6VcwTCTdffpciWiF9F-jsFkugxcK-lYmwCKrNPudC37Cv76pAbRMQTx8QkmLKTtjVNUQjtalzEuWeLyzsBG4DKuoF4aH_zw/s1600/x1leekwootton.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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On its way to Kenilworth, passing through the small village of Leek Wootton, mid-way between Warwick and Kenilworth.<br />
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There are a number of thatched cottages in this village, which the bus passes very swiftly. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9NTob6aY1YFCH22bb3jvYdr5sx4H7KdgdUtRNcRHw9CVFgYbKEj8m3SVryd5GjFpBENOVxFfvA2OAxdQpbIw3wbKyPwiAuX2Kfybg4or54nyVrKMHb7k-gVEKPd5PfSt5Wu9jtK1XM0/s1600/x1stjohns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9NTob6aY1YFCH22bb3jvYdr5sx4H7KdgdUtRNcRHw9CVFgYbKEj8m3SVryd5GjFpBENOVxFfvA2OAxdQpbIw3wbKyPwiAuX2Kfybg4or54nyVrKMHb7k-gVEKPd5PfSt5Wu9jtK1XM0/s1600/x1stjohns.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Coming into Kenilworth, we first see St John's Church. <br />
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Kenilworth has a long straight main street, called Warwick Road.<br />
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This is a view looking down the length of Warwick Road. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJterjfomjCWqgQ6IhiHoOAiaki7TUSAl5ixlBnzyCfCj7wcPkWjL_nn4BOqndS3SywK_HTejFHiDVIJCgXrxmylnHRf5AdoyFpXfCwWw7jlUeVFsQov_x4sZfQzXQe2_wGR0H0IZpxA/s1600/x1clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJterjfomjCWqgQ6IhiHoOAiaki7TUSAl5ixlBnzyCfCj7wcPkWjL_nn4BOqndS3SywK_HTejFHiDVIJCgXrxmylnHRf5AdoyFpXfCwWw7jlUeVFsQov_x4sZfQzXQe2_wGR0H0IZpxA/s1600/x1clock.jpg" /></a></div>At the far end of Warwick Road is Kenilworth Clock. The bus travels up the road at the right, and then does a right left.<br />
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Kenilworth Clock, shown in the picture, is point to get off for Kenilworth Castle. <br />
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Service 16 only goes through Kenilworth town centre, so there is a short walk to the castle. Walk up the road on the right, and then take the left turn, or walk through the park, to the castle. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONWDT2gQh32aWjCa5JTfBZZ2bnvRCvYAiK4mIDYssO-dXS2mBUvyUlskGKfEUQ6RLRBO7tnrG0IIXcqiq6to8eSpzmPtN2aRhnBntUzIaiDiJn1lI26AOoEBRaGXmwJGW8SYU-dNQ1XM/s1600/x1kencastle1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONWDT2gQh32aWjCa5JTfBZZ2bnvRCvYAiK4mIDYssO-dXS2mBUvyUlskGKfEUQ6RLRBO7tnrG0IIXcqiq6to8eSpzmPtN2aRhnBntUzIaiDiJn1lI26AOoEBRaGXmwJGW8SYU-dNQ1XM/s1600/x1kencastle1.jpg" /></a></div>The tops of the stonework of Kenilworth Castle can just be seen over the trees (red circle). <br />
At this point you can walk along the road, or through the park ahead (at the right in the picture). <br />
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The park is known as the Abbey Fields, and the contains the remains of Kenilworth Priory. <br />
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The three pictures, immediately below. were taken from the road walking towards the caste. The Service 16 bus doesn't pass down this road... <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdTgW2dGMvh35Bdn5V8kE5z88DmJ-qKELF5sQkaIFI3FMsNiLyhY8BLyQMj_UNHGmzra2ansGnpnDun2ElN14OJtgLcaphVFpWEqy89hwJDW60ypTLQO91vwexYzvKVQX5MuV0UsRwrs/s1600/x1ford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdTgW2dGMvh35Bdn5V8kE5z88DmJ-qKELF5sQkaIFI3FMsNiLyhY8BLyQMj_UNHGmzra2ansGnpnDun2ElN14OJtgLcaphVFpWEqy89hwJDW60ypTLQO91vwexYzvKVQX5MuV0UsRwrs/s320/x1ford.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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This is known as Kenilworth Ford.<br />
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At times of very heavy rain, perhaps once or twice a year, the road can come under several inches of water. Just a small puddle is visible in this picture. <br />
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The entrance to the castle is just on the left, exactly at the spot where I was standing to take this photo.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_A_aXugV5S379hKnytmLnyCv2Tezi6MoHgErdDrZR7LVTqDtKvvHueeT2wjMefckfthRDf4uWe7OOUSZaBPZkLbfW9MXVj3b8W-bAGvajjkckUiqvPE8fMSU4DfKXYsu6NlgHSqp534/s1600/x1teashop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_A_aXugV5S379hKnytmLnyCv2Tezi6MoHgErdDrZR7LVTqDtKvvHueeT2wjMefckfthRDf4uWe7OOUSZaBPZkLbfW9MXVj3b8W-bAGvajjkckUiqvPE8fMSU4DfKXYsu6NlgHSqp534/s320/x1teashop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Following this road a bit further and bearing right, is a tea shop and a public house.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_X-XXvJKQyOK6KAkQfCTreJlY3htvCJNyLNs8Uc_qVtKJXl8XG8qwTvtlDMWMIM5Nx_pAGs8-BAWOQY_TXUQwoentNRVGpao8H3rXFCbaXKCIwNSy0jciQCNSuqal738C6owW92Y_uU/s1600/x1littlevirginia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_X-XXvJKQyOK6KAkQfCTreJlY3htvCJNyLNs8Uc_qVtKJXl8XG8qwTvtlDMWMIM5Nx_pAGs8-BAWOQY_TXUQwoentNRVGpao8H3rXFCbaXKCIwNSy0jciQCNSuqal738C6owW92Y_uU/s1600/x1littlevirginia.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Directly opposite the pub and the tea shop, is a small village of half-timbered thatched cottages. This hamlet is known as Little Virginia.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhlW0-J6QZy9XY5YdX1k7iisKXgIcHPTXDwTlx-OkAw2n7kp1FpBp8v6XBcy4M3cp7wzFTyVygy6fYFx2iWK3pOBqAx3H50qTupHOgjRf00qYusm3QHp-rVcfsHpAmOyPBLSbhu9f6PM/s1600/x1crackley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhlW0-J6QZy9XY5YdX1k7iisKXgIcHPTXDwTlx-OkAw2n7kp1FpBp8v6XBcy4M3cp7wzFTyVygy6fYFx2iWK3pOBqAx3H50qTupHOgjRf00qYusm3QHp-rVcfsHpAmOyPBLSbhu9f6PM/s1600/x1crackley.jpg" /></a><br />
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Resuming the service 16 route, and leaving Kenilworth, there are a couple of miles of open countryside between Kenilworth and Coventry.<br />
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The countryside here has a different character from the countryside around Stratford. <br />
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This is the region of the old Forest of Arden. Although the forest was clear long ago, this area still has a wooded feel to it. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-WtIDdYqytB6F8VFWFbUtpB9jP6GeI6QFuVMsOOdZFSdpmo3TkF-BQbt3i9uTKdRTSu2LU47dMgpPncnDx4DaWt1Ao-MtqL4Wzt5Ly6De62_avJJ27Xer0IpLK_FQkFN_3xK0YkShqk/s1600/x1gibbethill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-WtIDdYqytB6F8VFWFbUtpB9jP6GeI6QFuVMsOOdZFSdpmo3TkF-BQbt3i9uTKdRTSu2LU47dMgpPncnDx4DaWt1Ao-MtqL4Wzt5Ly6De62_avJJ27Xer0IpLK_FQkFN_3xK0YkShqk/s1600/x1gibbethill.jpg" /></a></div>This is a view of the approach to Coventry along the Kenilworth Road.<br />
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The bus doesn't go directly into Coventry but takes a short detour through the the University of Warwick.<br />
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This picture is taken with the bus, stopped at a cross roads, at the top of Gibbet Hill. The bus turns left here, along Gigget Hill Road, which runs through the University of Warwick. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZnj6-X_qJUyengQtVdIP2RRDSwLTYYD1r7o-F10I7mqmqgw-03zqATxyHck4yMVLrWE6Qw9Yqzil9zfeMZl1KNAZT0TlsS0u0QM37fTIGsZrHMHrTyZIx5UYJTz1dlT8EhMgdBa9s-w/s1600/x1halls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZnj6-X_qJUyengQtVdIP2RRDSwLTYYD1r7o-F10I7mqmqgw-03zqATxyHck4yMVLrWE6Qw9Yqzil9zfeMZl1KNAZT0TlsS0u0QM37fTIGsZrHMHrTyZIx5UYJTz1dlT8EhMgdBa9s-w/s1600/x1halls.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Student Halls of Residence, and numerous teaching buildings, are visible through the trees, on both sides of the road. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxZ62xexuR3fscq0oy433MKk688msj0PNwqOZK87IaBcjI4SpKhtHrpTe9ADY6djeUbG4FVwOAVAj_53qtYMbDXpAaLyk0r53HI9jKVpfZ4GohsmahHrckqvnUiWTYZ5t1ObRugBjfCo/s1600/x1gibbethillroad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxZ62xexuR3fscq0oy433MKk688msj0PNwqOZK87IaBcjI4SpKhtHrpTe9ADY6djeUbG4FVwOAVAj_53qtYMbDXpAaLyk0r53HI9jKVpfZ4GohsmahHrckqvnUiWTYZ5t1ObRugBjfCo/s1600/x1gibbethillroad.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Gibbet Hill Road, as it runs through the University campus. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4p_PJqws2_a5K57WtcOB561qU13-sAPhuNqXE5RbTBaKAs7HsSk7HTQWlBt4BrMlyq3uPzD7U4nGzE8SfH4n2i3edffiGWf0MYwf7vc6sr6vbIXcO0F03f35ZoVs9qxqke8uKxO7_h4/s1600/x1rootes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4p_PJqws2_a5K57WtcOB561qU13-sAPhuNqXE5RbTBaKAs7HsSk7HTQWlBt4BrMlyq3uPzD7U4nGzE8SfH4n2i3edffiGWf0MYwf7vc6sr6vbIXcO0F03f35ZoVs9qxqke8uKxO7_h4/s1600/x1rootes.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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The bus makes a complete circuit around the University campus. <br />
On the left is Rootes Hall, the University students' social centre. <br />
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These pictures are all taken from the top of the bus. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qVSq1-MFMa3zlu0-tTfFDJWfTBO7c1RB6d_lJFroGha_dLEFPyKXH-LbSHwylqWcIt-U-OLeUV0H9t4nedVe_XmY-lrKG5RCtDf_f63oel6xMAs-jkvLw7v2nhShvhVhpevb69GrSYo/s1600/x1arts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qVSq1-MFMa3zlu0-tTfFDJWfTBO7c1RB6d_lJFroGha_dLEFPyKXH-LbSHwylqWcIt-U-OLeUV0H9t4nedVe_XmY-lrKG5RCtDf_f63oel6xMAs-jkvLw7v2nhShvhVhpevb69GrSYo/s1600/x1arts.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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On the right, directly opposite Rootes Hall, is Warwick Arts Centre. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGMD91hw-E-Thp9uNPC8TWnH1JOhgtrIyFVt5ph0t3weoOEXtd6PMxyTHFh5vjBWMKoGLsM46mUwKMCQXTxb-Ao8OOghAtMAiG7EsY_Bt5BMR0atXCzcc2M1MYrZUfzAEaU_1L7jk_D0/s1600/x1a45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGMD91hw-E-Thp9uNPC8TWnH1JOhgtrIyFVt5ph0t3weoOEXtd6PMxyTHFh5vjBWMKoGLsM46mUwKMCQXTxb-Ao8OOghAtMAiG7EsY_Bt5BMR0atXCzcc2M1MYrZUfzAEaU_1L7jk_D0/s1600/x1a45.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Leaving the University, the bus travels along the A45 to Coventry.<br />
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Before the M40 or M1 were built, the A45 was the main road between London and Birmingham. The A45/M45 joins the M1 near Rugby, and still provides an alternative route to London. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7myNXfUbGcH_od63Dq6FfBt3oyMCCiDEPE4OA756GAo7K9HvrEqV_L9iSGcHrsLHL1x-ppResP9HDAN_T_SNrAax4aIPcs6OEGlySeab95J8g-VAikug01095x008UfF3Y49gulEljSs/s1600/x1station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7myNXfUbGcH_od63Dq6FfBt3oyMCCiDEPE4OA756GAo7K9HvrEqV_L9iSGcHrsLHL1x-ppResP9HDAN_T_SNrAax4aIPcs6OEGlySeab95J8g-VAikug01095x008UfF3Y49gulEljSs/s1600/x1station.jpg" /></a></div>Approaching Coventry along the A429, the road passes over a bridge over the London to Birmingham railway line, and Coventry station.<br />
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There is a bus stop on the bridge which provides convenient access to and from the station.<br />
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There is train service between here and London, every 30 minutes, and the journey to London takes 70 minutes. There is a Virgin express from London in the station in this picture. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMExuifqHo2gFlR7hScpPweJ63SESMw-7zEe_T57VHbnG5nSD5SyK_3OVRAvZACrjbt78XGb4SDOSFaahmI6_j_65rtOW89Z53q8HeECwhc-4QYs0Jh2ZYI70E7Z-ZsydE3xkI2QYWyN8/s1600/x1city.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMExuifqHo2gFlR7hScpPweJ63SESMw-7zEe_T57VHbnG5nSD5SyK_3OVRAvZACrjbt78XGb4SDOSFaahmI6_j_65rtOW89Z53q8HeECwhc-4QYs0Jh2ZYI70E7Z-ZsydE3xkI2QYWyN8/s320/x1city.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Approaching Coventry City Centre. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvs7Rks6AO4pqRHEL6wYV82iYbEpsN00WDblnbl2IdcmubArFFwGUJ7DeljOEq0k2cndz6CKDJQeKm67saMxmkxgrwpSXyPKNfGwU7MjD9QiByMsJlyw2m_lpU_YpzzWJpQ6cXpkjaVo/s1600/x1stjohnscov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvs7Rks6AO4pqRHEL6wYV82iYbEpsN00WDblnbl2IdcmubArFFwGUJ7DeljOEq0k2cndz6CKDJQeKm67saMxmkxgrwpSXyPKNfGwU7MjD9QiByMsJlyw2m_lpU_YpzzWJpQ6cXpkjaVo/s320/x1stjohnscov.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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On the left we pass the church of St John the Baptist, in Corporation Street. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WhsDuKYuB-zOKF246jxjJQ0g6eHOlmHk5R-NPYB4AaoSyEFltK5_0DICR1e3UGkyY-gCDLMyxBPJzGj_RS1mAvwdlguLf30Wxy8OBoiss9ihbr2AyuXllLnO4X3e_e-M61kTy9Geyc8/s1600/x1millennium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WhsDuKYuB-zOKF246jxjJQ0g6eHOlmHk5R-NPYB4AaoSyEFltK5_0DICR1e3UGkyY-gCDLMyxBPJzGj_RS1mAvwdlguLf30Wxy8OBoiss9ihbr2AyuXllLnO4X3e_e-M61kTy9Geyc8/s1600/x1millennium.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Approaching Millennium Place and the Whittle Arch, where the journey terminates. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mczOZrO1bP54juaSDhiiibAx3GcST5YIYVeEsdPV82GXAoP-sdacCtNI46MfrNxtV5_Ot8xKVAnhblZHeLLjM-nHdpw8qeJq1OubcXt0lvoSgXb-YRjxnPjjTL-56GdwvBI-Due1Yyk/s1600/x1buscov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mczOZrO1bP54juaSDhiiibAx3GcST5YIYVeEsdPV82GXAoP-sdacCtNI46MfrNxtV5_Ot8xKVAnhblZHeLLjM-nHdpw8qeJq1OubcXt0lvoSgXb-YRjxnPjjTL-56GdwvBI-Due1Yyk/s1600/x1buscov.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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The bus at its Coventry arrival/departure point, which is outside the Coventry Transport Museum. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxowk2q6k4_jISyYHFYktcIUrkmKG_fjWy3bMF7rnyl1_i7dGpdDuZtO4JU5nj69RSxNLeRk9ZiyQIi2aoTjQPAUKOETcNmTUsZUWAcF4rcFSI_1Aq1zpYQj09dpl64miShbQjD3E6zy0/s1600/x1cathedral1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxowk2q6k4_jISyYHFYktcIUrkmKG_fjWy3bMF7rnyl1_i7dGpdDuZtO4JU5nj69RSxNLeRk9ZiyQIi2aoTjQPAUKOETcNmTUsZUWAcF4rcFSI_1Aq1zpYQj09dpl64miShbQjD3E6zy0/s1600/x1cathedral1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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The most direct route to the Old and New Cathedrals is up an alley way, just opposite where the bus stops. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8D1mtAkpusticPSDbUs_EDSdp96TdKq1EI6Tdx1_LRk4aFxENLS9vo1SZjm6vFgbaRpcfEbRB3wKjmYtofcLBmKWvUCAD8n2ZsqPq6KYfwViup6ls4RT4UZCSQKK3nk6Qo3hyphenhyphenZvcMZ1Y/s1600/x1cathedral2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8D1mtAkpusticPSDbUs_EDSdp96TdKq1EI6Tdx1_LRk4aFxENLS9vo1SZjm6vFgbaRpcfEbRB3wKjmYtofcLBmKWvUCAD8n2ZsqPq6KYfwViup6ls4RT4UZCSQKK3nk6Qo3hyphenhyphenZvcMZ1Y/s1600/x1cathedral2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Up the alley way, the red brick building is the building that was built over the foundations of the medieval priory. At ground level (to the left and just out of the picture) there is a large window where you can look down onto what remains of the old foundations. The walkway on the right leads to the visitors centre and to the New Cathedral. John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-6424828935009364742011-08-26T02:55:00.000+01:002011-08-26T02:55:06.568+01:00Royal Leamington Spa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqjQQ1C0pijZjVPzVQ4UbK-9R_29NAqy1NoJw8dJoKI24LAxnqwj_vGohQf28GRsMLnq2AFOwsqqz0PVKB6qDI9oKkdYzmzgjEcA2Jsb5ZDgN2-5g3zZAxDzs08VUDvSgXnWAiHQmW6w/s1600/leamington-beauchamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqjQQ1C0pijZjVPzVQ4UbK-9R_29NAqy1NoJw8dJoKI24LAxnqwj_vGohQf28GRsMLnq2AFOwsqqz0PVKB6qDI9oKkdYzmzgjEcA2Jsb5ZDgN2-5g3zZAxDzs08VUDvSgXnWAiHQmW6w/s400/leamington-beauchamp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Royal Leamington Spa is a spa town built mainly during the 19th century. The town was visited by Queen Victoria in 1838, and was given the "Royal" status.<br />
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Leamington's main architectural characterisitic is it's wide main streets, with elegant Georgian, Regency and Victorian buildings, many lined with trees. This picture shows Regency style houses in Beauchamp Avenue.<br />
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Regency style houses in Clarendon Square, built around an area of grass and trees. <br />
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6 Clarendon Square, sometime home of Napoleon Boneparte who spent part of his exile here. <br />
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The curving arc of Landsdowne Crescent. <br />
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Just off Landsdowne Crescent, is Landsdown Circus, built around a circular area of grass and trees.<br />
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This house is 10 Landsdowne Circus, sometime home of writer Nathaniel Hawthorne. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkHYgkcbbfqPTNHIcG1q-WKz2UQNKBCCcqyJXP_ggWDUfzZVFf3-tsM2NeXQ-dlPawHIFJTkBH2qX86Jyc4JAZDGqM4y1ZH87sr28F1neEiSfQ643xXcl21dS5K7j1mgTx5psAvjYZoA/s1600/leamington-pumprooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkHYgkcbbfqPTNHIcG1q-WKz2UQNKBCCcqyJXP_ggWDUfzZVFf3-tsM2NeXQ-dlPawHIFJTkBH2qX86Jyc4JAZDGqM4y1ZH87sr28F1neEiSfQ643xXcl21dS5K7j1mgTx5psAvjYZoA/s400/leamington-pumprooms.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> A spring was known here since Elizabethan times, but the spa became important during the late 19th century. The Pump Rooms were built in 1813.<br />
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The pump rooms have recently been modernised and now also house a museum and library, and the town's Tourist Information Centre. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tAqxYLJEUwewufnb4NhN8NQifK6svA9A4mxyMsFY5C3ZH59iqkhM4REn6fX_GeNPXCpruMKqSAJ19GK2DjaMGHMPqu9wzhuuxW77igsXUpqGZJPLTeFl0lYW1O8UuXQc0AQURPcOraA/s1600/leamington-parade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tAqxYLJEUwewufnb4NhN8NQifK6svA9A4mxyMsFY5C3ZH59iqkhM4REn6fX_GeNPXCpruMKqSAJ19GK2DjaMGHMPqu9wzhuuxW77igsXUpqGZJPLTeFl0lYW1O8UuXQc0AQURPcOraA/s400/leamington-parade.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Today most people visit Leamington for its shopping. <br />
This is a view looking up Leamington's main shopping street, The Parade. <br />
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Bordering the River Leam is a municipal park, the Jephson Gardens, named after Henry Jephson, a local doctor who popularised the spa waters. <br />
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The River Leam, as it runs through the Jephson Gardens. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NNQVI-HlnjMnlP40uYKhbYJl0mMYtz7zH3p0eXIRlsvUMkfqulWrl9QHu4uFV6xbwAkB94eOyV53uCDUDwj4vuFS-CxbzfYv6ADOw1zZ5qxL5U107h7lWPLRuUb3uJGzEDz9hVbMJBI/s1600/leamington-palmhouse1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NNQVI-HlnjMnlP40uYKhbYJl0mMYtz7zH3p0eXIRlsvUMkfqulWrl9QHu4uFV6xbwAkB94eOyV53uCDUDwj4vuFS-CxbzfYv6ADOw1zZ5qxL5U107h7lWPLRuUb3uJGzEDz9hVbMJBI/s400/leamington-palmhouse1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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The recently constructed Palm House, in the Jephson Gardens. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-xho21BeOypbOnvHgLTuva53nBiHqej9Tl5LdUQLhpKgbPI4XNz6KJg0lczvy5zvwva8z2OLStPvt25ZsccWeBv6ilDS2EhrNzShpScUJg9XPpY7Mk4J_pZkAZlN3uxbtcq5VwRzz-I/s1600/leamington-palmhouse2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-xho21BeOypbOnvHgLTuva53nBiHqej9Tl5LdUQLhpKgbPI4XNz6KJg0lczvy5zvwva8z2OLStPvt25ZsccWeBv6ilDS2EhrNzShpScUJg9XPpY7Mk4J_pZkAZlN3uxbtcq5VwRzz-I/s400/leamington-palmhouse2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Inside the Palm House. <br />
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John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-44933579410401457282011-08-25T17:49:00.000+01:002011-08-25T17:49:03.133+01:00Shakespeare's Warwickshire Roots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_8PfrciZYHKm0qhNiMtWxQJ_bHkwgtQtxjFEtcvjoZvEFOFIWtY_WqYOt9V6oSBFysDNVNBwSgYtEjCVpHIajuNdxcAnOctGv6zPm6iTeotQp2GgMhAbvcC5yHPaY0m-vY4lFiuOb64/s1600/astoncantlow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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The Shakespeare family originated in Balsall, and from there spread to the adjacent villages of Wroxall, Knowle, Packwood and Rowington, and in the next generation to Snitterfield. Packwood, Baddesley Clinton and Lapworth, near to these villages, were homes of important Catholic families close to the Shakespeares and the Ardens. An accompanying TV series has been shown on BBC/PBS. <br />
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Michael Wood writes:<br />
<blockquote><i>"The search for Shakespeare starts not in Stratford but a short way to the North in a tiny cluster of villages in the Forest of Arden. In the 16th century it was still a vast tract of forest, part of what the Normans called "beautiful wild country", and a completely different world from the crowded streets of London. Unlike the works of most of his university-educated contemporaries, Shakepeare's plays are full of images of flowers, trees and animals. This was a place to fire the imagination...".</i> </blockquote>For several generations Shakespeare's ancestors, on both his father's and mother's sides, had been Warwickshire farmers. The river Avon (shown on the map above) divided Warwickshire into 2 halves. The North-West half was the old Forest of Arden. Shakespeare's ancestors all farmed holdings, of around 100 acres each, all in the Forest of Arden. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D1jmXcwWgXl60MrEjgS9a_Bc7pCkipeM3coaHh5FroBWpiqEiP4P6wZ8Rw6oAt-BHAvbm0RAhrr-yeJlEO7qgxnI1rCDkbDOgjuvMCNLJJAjURXoJ_J3LY9hLMbyCIs72aAKEf0wSgI/s1600/balsall-view1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D1jmXcwWgXl60MrEjgS9a_Bc7pCkipeM3coaHh5FroBWpiqEiP4P6wZ8Rw6oAt-BHAvbm0RAhrr-yeJlEO7qgxnI1rCDkbDOgjuvMCNLJJAjURXoJ_J3LY9hLMbyCIs72aAKEf0wSgI/s400/balsall-view1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> The Shakepeare family name originated in Balsall in the 14th Century. <br />
This picture shows present day farmland at Balsall.<br />
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This picture is taken looking towards Green Lane which runs left-to-right behind the trees along the top of the hill. <br />
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The picture is taken from the Heart of England Way, a recreational footpath. <br />
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Michael Wood writes:<br />
<blockquote><i>"The Shakespeares' ancestors came from around the village of Balsall with its old chapel and hall of the Knights Templars. Down Green Lane, shrouded by thickets of ash and silver birch, across a ford that runs deep in Winter there is still a red-brick farm house where Adam of Oldeditch lived in the 14th Century. His son gave himself the surname Shakespeare. There were still Shakespeares at Oldeditch 100 years later, and almost certainly the clan descended from them". </i></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi012RzdTBeWJ6TO3rm_090K84PlhBpOiYWgOPbijRyeyDiN00vTWuNu3HsCzRVqdquq6DNwEEgDaNDSnmU2HKQCiFGAlg8-0oLT6jYbgvT-i9oLf626kArxJLooSHuPv17AbHR6OEtiWY/s1600/greenlaneford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi012RzdTBeWJ6TO3rm_090K84PlhBpOiYWgOPbijRyeyDiN00vTWuNu3HsCzRVqdquq6DNwEEgDaNDSnmU2HKQCiFGAlg8-0oLT6jYbgvT-i9oLf626kArxJLooSHuPv17AbHR6OEtiWY/s400/greenlaneford.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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This is a view along Green Lane, showing the ford referred to by Michael Wood. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqIW53HVnAQYWoDrBxidnNI8kUZkz1j67wf76s5PxQSk6n7PYnSq1X3bhyphenhypheneKaWjlLg0vNiUl5Ys9IsvRJr9ESj3FNDjS1chi7ahivOV4MrHYARy4gtcaagPmrAAxQiaL4CDP1tuuOONA/s1600/oldeditchfarm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqIW53HVnAQYWoDrBxidnNI8kUZkz1j67wf76s5PxQSk6n7PYnSq1X3bhyphenhypheneKaWjlLg0vNiUl5Ys9IsvRJr9ESj3FNDjS1chi7ahivOV4MrHYARy4gtcaagPmrAAxQiaL4CDP1tuuOONA/s400/oldeditchfarm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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About 200 yards from the ford is the present Oldeditch Farm House. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-BGGBTEz6k5sWN8K9NKSeQdJnBvuhZx_SHp_43URqGPwD4F7HSx3_8aE5f02m_g_RQq5Ga4GaYQ6W1Wwo3LjI8ihU_F-GVLkdo3z7ulQqnky-aA7JfbkbbxDImyHeDMPJZelcTCT-lY/s1600/balsall-view2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-BGGBTEz6k5sWN8K9NKSeQdJnBvuhZx_SHp_43URqGPwD4F7HSx3_8aE5f02m_g_RQq5Ga4GaYQ6W1Wwo3LjI8ihU_F-GVLkdo3z7ulQqnky-aA7JfbkbbxDImyHeDMPJZelcTCT-lY/s400/balsall-view2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This is the view from a field at the rear of Oldeditch farm house.<br />
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The group of buildings in the centre of the picture is the hall and chapel of the Knights Templar at Balsall, referred to by Michael Wood. These buildings are shown in close-up in the picture below. <br />
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The white lines running across the picture are power cables. <br />
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The Shakespeares of Balsall spread into 4 surrounding villages - Rowington, Wroxall, Packwood and Knowle. There are pictures taken in these 4 villages immediately below...<br />
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<b>Rowington</b> <br />
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This picture shows the Shakespeare family's home, Shakespeare Hall, at Rowington.<br />
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<b>Wroxall</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhJIfdEokwFQHRTEvACb8iemYleodWgPpdxRP85unswBKCWBiEXA0uCsOEFqNDxZJCxuJTEiEQOwMPHorWCUSFw1c1Rw2sdKkRc5dqyZoxirnOijlJSIv3W4wkohpRgheLkf_V8yehCY/s1600/wroxallabbey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhJIfdEokwFQHRTEvACb8iemYleodWgPpdxRP85unswBKCWBiEXA0uCsOEFqNDxZJCxuJTEiEQOwMPHorWCUSFw1c1Rw2sdKkRc5dqyZoxirnOijlJSIv3W4wkohpRgheLkf_V8yehCY/s400/wroxallabbey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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This picture shows the remains of a Benedictine Priory at Wroxall.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwC2TzPtxEE8AEmEb21Mm6avZhyphenhyphenk2eWGPT6geYYOJjSVGw3N-Hcuzhyphenhyphen2ifoRt96Fx_X-44DUNnHXmQ5bYzwaQXJByKmZI35LSlXId2LGTmFsSKhhlgjCTINbfdy-zEmSEDbQyJn-XD-P4/s1600/wroxall2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwC2TzPtxEE8AEmEb21Mm6avZhyphenhyphenk2eWGPT6geYYOJjSVGw3N-Hcuzhyphenhyphen2ifoRt96Fx_X-44DUNnHXmQ5bYzwaQXJByKmZI35LSlXId2LGTmFsSKhhlgjCTINbfdy-zEmSEDbQyJn-XD-P4/s400/wroxall2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Richard Shakespeare (grandfather of Willimam Shakespeare) was born in Wroxall, c1500 (not at the Abbey). He moved from Wroxall to farm in Snitterfield (see further below).<br />
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<b>Packwood </b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQ6rhPJW38o7uvKlcGkfLOy7b4FPyODAuIRT8BTpYuFvHGrmRgAceIdweqNDmAws6gsbLgztm3Qlob_OkrMv4Wzcc5OrwaRvAii0DzhPO-PvUQUYRC56-71yMgMHnR4Qk1sv4871wSQw/s1600/packwood3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQ6rhPJW38o7uvKlcGkfLOy7b4FPyODAuIRT8BTpYuFvHGrmRgAceIdweqNDmAws6gsbLgztm3Qlob_OkrMv4Wzcc5OrwaRvAii0DzhPO-PvUQUYRC56-71yMgMHnR4Qk1sv4871wSQw/s400/packwood3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This is the moated manor house Packwood Hall, at Packwood.<br />
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The Shakespeares of Packwood were business partners of Shakespeare's father, John Shakespeare. The historian Raphael Holinshed lived at nearby Packwood House. He was the author of the Chronicles of England, that were the primary source for Shakespeare's history plays. Michael Wood wonders whether William, as a youth, might have known Holinshed in person. <br />
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<b>Knowle</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDkhLU8GxCMmsJ7Wus5m7AzsSnKnjD-HQw_XBYsCnFZ0-pxOAI_TkmSeJCcbrl-KMWS-fdTn8IxGns7Kgh2t7WQzSlyjK4lYn7E2GkEynaKOpuCPu-z_tvOFmjG-4Jv1niKjeEl1l1yI/s1600/knowleguild.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDkhLU8GxCMmsJ7Wus5m7AzsSnKnjD-HQw_XBYsCnFZ0-pxOAI_TkmSeJCcbrl-KMWS-fdTn8IxGns7Kgh2t7WQzSlyjK4lYn7E2GkEynaKOpuCPu-z_tvOFmjG-4Jv1niKjeEl1l1yI/s400/knowleguild.jpg" width="400" /></a> 2 miles from Balsall was the village of Knowle, today a small town.<br />
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The first records of Knowle date from 1200, and refer to bequests of William de Arden, an ancestor of Mary Arden, Shakespeare's mother. <br />
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This picture shows the Guild House, which dates from 1412. Thomas Shakespeare of Balsall, became a member of the Guild here in 1486. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeb3mEkZwfiTfHoSf5ZmFjdGpFK7XiMu5ihMA1U269utfwfG0gv1Az83vqIO3VivthFG6T-dM6NOFVYL3aPCXxJpHwJG4Wh_odOme143dcdZam_pHibtcESmSeG4T63ke5__oNTIqVT4/s1600/knowlechurch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeb3mEkZwfiTfHoSf5ZmFjdGpFK7XiMu5ihMA1U269utfwfG0gv1Az83vqIO3VivthFG6T-dM6NOFVYL3aPCXxJpHwJG4Wh_odOme143dcdZam_pHibtcESmSeG4T63ke5__oNTIqVT4/s400/knowlechurch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Another view of Knowle Guild House, and the adjacent Church of St John Baptist, St Lawrence and St Anne.<br />
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Michael Wood also lists the members of the Guild here in 1526, which effectively names the principal figures in Arden Society (more about the Knowle Guild members further down this page).<br />
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<b>Snitterfield</b> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-amssZcjUBIb39xGIDrwKq_oeZBcVpCK3PZrKHHwnLGUYQtaBRkfr6cLJda0dR4xD9FZZjim4WEK89wEx5MYI0pZSNtkyfOaqi20e4t58dgxxsq3D132iDlBlPHmt26QwUdyaNJuqKhE/s1600/snitterfieldfarmland.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-amssZcjUBIb39xGIDrwKq_oeZBcVpCK3PZrKHHwnLGUYQtaBRkfr6cLJda0dR4xD9FZZjim4WEK89wEx5MYI0pZSNtkyfOaqi20e4t58dgxxsq3D132iDlBlPHmt26QwUdyaNJuqKhE/s400/snitterfieldfarmland.jpg" width="400" /></a> Richard Shakespeare (born in Wroxall, c1500) left Wroxall to farm leased land in Bell Lane, Snitterfield (2 miles North-East of Stratford). Richard Shakespeare farmed here for 35 years.<br />
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This picture, taken from the bottom of Bell Lane, shows farmland around Snitterfield Church. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-amssZcjUBIb39xGIDrwKq_oeZBcVpCK3PZrKHHwnLGUYQtaBRkfr6cLJda0dR4xD9FZZjim4WEK89wEx5MYI0pZSNtkyfOaqi20e4t58dgxxsq3D132iDlBlPHmt26QwUdyaNJuqKhE/s1600/snitterfieldfarmland.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QYPV2WqkS3gNtfHIIo3tbGTYtyB8Gt7mSw-9nMu4IdDy-dqXXS_X0u3Fon82WI6awxrNdbKV-FLF3L3lRwNNe5ELvdZjsZKfIZA-bBPMphtcJf7CayNrHOg4idJ7_MGh3YCni7TTUzw/s1600/snitterfieldbelllane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QYPV2WqkS3gNtfHIIo3tbGTYtyB8Gt7mSw-9nMu4IdDy-dqXXS_X0u3Fon82WI6awxrNdbKV-FLF3L3lRwNNe5ELvdZjsZKfIZA-bBPMphtcJf7CayNrHOg4idJ7_MGh3YCni7TTUzw/s400/snitterfieldbelllane.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> This picture shows the farmhouse originally occupied by Richard Shakespeare. One of Richard's sons, John Shakespeare, became the father of William Shakespeare. It is likely that young William Shakespeare would have been a frequent visitor to this place. <br />
The house has been substantially changed, but does retain some tudor features.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2vsoFE-4AKQBJIz4-WIq_LeasK4xAUoYUhdYBMSqxMLV4HLvxdAEzv03JXHAA_BOeeU6-Ch27Y3BN7A1kJszrGRMR2xl-VMpyd_2av3MuzqVEJqIkKBATGDGysFb7RUYg-r6wI604Aw/s1600/snitterfieldfarm.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2vsoFE-4AKQBJIz4-WIq_LeasK4xAUoYUhdYBMSqxMLV4HLvxdAEzv03JXHAA_BOeeU6-Ch27Y3BN7A1kJszrGRMR2xl-VMpyd_2av3MuzqVEJqIkKBATGDGysFb7RUYg-r6wI604Aw/s1600/snitterfieldfarm.jpg" /></a><br />
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Just down the road is an authentic half-timbered farm building, used by the Shakespeares. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GgPI6ZNTMQpAz8dq4rXOuxxURUrBwGbK8zDT0HdBx4PWYI9Ll74tTQ6FtIosNXj1PCmFUBFw1K4Cu6j9J-5Ui4IugU-71WcVxlF8MDdRJu-fNOBqkRn_Fjax1uSxZWOFw1IDNRIuk1M/s1600/snitterfieldview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GgPI6ZNTMQpAz8dq4rXOuxxURUrBwGbK8zDT0HdBx4PWYI9Ll74tTQ6FtIosNXj1PCmFUBFw1K4Cu6j9J-5Ui4IugU-71WcVxlF8MDdRJu-fNOBqkRn_Fjax1uSxZWOFw1IDNRIuk1M/s400/snitterfieldview.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Snitterfield is within easy walking distance of Stratford. <br />
There are good views from Snitterfield. This picture shows the view looking from Snitterfield towards Stratford. You can't actually see Stratford, because it is hidden behind the Welcombe Hills (the groups of trees around the obelisk at the right). The Welcombe Obelisk looks down over Stratford. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AE2tjQpQncU2UvOH8XMLh0xhGLnG4kDFMyvFTXFvaF3Lt3nbttXik7KLOkrSoidQ9di_sfnQ4B92lZR89JrvyMt_N_4yUvtyoJvUKW9IWR3WXwuDMl3FJFnZathdck0P6BnIpddbvI8/s1600/snitterfieldchurch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AE2tjQpQncU2UvOH8XMLh0xhGLnG4kDFMyvFTXFvaF3Lt3nbttXik7KLOkrSoidQ9di_sfnQ4B92lZR89JrvyMt_N_4yUvtyoJvUKW9IWR3WXwuDMl3FJFnZathdck0P6BnIpddbvI8/s400/snitterfieldchurch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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The is the church of St James The Great at Snitterfield.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSBN9MJBIpVP9UFUDfzd1-qavojvEVdzFwiJw_lELmMvDbm8Ki89m9Rls8_fMLX3N-A5BhCSM6BBuIlBebE9VNx5-Ou_EXth0RgT16Ykaz3RVIBUj5-BJHUeF3dRof3UkEwqUsRPjySE/s1600/snitterfieldsaxper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSBN9MJBIpVP9UFUDfzd1-qavojvEVdzFwiJw_lELmMvDbm8Ki89m9Rls8_fMLX3N-A5BhCSM6BBuIlBebE9VNx5-Ou_EXth0RgT16Ykaz3RVIBUj5-BJHUeF3dRof3UkEwqUsRPjySE/s400/snitterfieldsaxper.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br />
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On display in Snitterfield Church are copies of parish records referring to members of the Shakespeare family.<br />
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The names in those shown here (dated 1581) are spelt Saxper and Shaksper. <br />
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<b>Wilmcote</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVH_tLwndGbdOMv2U-QpGhbQMcoC4I9QIa_edUINEgPPs5NrDU17ic9j6Wll02sWtWdEsjmf9IhYdcL7uGLhznAfZ5MTn4F9_BAuAlFpYkZg9px2qRUIq-URYaSagyLPkzVskQg0z1_Y/s1600/maryarden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVH_tLwndGbdOMv2U-QpGhbQMcoC4I9QIa_edUINEgPPs5NrDU17ic9j6Wll02sWtWdEsjmf9IhYdcL7uGLhznAfZ5MTn4F9_BAuAlFpYkZg9px2qRUIq-URYaSagyLPkzVskQg0z1_Y/s400/maryarden.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The land in Snitterfield which Richard Shakespeare farmed was owned by the Arden Family from Wilmcote, another old Warwickshire family of yeoman farmers. <br />
This picture shows the Arden's farmhouse at Wilmcote, now known as Mary Arden's House. <br />
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One of Richard's sons, John Shakespeare, who grew up at the Snitterfield farm, met one of the daughters of the Arden family, Mary Arden. <br />
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<b>Aston Cantlow </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL74ahhvQ_Q06Jsos6Buv92uy3Ujv0Z_Sf7CbZILgvj33SR780KrL_-ept0A-SWX4E8gxERu0lWbTzN_1mEBpg8dIB3L4seBv6o31upxW80lod9lnEE5tt2CQWGlCbSfVXhCz9jonjyVI/s1600/astoncantlow1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL74ahhvQ_Q06Jsos6Buv92uy3Ujv0Z_Sf7CbZILgvj33SR780KrL_-ept0A-SWX4E8gxERu0lWbTzN_1mEBpg8dIB3L4seBv6o31upxW80lod9lnEE5tt2CQWGlCbSfVXhCz9jonjyVI/s400/astoncantlow1.jpg" width="261" /></a><br />
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John Shakespeare married Mary Arden in Aston Cantlow church, which was the parish church for Wilmcote, the bride's home.<br />
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This picture shows old tombstones, old yew trees, and old pines in the churchyard of St John the Baptist at Aston Cantlow. <br />
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The interior of Aston Cantlow church is shown in the picture just below. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_8PfrciZYHKm0qhNiMtWxQJ_bHkwgtQtxjFEtcvjoZvEFOFIWtY_WqYOt9V6oSBFysDNVNBwSgYtEjCVpHIajuNdxcAnOctGv6zPm6iTeotQp2GgMhAbvcC5yHPaY0m-vY4lFiuOb64/s1600/astoncantlow2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_8PfrciZYHKm0qhNiMtWxQJ_bHkwgtQtxjFEtcvjoZvEFOFIWtY_WqYOt9V6oSBFysDNVNBwSgYtEjCVpHIajuNdxcAnOctGv6zPm6iTeotQp2GgMhAbvcC5yHPaY0m-vY4lFiuOb64/s400/astoncantlow2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<b>Stratford</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlSsrJ4N-aVrWLfCX_Gk1Cr2k4t7EDs-ZWiKdrrjsCyO_Eti6iGQJGxUlmPrxN7IY7HJC1MHiBmopUY-KM4M4gB-b0pqVwYpbprHXLPkvi1g_XF-KsmucneBphj2GOd0SGWoDKr6Tsu0/s1600/birthplace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlSsrJ4N-aVrWLfCX_Gk1Cr2k4t7EDs-ZWiKdrrjsCyO_Eti6iGQJGxUlmPrxN7IY7HJC1MHiBmopUY-KM4M4gB-b0pqVwYpbprHXLPkvi1g_XF-KsmucneBphj2GOd0SGWoDKr6Tsu0/s400/birthplace.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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John and Mary Shakespeare went to live in a house in Henley Street, in Stratford (the Shakespeare birthplace), which is where their son, William Shakespeare, was born. <br />
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<b>Shottery</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75BiH0XsMTQSTQ7cYuAD2e4b7ybs9pR13uqKSY40MaL3re7JW9piSOmnsfr4jlYt1SduuecHP5gzNtlx2Cjxq-JGeoxpcTKsfES68r2dodnaZ6XixxmS2_y_zA0VahhwiAM6vX2A8Nhk/s1600/annehathaway2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75BiH0XsMTQSTQ7cYuAD2e4b7ybs9pR13uqKSY40MaL3re7JW9piSOmnsfr4jlYt1SduuecHP5gzNtlx2Cjxq-JGeoxpcTKsfES68r2dodnaZ6XixxmS2_y_zA0VahhwiAM6vX2A8Nhk/s400/annehathaway2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>A mile from the centre of Stratford, and on the edge of the Forest of Arden, was the village of Shottery, and the home of Anne Hathaway, who became Shakespeare's wife. <br />
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<b>Temple Grafton</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLDy5jSOvNa3LJDSDvvHidNyLosa7p77UBms5c25CFc4i-rv65USPLso5H6_kKSw-Jk0nM2zyW-h523kyAZh8BtfnEC4_RsU8btl5krRXmm3OYWyKHQNpyCLfKmThwhrbqsCSBDepUpw/s1600/templegrafton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLDy5jSOvNa3LJDSDvvHidNyLosa7p77UBms5c25CFc4i-rv65USPLso5H6_kKSw-Jk0nM2zyW-h523kyAZh8BtfnEC4_RsU8btl5krRXmm3OYWyKHQNpyCLfKmThwhrbqsCSBDepUpw/s400/templegrafton.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway were married at Temple Grafton, another village connected with with the Knights Templar. <br />
It is believed that Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway were married here, and not in Stratford, because the priest here, John Frith, was sympathetic towards a Catholic form of service, which was not available in Stratford. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PemDyeiKHqIPyGaS0A8j06s_52FJbltmIoW4SILVhvhPnwj7neP5f_YxWYDP8VUQD-K75_1Ro0ZFyOm12fsv-LYO2gJEnu_t_CZf05A80IPvtQtkeMB0KMRG3yPAf9f6UBUgCzdrr7s/s1600/shakespearemap.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="1" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PemDyeiKHqIPyGaS0A8j06s_52FJbltmIoW4SILVhvhPnwj7neP5f_YxWYDP8VUQD-K75_1Ro0ZFyOm12fsv-LYO2gJEnu_t_CZf05A80IPvtQtkeMB0KMRG3yPAf9f6UBUgCzdrr7s/s320/shakespearemap.gif" width="320" /></a></div> Shakespeare's childhood was a time of intense religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants. The Shakespeare and Arden families both had stong Catholic sympathies. <br />
The whole Forest of Arden was an area of Catholic support. Also shown on Michael Wood's map are Lapworth and Baddesley Clinton. <br />
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These places were the homes of important Catholic families, close to the Ardens, and the Shakespeares. These families were at the centre of plots to attempt to overthrow the Protestant Crown, and were themselves the focus of Protestant persecution. <br />
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Michael Wood lists some names from the guild book of the Chapel at Knowle in 1526, which are effectively the principal figures of local society. They include:<br />
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Robert Catesby (of Lapworth, see just below),<br />
George Throgmorton (of Coughton, also see below),<br />
Edward Ferrers (of Baddesley)<br />
Richard Shakespeare,<br />
William Shakespeare (not the WS of Stratford, although a relative),<br />
John Shakespeare. <br />
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<b>Lapworth</b><br />
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This picture, taken in Lapworth Churchyard, shows the table-top tomb of Robert Catesby, principal conspirator behind the Catholic inspired Gunpowder Plot, to blow up Parliament and the Crown. <br />
There are more pictures of Lapworth Church and the countryside around Lapworth on the Lapworth Page. <br />
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<b>Coughton</b><br />
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Another important family of Warwickshire Catholics involved in the Gunpowder Plot were the Throgmorton's of Coughton (not on Micheal Wood's map), but also a few miles North-West of Stratford.<br />
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<b>Charlecote </b><br />
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Shakespeare ridiculed Sir Thomas Lucy of Charlecote as his Justice Shallow in Merry Wives of Windsor, and Henry IV part 2. The traditional explanation has been that Thomas Lucy caught Shakespeare poaching deer. In fact, there were no deer at Charlecote then. Micheal Wood explains that Shakespeare's animosity towards Thomas Lucy was far more likely due to Thomas Lucy's role in the persecution of Warwickshire Catholics, and particularly his role in the arrest of Edward Arden, head of Shakespeare's mother's family, who was taken to London, tortured and executed. <br />
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John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-70035258009105150492011-08-25T04:37:00.000+01:002013-04-10T06:44:16.088+01:00Pictorial Biography of William Shakespeare<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Many of the pictures on this page are taken from the book<i> William Shakespeare</i> by Andrew Gurr. The book includes a large number of reconstructions of scenes from Shakespeare's life. The pictures were directed by Julian Napier and photographed by Dominic Clemence. The photos on this page of present day Stratford are my own.<br />
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This first picture shows young William Shakespeare with his father, John Shakespeare, and his mother, Mary Arden. <br />
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John Shakespeare was a glove-maker, and this picture shows Willam and his brother Gilbert helping their father in their father's workshop.<br />
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Young William would have attended the King Edward's Grammer School in Stratford. <br />
After leaving school at around 14 it is likely that Shakespeare went to learn his father's trade in his father's shop. <br />
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When he was 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathway, who was a few years older than himself. Anne's original home was a farmhouse, now known as Anne Hathaway's Cottage. Anne had been the eldest of 3 sisters, and their father had died a year before Anne and Willam were married.<br />
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One of William's earliest poetic works is a sonnet (number 145) written to Anne. <br />
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Anne and William had their first child, Susanna, in 1583. <br />
Susanna was followed by twins, Judith amd Hamnet, 2 years later. <br />
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There was general economic hardship in Warwickshire at that time, which seriously affected Shakespeare's father's business and the Shakespeare family. William needed to find other employment. His early sonnet to Anne shows his interest in writing, but there was no such work locally.<br />
Fate brought William into contact with a travelling theatre company, and he joined them, as an actor.<br />
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Travelling companies of actors would perform at market fairs, or at great country houses. Each company was under the patronage of some wealthy nobleman. The Earl of Leicester (who lived at nearby Kenilworth Castle) was the patron of one local company.<br />
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The picture below shows the Guild Hall at nearby Coventry which was also used for such performances.<br />
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The travelling company of actors took Shakespeare to London. Little is known of Shakespeare's early years in London. He must have pursued his writing after his day's work, in the taverns where he was lodging. <br />
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By 1592, when he was aged 27, Shakespeare had established himself as both an actor and writer. <br />
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This picture shows the Earl of Southampton, a very rich young gentleman, to whom Shakespeare dedicated two of his earliest works, and who was an early patron of Shakespeare. <br />
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This picture shoes the Burbage family. James Burbage (left) had been an actor in the company of Lord Leicester's Men (Kenilworth Castle). He established his own company in London under the patronage of the Lord Chamberlain, which became known as the Chamberlain's Men. This company included Shakespeare as one of its managers and players. James Burbage's son, Richard Burbage (standing), was the foremost actor of the day, and played all of the great roles created by Shakespeare for the company (Hamlet, Othello, etc) <br />
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Beside his great philosophical explorations, Shakespeare's time in London was one of intense personal emotions, reflected in the content of his Sonnets. Some of these are attributed to an unidentified figure known as the Dark Lady. <br />
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Until 1596 The Chamberlain's Men had used a theatre in Shoreditch, which needed replacement. In 1598 the conpany decided to finance the construction of a new theatre, The Globe. The money was raised by contributions from members of the company. Shakespeare who made substantial profits from his share in the scheme. <br />
The Globe theatre has recently been rebuilt, very near to the site of the original, and closely resembling the original. <br />
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This picture shows a performance of The Merry Wives of Windsor before Queen Elizabeth.<br />
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In 1603 Queen Elizabeth died, without an heir. She had appointed James VI of Scotland to be ruler of England on her death. The Chamberlain's Men soon secured the favour of the new King, and became known as The King's Men. Shakespeare's play Macbeth was composed soon afterwards in gratitude to the new King. <br />
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Throughout his time in London Shakespeare lived in lodgings, and sent money back to maintain his property and investments in Stratford. He always maintained the intention of returning to Stratford someday. This picture shows Shakespeare travelling back to Stratford, by horse, and staying overnight in Oxford. He may have returned to Stratford each year during the period of Lent when the playhouses in London would have been closed. <br />
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In 1610 Shakespeare returned to Stratford permanently to manage his investments and properties.<br />
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Shakespeare's final play, The Tempest, was probably written in comfort in Stratford. <br />
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In 1613, the Globe was burnt down in the Great Fire of London. The company rebuilt the theatre, but Shakespeare was no longer part of the company. <br />
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Shakespeare's daughter Susanna married a Stratford doctor John Hall. This picture shows Shakespeare with Susanna's daughter Elizabeth, at New Place in Stratford. <br />
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This family portrait shows (back row) Shakespeare, Dr John Hall, Judith (Shakepeare's other daughter), (centre row) Anne Hathaway, Susanna, Thomas Quiney (a friend of Judiths), (front) Elizabeth (Susanna's daughter). <br />
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Shakespeare died in Stratford on 23 April 1616, and now lies in Holy Trinity Church Stratford. John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-29685674129746152912011-08-24T17:21:00.001+01:002011-08-24T18:14:37.146+01:00Geological History of Warwickshire<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jMKlMwq3Ux2xT0YxyxixGCy7QLUTV2L6Y2m1h4ruRA57BeATSQ-Q49Yn4PbJb6djn3b_iTxunl3RSg9Am6kM_B8lRLeYjl44PXZtQWuQ4U4-LyitB37Xk9nt_edrpREwtH1PesLw3hI/s1600/geo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jMKlMwq3Ux2xT0YxyxixGCy7QLUTV2L6Y2m1h4ruRA57BeATSQ-Q49Yn4PbJb6djn3b_iTxunl3RSg9Am6kM_B8lRLeYjl44PXZtQWuQ4U4-LyitB37Xk9nt_edrpREwtH1PesLw3hI/s1600/geo1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the cover of <br />
<i>The Geology of Britain</i><br />
by Peter Toghill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The geology of Britain can be very complex. This post presents a simplified explanation, which covers the main features of the Warwickshire landscape.<br />
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Beneath the surface of England is a series of layers of deposits. There are very ancient deep rocks, and on top of these successive layers of younger deposits (like a layered cake). The entire country has then been tilted, upwards at the North West, and the top surface eroded (a large slice taken horizontally off the top of the tilted cake), so that bands of older rocks can be found at the surface in the North West, and progressively younger rocks are at the surface moving South Eastwards. <br />
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This picture shows the bands of rocks, near the surface, across England. <br />
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The map below shows a more detailed picture of the Warwickshire area: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknt3w9OBGfDxRljPMd57jOtFQXF7gULmxJJ_0q9w7KugO4VQlWz99EttROaYuoBTPM1hUpBPQQ-cabpWniGMBcptSqN6XPmao0Tp4ERGDqyFwiEN0G-mgW4nIUDnicewPoaeCOiXQI88/s1600/geo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknt3w9OBGfDxRljPMd57jOtFQXF7gULmxJJ_0q9w7KugO4VQlWz99EttROaYuoBTPM1hUpBPQQ-cabpWniGMBcptSqN6XPmao0Tp4ERGDqyFwiEN0G-mgW4nIUDnicewPoaeCOiXQI88/s1600/geo2.jpg" /></a></div>(1) North West of the Avon, beneath the former Forest of Arden, is a band of older rocks, called <b><span style="color: orange;">Triassic Mercia Mudstone</span></b> (also called Keuper Marl, Keuper Red Sandstone, and Arden Sandstones). The slightly hilly areas in this region, are due to variations in the hardness of the sandstones. These rocks date from 250Ma-200Ma (Ma=millions of years ago). Fossils have been found suggesting sand flats in a hot arid climate. <br />
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(2) Between Kenilworth, Tamworth and Nuneaton an anomalous island of older Carboniferous Coal Measures is exposed. These older rocks, which contain layers of sandstones and coal have been pushed upwards through the Triassic Mercia Mudstone, and the soft mudstones eroded away. The coal seams are near the surface in the North of the area, but run progressively deeper to the South. The rocks in this area date from 300Ma-350Ma. <br />
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(3) Between Nuneaton and Atherstone is a narrow <b><span style="background-color: blue;">Pre-Cambrian Volcanic</span></b> ridge. These are very old rocks indeed and date from 600Ma-500Ma. Quartzite, a hard volcanic rock, has been quarried commercially near Nuneaton. <br />
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(4) South East of the Avon, the Feldon, is the next younger band of rocks in the main sequence. These were laid down about 200Ma, and are called Jurassic Lower Lias Clays. These form heavy poorly drained soils. <br />
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(5) In the far South East is a still younger band, the Edge-Hill escaprpment, not visible on the map. This is called Middle Lias. It is a 150 feet thick band of brown sandstones, laid down 150Ma. <br />
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(6) In the extreme South East is the edge of the Cotswold escarpment, an even younger band of Jurassic Limestone, dating from 140Ma. <br />
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At times between 400,000 - 10,000 years ago the area was covered by ice sheets. When this ice melted large amounts of glacial deposits were dumped, particularly around Dunsmore Heath. Many Warwickshire villages are located on top of these deposits as these give easy access to sub-surface water. <br />
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The coal deposits mean that the entire area was, at one time, sub-tropical forest. The sandstone means that the entire area was, at one time, desert. The limestone deposits mean that the area was, at one time, warm shallow sea. <br />
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<b>How It All Happened</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Co-vbao0IUY7qSV9V9-s-Z9JzWZaTlZITS4N8XdjzFH1a0dHu1kAirg30XmbRIEbVLn8UTd4OwKgHEIqGDtPGkHdM0Vwz4W8vrEEgHh89z7ar3OYc-HmPd55ARhH7JBIbrdcnZj7-NA/s1600/geo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Co-vbao0IUY7qSV9V9-s-Z9JzWZaTlZITS4N8XdjzFH1a0dHu1kAirg30XmbRIEbVLn8UTd4OwKgHEIqGDtPGkHdM0Vwz4W8vrEEgHh89z7ar3OYc-HmPd55ARhH7JBIbrdcnZj7-NA/s1600/geo3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>The Geology of Britain</i>, by Peter Toghill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>500 million years ago (Cambrian Period), when primitive life was forming in the seas, the entire land mass of England was situated near the South Pole. England, Wales, southern Ireland, and a small part of NE America formed a drifting subcontinent known as Avalonia. <br />
On the diagram shown right, just North of Avalonia, is a line drawn like a weather front labeled "subduction zone". This is where sea bed was being forced down beneath the subcontinent. Subduction zones cause volcanos. The volcanic rocks near Nuneaton date from this period. The Snowdonian range, also extinct volcanoes, also dates from this period.<br />
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The volcanic rocks near Nuneaton contain important fossils laid down when England was located near the Antarctic Circle. Rocks near Nuneaton have been dated 615Ma. <br />
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Scotland was then near the equator. 5,000km of ocean, the Iapetus Ocean, separated England and Scotland. Continental drift has moved England Northwards, typically at about 4cm per year. This amounts to 4,000km per 100 million years: <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">4cm x 100,000,000 year = 400,000,000cm = 4,000km. </div><br />
By 350Ma (Carboniferous Period) England had joined up to Scotland. The Scottish Highlands were created by the continental collision of these two land masses. Britain was then situated near the equator. This is the time that early tropical forests and swamps were forming what were to become coal measures. The coal seams alternate with sandstones and clays, as the land was periodically inundated with river deltas and tropical seas. <br />
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By 290Ma Britain was at latitude 25N, typical of the Sahara or a Caribbean climate. Around 250Ma (Triassic Period), the Mercia Sandstones were being formed from sandy desert. <br />
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Around 150Ma (late Jurassic Period) warm shallow seas were forming the limestones of the Cotswolds. This type of limestone is called "oolitic". This is not a marine creature, but is a physical precipitation of calcium carbonate, although it does include marine fossils. This type of precipitation is occuring near Bermuda today. <br />
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The tilting of England occurred between 60Ma and 2Ma (Tertiary Period). This was caused by a mantle upswell beneath the Irish Sea. This raised the North West of England by up to 2km, causing a 2-degree tilt across the country. In the North West of England up to 2km of upper layer rocks have been eroded from the upraised surface, exposing the older rock layers below. About 200,000 cubic kilometers of eroded material have been deposited in the North Sea or Atlantic.<br />
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<b>Detailed Local Geology</b><br />
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Because of the presence of coal measures in Warwickshire the region was been extensively explored with deep boreholes, and the underlying geology, which is quite complicated, is known with some detail. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoElj_aExxX-cHqUZsoBvkdCeiave0wQo_Hrp7meLp-xLt9np5OeheicgXsp0R5Xe7xg9TcJRGbWEd1Tb_njT3Y4qVMro488UHJ3d5g6J08VZo6ck5ceynmTGFcZGQV5kftYDn1DQ3Qg/s1600/geo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoElj_aExxX-cHqUZsoBvkdCeiave0wQo_Hrp7meLp-xLt9np5OeheicgXsp0R5Xe7xg9TcJRGbWEd1Tb_njT3Y4qVMro488UHJ3d5g6J08VZo6ck5ceynmTGFcZGQV5kftYDn1DQ3Qg/s1600/geo4.jpg" /></a></div>The diagram shown left is one which I constructed based on information in a British Geological Survey publication <i>'Geology of the Country Around Warwick</i>'. The map might not be precisely accurate, although the main features are. It shows the surface rocks in the Kenilworth/Warwick area. <br />
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The grey tones are the older carboniferous period rocks. The dark grey, in the North is called Tile Hill Mudstone, the mid-grey is called Kenilworth Sandstone, the light grey is Ashow Foundation. <br />
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The younger rocks of the Jurrassic period are in terracota color. The light colour, in the outer region, is the Mercia Mudstone. The dark brown is Bromsgrove Sandstone, so-called because this same band of rocks occurs prominently near Bromsgrove. This porous stone forms the aquifier beneath Leamington, which is the source of the spa waters. <br />
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The light green colour in the North West is a band of glacial deposits, forming high ground in the area of Burton Green. This is called Oadby Till, named from a district in Leicestershire. The rock was carried here by glaciers coming down through Rugby. There is a large amount of glacial deposit in the Dunsmore area. <br />
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The map also shows the quarries used for the stone used to build the two castles in the area. Kenilworth Castle was built from Kenilworth Sandstone, mined at Castle Quarry. Warwick Castle was built from Bromsgrove Sandstone, mined at Coten End Quarry.John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-721384847490129982011-08-24T17:04:00.000+01:002015-01-21T10:12:16.006+00:00Illustrated Biography of J R R TolkienThis is a short illustrated biography of J R R Tolkien. It emphasises his formative childhood in Warwickshire, and illustrates shows some locations in Warwickshire that are particularly evocative of certain places in his books. <br />
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<b>Tolkien's Warwickshire</b> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ACKP__PC29IXYUnZt8jut1Z3nLEjf6LJ251C0vMQx3twGjfU3mNeiQRTjgZzUceZHGty1xLnNG0v-0uTkwhY0T9jDkKm7nzi4OW5kMEbcdcdCiMabFs560j7RkCEAp8V6fD_Q8h8bDI/s1600/tolkien-middleearth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ACKP__PC29IXYUnZt8jut1Z3nLEjf6LJ251C0vMQx3twGjfU3mNeiQRTjgZzUceZHGty1xLnNG0v-0uTkwhY0T9jDkKm7nzi4OW5kMEbcdcdCiMabFs560j7RkCEAp8V6fD_Q8h8bDI/s1600/tolkien-middleearth.jpg" /></a>Some of the images on this page are screenshots from a BBC Documentary <i>Tolkien's Middle Earth</i>; some are from a BBC Omnibus program <i>J R R Tolkien - Master of Middle Earth</i>; some are from Channel 4's <i>Treasure Hunt</i> program; and many are my own. The biographical details are based on information in Humphrey Carpenter's <i>"J R R Tolkien: the Authorised Biography"</i>.<br />
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John Ronald Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on 3rd January 1892. His parents both came from Birmingham, England, and were staying in South Africa on business. In 1896 his mother and his younger brother Hilary returned to England on a short visit, and while here, their father died.<br />
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The picture at right is from a piece of film taken at Oxford in 1967. Tolkien spoke about his first experiences of England as a child, the contrast of coming from a landscape of "wilting eucalyptus trees" and "troubled by heat and sand", to a green and leafy Warwickshire. He said: <br />
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<i>"To find oneself, just at the time when one's imagination is opening out, in a quiet Warwickshire village, engenders a particular love of a central middle England countryside." </i> </blockquote>
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His mother had originally come from Birmingham, and on their return from South Africa found lodgings in the Warwickshire village of Sarehole, which was a couple of miles outside Birmingham, on the road to Stratford.<br />
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This old photo shows Sarehole as it was when Tolkien grew up there.<br />
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And this is the house in Sarehole where they lived, shown as it appears today. <br />
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There were only a few houses at Sarehole, but there was also a water mill, used for grinding flour. This is Sarehole Mill, which became Tolkien's Mill at Hobbiton. <br />
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Near the end of his life Tolkien left a sum of money to go towards the preservation of Sarehole Mill.<br />
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This is a modern aerial view of Sarehole, showing the Mill in the foreground, with the mill pond in the center of the picture. <br />
Tolkien's childhood home was in Gracewell Road, which is the road at the very top right.<br />
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The old village has now been engulfed by urban sprawl from Birmingham. <br />
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Just behind Gracewell Road is Moseley bog, a secret and atmospheric place, where the Tolkien bothers liked to play. <br />
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Sarehole lies on the North-West edge of what used to be the Forest of Arden. <br />
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<b>Hobbit Country</b><br />
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The name "hobbit" comes, consciously or otherwise, from the Old English name Hob. This is a character well known in English folklore.
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There are several roads in Warwickshire which were named, in Medieval times, after this character.<br />
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The Hob Lane shown here is a quiet country lane, still unspoiled, about 6 miles East of Sarehole, and lying just to the North of Temple Balsall. Temple Balsall was the home, in Warwickshire, of the Knights Templar, who are believed to have revered a similar figure. <br />
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This is the road sign of another Hob Lane in Warwickshire, lying to the East. The road sign here was old and weathered, and overgrown with stinging nettles. <br />
This particular Hob Lane is very much "hobbit country". <br />
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This is a view along Hob Lane. You can well imagine hobbits walking, unseen, over the fields behind these tall winding hedgerows. <br />
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Both of these Hob Lanes, and the entire area of Warwickshire between Sarehole and Stratford, lie within the old Forest of Arden. <br />
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<b>Tolkien's Youth</b><br />
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This is one of the Tolkiens' neighbours in Sarehole, Samson Gamgee, whose name has become immortalised in Sam Gamgee.<br />
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In 1900, Tolkien gained a place at King Edwards School in Birmingham. This was an impressive Gothic building in the center of the town. <br />
That meant a 4-mile walk to school. At about this time his mother became a Roman Catholic, and she wanted to be able to attend a Catholic church.<br />
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So, the family moved, from the green and leafy Sarehole into the dark and urban environment of Birmingham itself. <br />
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In 1904, his mother became ill with diabetes, for which there was then no treatment, and which proved fatal. <br />
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The Tolkein brothers came under the care of a Catholic priest, Father Francis Morgan. <br />
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Father Francis found the boys lodgings at the home of a Mrs Faulkner. Tolkien was then 16. Also lodging in the same house was an attractive girl named Edith, aged 19, and a relationship between them began. This outraged Father Francis who forbade Tolkien to see Edith, until he was 21. <br />
Tolkien applied himself to his studies at King Edwards and in 1911 obtained a scholarship to Oxford University, to study languages. <br />
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When he became 21, while at Oxford, he again contacted Edith, and they renewed their relationship and planned to marry. Edith moved to Warwick, which Tolkien particularly liked. <br />
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In August 1914, the First World War broke out. <br />
Tolkien was able to complete his degree in June 1915, but soon had to leave with the troops. Before leaving for France, he and Edith married, at the small Catholic Church in Warwick, on 22 March 1916. <br />
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He was sent to the Western Front, just before the Battle of the Somme. After four months of horror in the trenches of the Somme, he caught trench-fever (fortunately for him), and was returned to England. Most of the friends he had formed at University did not return. <br />
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Tolkien recovered and stayed with Edith at Great Haywood in Staffordshire.<br />
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It was at the Presbatory at Great Hayworth, shown here, that Tolkien began to write what was to become the Silmarillion, which was to serve as a framework for the some of the ideas in The Lord of The Rings. <br />
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Part of his motivation was a need to do something for all the friends he had lost. He says that he had an ambition to write a <i>"Mythology of England"</i> (biography p97).<br />
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<b>The Barrow Downs</b><br />
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The A34 Birmingham to Stratford road, which runs through Sarehole, continues through Stratford, and passes through the Warwickshire village of Long Compton. Here are Warwickshire's Barrow Downs. There are long barrows on the tops of these hills. On the particular day that these pictures were taken the lower slopes of the downs were shrouded in fog. This is Tolkiens "Fog on the Barrow Downs". Just as described in his story, this fog can appear and disappear rapidly.<br />
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Just above Long Compton, and close to where the picture above was taken, is the Rollright Stones neolithic monument.<br />
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According to Professor Shippeys <i>Road to Middle Earth</i>, p75, when Tolkien refers to Standing Stones, Rollright is the place he is thinking of. Tolkien's phrase "jagged teeth out of green gums" is also a good description of the stones here at Rollright. <br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Those hills were crowned with green mounds and on some were standing stones pointing upwards like jagged teeth out of green gums." </i></blockquote>
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<blockquote>
<i>"There stood a single stone standing tall under the sun above" </i></blockquote>
(Fellowship of The Ring, p148) <br />
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At the end of hostilities, in November 1918, Tolkien was demobed and obtained a position working on the New English Dictionary. In the summer of 1920 he applied for a post of Reader in English Language at Leeds University.<br />
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In 1923 Tolkien caught a severe cold which turned to pneumonia. To recover he went to stay with his Aunt Jane, who lived on a farm named Bag End Farm (shown at left). <br />
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This is the original Bag End, which was to reappear a few years later, as Bilbo's home in The Hobbit. <br />
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In 1925 Tolkien returned to Oxford, no longer as student, but as Professor of Anglo-Saxon. <br />
This house is 20 Northmoor Road, Oxford, where Tolkien lived for most of his working life. <br />
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During the long uneventful years at Oxford, Tolkien wrote The Lord of The Rings, and produced The Hobbit, a compact story, for children, forming a part of the grander design.<br />
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In 1936, Tolkien submitted The Hobbit to publisher Stanley Unwin.<br />
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This picture shows Stanley's son, Raynor Unwin. <br />
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Raynor Unwin was 10 years old when Tolkien submitted The Hobbit for publication. Raynor Unwin had the task of "reviewing" children's books for his father, and wrote the first review of The Hobbit.<br />
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This is Raynor Unwin's original <br />
"Report on The Hobbit". <br />
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Raynor Unwin ends by saying "this is a good book and should appeal to all children between the ages of 5 and 9". <br />
The Hobbit was published in 1937. <br />
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Some years later, Raynor Unwin, then grown up, assisted Tolkien through the difficult publication of The Lord Of The Rings.<br />
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This is the flysheet of a first edition of The Hobbit that Tolkien gave to his Aunt Jane.<br />
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You can just see "Aunt Jane" at the top of the page. Tolkien had included a complete handwritten rune alphabet in this book.<br />
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<b>Meon Hill - Weathertop</b><br />
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Along the top of the Cotswold escarpment there are many Iron Age hill forts. The one which gives a feeling of being much like Tolkien's Weathertop is the flat-topped Meon Hill. This hill is a landmark visible for miles around in all directions. And the hill itself commands a strategic view of the roads around.<br />
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Meon Hill has many associations with the supernatural and witchcraft. The hill is said to have been created by The Devil, in anger, at the construction of Evesham Abbey some miles away. There are legends that phantom hounds of the Celtic King Arawyn hunt the hill at night. In 1945 Meon Hill was the site of a well-publicised ritual witchcraft murder, the victim impaled on a pitchfork, his body marked with pagan symbols. Investigations were led by Scotland Yard's "Fabian of The Yard". (Full details of all these in Haunted Warwickshire, by Meg Atkins, pp118-122). <br />
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Soon after the publication of The Hobbit, in 1937, Unwins asked for a sequel. Tolkien already had much of the material for The Silmarillion, and wanted them to publish that. But The Silmarillion has no hobbits in it. So Tolkien embarked on writing a second hobbit story - The Lord of The Rings. This second, huge, story was not completed until 1949, and was eventually published in 1954-55. <br />
This is Raynor Unwin's brother, David Unwin, talking about the publication of The Lord of The Rings. <br />
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He explained that this was a very large work, and publication had been considered a risky venture. Because of the risk, The Lord of The Rings was published in 3 parts. The publication of the 1st volume cost £1,000, which would have had to be written off if the book had flopped. <br />
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The picture above is taken from an interview which was filmed in 1967.<br />
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You may imagine Tolkien to speak with a deep and slow voice, as someone who did not know, might expect a Gandalf to speak. <br />
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But in fact, Tolkien did not have a deep voice, and spoke quite rapidly, reflecting his nimbleness of mind. In his biography Humphrey Carpenter also comments on Tolkien's quality of speech (and his short stature). Not what you would expect of a Gandalf - more like Bilbo.<br />
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Tolkien liked to smoke a pipe. Here, he demonstrates his party trick blowing smoke rings. <br />
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Here Tolkien was filmed writing, in Elvish runes, the phrase "a star shines upon our meeting".<br />
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<b>Significant Dates </b><br />
<ul>
<li>3 Jan 1892 Born in Bloemfontein, South Africa </li>
<li>15 Feb 1896 Family returned to England; father died; childhood spent at Sarehole Warwickshire </li>
<li>1900 Mother becomes Catholic; starts school; move to Birmingham </li>
<li>1904 Mother died </li>
<li>1908 Met Edith (future wife) </li>
<li>1911 Student at Oxford </li>
<li>1913 Resumed relationship with Edith </li>
<li>1914 World War I </li>
<li>1915 Graduated from Oxford </li>
<li>22 Mar 1916 Married Edith; sent to France </li>
<li>1918 Returned to England; end of War; became lexicographer </li>
<li>1920 Obtained post at Leeds University </li>
<li>1925 Obtained post at Oxford </li>
<li>1937 Hobbit published </li>
<li>1954-55 Lord of Rings published </li>
<li>1969 Retired; moved to Bournemouth </li>
<li>22 Nov 1971 Edith died </li>
<li>2 Sep 1973 Tolkien died </li>
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Tolkien retired in 1969, and he and his wife moved to Bournemouth.<br />
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Edith Tolkien died on 22 November 1971. Tolkien died on 2 September 1973. They are both buried in Wolvercote cemetery, Oxford. <br />
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<b>Interpretation - What's It All About?</b><br />
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The BBC Omnibus program interviewed a range of people interested in Tolkien's work.<br />
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An environmentalist believed that the most important meaning involved our relation to the planet. In an interview on the ITV South Bank Show, Terry Pratchett, an author of childen's stories, believed that Tolkien's works were fundamentally childen's stories. Terry Pratchett said: <br />
<blockquote>
<i>"If you don't believe that Tolkien is the greatest writer there ever was when you are 13 years old there is something wrong with you. If you still believe that when you are 53 there really is something wrong with you." </i></blockquote>
People's interpretations of Tolkien depend on their own experiences and
knowledge. So Terry Pratchett, who writes what are nothing more than
children's stories, sees in Tolkien just a children's story.<br />
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Other people will see different things. There is a passage in The
Lord of The Rings, where Lady Galadriel holds up her elven ring. Sam
Gamgee sees nothing. Galadriel says to Frodo: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"As ring-bearer you have seen that which is hidden, and perceived my thought more clearly than many who are accounted wise."</i></blockquote>
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An interesting view on the Omnibus program was given by Professor T A Shippey, himself a philologist, who for some time held the same position and taught the same syllabus as Tolkien had at Leeds.<br />
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Professor Shippey maintains that the invention of languages is the foundation of Tolkien and that the stories were made to provide a world for the language, rather than the reverse. Shippey refers to this as "Tolkien's Heresy".<br />
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<b>Tolkien's Heresy</b><br />
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The idea behind Tolkien's Heresy can be found in universal beliefs about the "power of the word". The idea occurs in Ancient Egyptian. The Egyptians had a belief that a word contained all the properties of the thing. Plato's Cratylus is his exposition on the nature of language. Plato comes to the conclusion that words are not arbitrary labels. It occurs at the beginning of the New Testament, "<i>in the beginning was the word</i>". Tolkien's Letters (p281), includes are some of his drawings of Ancient Egyptian crowns, and he writes with knowledge about Egyptian beliefs. So Tolkien could have formed his beliefs from any, or more likely, all, of those sources.<br />
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Tolkien's linguistic insights, and the way they are applied in his work, differentiate Tolkien, quite radically, from all other fantasy writers. <br />
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<b>Tolkien as Gandalf</b><br />
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It is tempting to see Tolkien himself as a Gandalf-like figure, and to ask whether, in any of the statements which Tolkien makes about Gandalf, he might also be speaking about himself.<br />
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When Tolkien introduces Gandalf to us, he explains that Gandalf's fame in The Shire is "<i>mainly due to his skill with fires, smokes and lights</i>", but that the Shire folk know nothing of his "real business". When the hobbits first meet Aragorn in The Prancing Pony, Aragorn tells Frodo "<i>As a rule you can only see his jokes and toys. But this business of ours will be his greatest task</i>". And Galdariel says "<i>Those that followed him knew not his mind, and cannot report his full purpose</i>". <br />
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<b>What's It All About?</b><br />
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Tolkien disliked people asking this question, and was reluctant to answer it. The nearest he comes to an answer is in his Letters, where there he says that it is about death and immortality. <br />
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The Lord of The Rings is certainly not just about two parties fighting it out with weapons. Such an interpretation doesn't do justice to the place of Frodo and Ring. Particularly to much of the first part of the story, and Gandalf's talks with Frodo about the Ring. Nor to the role of Galadriel, who might be seen as pulling the strings of Fate, in order to bring the entire story to fullfillment. John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-90693973768541665232011-08-09T06:09:00.002+01:002012-03-14T15:41:29.356+00:00Living ChurchyardsSeveral churchyards in Warwickshire (and across England) are managed to encourage wildlife - flowers, birds, butterflies and animals, and to conserve lichens.<br />
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This scheme was originally referred to as the <i>Living Churchyards and Cemetery Project</i>. This page contains a few pictures of some of the churches in Warwickshire taking part in this scheme.<br />
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Alderminster is one of the oldest villages in Warwickshire. The village had a church in the 6th century (not on the site of the present one). The present Church of St Mary and the Holy Cross dates from about 1200, but has been heavily restored. The original village was wiped out by the plague in 1349.<br />
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Alderminster has been in the Living Churchyards scheme for several years. It's churchyard illustrates some of the main features.<br />
Close to the church are closely mown paths, and just outside these paths is meadow-type grassland. This is mown once or twice a year, usually in late Summer (but mowing schemes vary). <br />
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In the more remote parts of the churchyard, the grass is not mown, and these are allowed to grow wild. <br />
The area around these gravestones had been colonised by vipers bugloss. <br />
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Nettles envelop a crucifix. <br />
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Offchurch, 3 miles East of Leamington, lies on the Welsh Road, a former sheep droving road from sheep farming areas of Wales to London. Anglo-Saxon artifacts from the 7th century have been found here. Offchurch takes its name from King Offa of Mercia (757-796), who had a manor nearby and built the first church here. <br />
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The windows in this church are very small, so it is quite dark inside. The darkness accentuates the brightness of the stained glass windows. <br />
The area of the church near the main door is bathed in blue light coming from one window near the door. <br />
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This picture shows the doorway into the church and the adjacent window.<br />
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Visible through the doorway is a bench in the porch outside.<br />
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Offchurch is one of the most interesting living churchyards.<br />
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A notable feature at Offchurch is its communities of different species of tall wild flowers. <br />
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There are ivy covered tombstones, and many bird and bat boxes up in the yew trees.<br />
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There were also squirrels in the trees. <br />
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Oldberrow lies 2 miles West of Henley-in-Arden, on the Warwick-Henley-Redditch Road. There has been a chapel here since 1150. The present St Mary's Church is 13th century. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZNBviCI_sSvz3nf_MxbPgkCUgJHzmqH5xTjg5WC0booPp6tP24ktzS8hOESo8rVGMnTuhkH9-X1Faj1pK-paCj78dZhZBoU57uF9vP9c6g3C3GBslokg4DsqqU7tBafhuOkTwRvwEKw/s1600/oldberrow-mowing-plan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="1" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZNBviCI_sSvz3nf_MxbPgkCUgJHzmqH5xTjg5WC0booPp6tP24ktzS8hOESo8rVGMnTuhkH9-X1Faj1pK-paCj78dZhZBoU57uF9vP9c6g3C3GBslokg4DsqqU7tBafhuOkTwRvwEKw/s320/oldberrow-mowing-plan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Various areas of Oldberrow churchyard are mowed with different frequencies, and at different times of the year. This diagram, on display inside the church, explains their mowing plan.<br />
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You can click on this image to enlarge it, if you wish to read the details.<br />
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Also in the church are collections of photos identifying various types of lichen that can be found in the churchyard, and other wildlife pamphlets. <br />
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Wootton Wawen is 2 miles South of Henley-in-Arden, on the Warwick-Henley Road. <br />
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Barston Churchyard. <br />
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One important consequence of living churchyard projects is that they raise awareness of conservation principles among ordinary gardeners, who might adopt some of these practices in their own gardens. <br />
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<b>More about Living Churchyards</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/living/living.htm">The Living Churchyard (Principles)</a>John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-89811486639037849812011-08-04T05:46:00.004+01:002011-09-04T05:48:49.517+01:00Palmer's Farm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zI6sJryPv0s/TG5byva1pUI/AAAAAAAACy0/z6KQr7sKkCg/s1600/palmers-farm4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zI6sJryPv0s/TG5byva1pUI/AAAAAAAACy0/z6KQr7sKkCg/s400/palmers-farm4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Palmer's Farm, near Stratford-upon-Avon, and is owned and maintained by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.<br />
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Until just a few years ago, Palmer's Farm was believed to have been the home of Mary Arden, Shakespeare's mother. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zI6sJryPv0s/S2f8IeBbKuI/AAAAAAAABc4/vG2_jCVTrgI/s1600-h/palmers-farm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zI6sJryPv0s/S2f8IeBbKuI/AAAAAAAABc4/vG2_jCVTrgI/s400/palmers-farm2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Recent research has revealed that Mary Arden actually lived in the house next door, and that house is now known as Mary Arden's House.<br />
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All the photos on this page show Palmer's Farm. <br />
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Round the back of the house is the farmyard.<br />
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These are some of the outbuildings, complete with ivy and red climbing roses.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zI6sJryPv0s/S2fZxsXZ05I/AAAAAAAABcQ/XMLbIdUK_NE/s1600-h/raised-beds3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zI6sJryPv0s/S2fZxsXZ05I/AAAAAAAABcQ/XMLbIdUK_NE/s400/raised-beds3.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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Also round the back is an authentic Elizabethan vegetable garden.<br />
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I was surprised to see raised beds. I had thought that raised beds were a modern innovation.<br />
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This member of staff was very happy to take a few minutes out to tell me about the history of raised beds. He was able to quote references and dates from various books written at the time.<br />
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He told me that raised beds are documented in the first gardening book to written in English, <i>The Gardener's Labyrinth</i>, written by one Didymus Mountain.<br />
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This 16th Century illustration is from a modern reprint of <i>The Gardener's Labyrinth</i>.<br />
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Here we see the gardener, sitting in his potting shed, with a large jug of ale, refreshing himself.<br />
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At the top right is castle on top of a hill, presumably intended to be Camelot, the home of King Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot.John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-50252254210713892011-08-04T05:10:00.044+01:002011-09-04T05:24:50.731+01:00Church Lawford and Kings Newnham<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjYJjgMK2f2Tv_q2Wfmm9jkPjGor0WAi7W_abe5wLjuXxDWCMU4zpmI3Ko6ZS0nejfGw_h8v0BV79mW3hdLY7jQblkYcUS1ofb79UNnDT4BbBlSuK-HO6xXTKw7ZtmSeeyR9t6DxQxao/s1600/churchlawford1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjYJjgMK2f2Tv_q2Wfmm9jkPjGor0WAi7W_abe5wLjuXxDWCMU4zpmI3Ko6ZS0nejfGw_h8v0BV79mW3hdLY7jQblkYcUS1ofb79UNnDT4BbBlSuK-HO6xXTKw7ZtmSeeyR9t6DxQxao/s400/churchlawford1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Church Lawford and Kings Newnham are two villages occupying the Avon Valley, between Coventry and Rugby. <br />
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This picture shows part of the small village of Kings Newnham, viewed from the A428 Coventry to Rugby road. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5T_uJxOiorP3jti_XGAhWc6n7JPSLhHWo-QyxQSCUfwy-AH8-aiZPmrxhgmY0JBRnEYyFOpvxDa-tcnUKsGhU-GA-WtkkAnFKlBNJnMFq_F5nbZqVDoc5fPsOdQMLTMEIwJiTMQVArk/s1600/churchlawford2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5T_uJxOiorP3jti_XGAhWc6n7JPSLhHWo-QyxQSCUfwy-AH8-aiZPmrxhgmY0JBRnEYyFOpvxDa-tcnUKsGhU-GA-WtkkAnFKlBNJnMFq_F5nbZqVDoc5fPsOdQMLTMEIwJiTMQVArk/s400/churchlawford2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This is a slightly wider view of the scene above.<br />
In the centre of the picture can be seen the River Avon (white). The houses just beyond are also part of Kings Newnham.<br />
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The houses at the right of the picture are the village of Church Lawford. <br />
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The picture below is a wide angle panorama, through almost 180 degrees, showing the entire view of the Avon Valley at this point. At the far left lies Coventry, Kings Newnham is two-thirds the way along the picture, and Church Lawford is visible at the far right. Rugby lies beyond Church Lawford, to the right. Various woods are visible in the background, and the River Avon meanders back and forth across the picture. You can click on the picture to enlarge the image.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PU9bcHnoMA9JKhmvGkx9azAOKT4WTClU1bE2ep28Xsiz3yDmew63JTW_5VBBmbckKX1wrjMCRhhmK2dBMA1NmtqwFy80gxR7-3ibl16_eZWhgs5-7IDRRY0t4kFLYOouE4BM8sCxMWc/s1600/churchlawford10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PU9bcHnoMA9JKhmvGkx9azAOKT4WTClU1bE2ep28Xsiz3yDmew63JTW_5VBBmbckKX1wrjMCRhhmK2dBMA1NmtqwFy80gxR7-3ibl16_eZWhgs5-7IDRRY0t4kFLYOouE4BM8sCxMWc/s640/churchlawford10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzkt83tfy4mHwdZ7P3lNREULXvGcmurrQ5hRHlnyV3mZyPZgIuiZRNL4T9Rhoxs1O_JXspsrh1by8FtyzSQEAq2EG1ey5I2TowVV8uTg4JjLxmbX_yrj6s-m5aik8FCiLqh7muEWG0uA/s1600/churchlawford4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzkt83tfy4mHwdZ7P3lNREULXvGcmurrQ5hRHlnyV3mZyPZgIuiZRNL4T9Rhoxs1O_JXspsrh1by8FtyzSQEAq2EG1ey5I2TowVV8uTg4JjLxmbX_yrj6s-m5aik8FCiLqh7muEWG0uA/s400/churchlawford4.jpg" width="400" /></a>This is a view looking towards Church Lawford from the Rubgy side. <br />
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The River Avon is visible in the foreground. The river meanders wildly in this area. It flows right-to-left in the foreground, but just behind, where there are willow trees visible, it flows back left-to-right. The church tower visible in the distance is St Peter's Church, Church Lawford.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_TFSeiV-bjm4hw0jFwdTfcUVLNuzFL6t6aClY-aLgMzuvQULlydNr63ojSQmDo0s1Qo1AWuAxhuip6YJ7lD7XIQVDmSOqouKO6KCNXfwQBdTwwepKIMzdG2c5HDW3kXgYCUtUd5fTZw/s1600/churchlawford5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_TFSeiV-bjm4hw0jFwdTfcUVLNuzFL6t6aClY-aLgMzuvQULlydNr63ojSQmDo0s1Qo1AWuAxhuip6YJ7lD7XIQVDmSOqouKO6KCNXfwQBdTwwepKIMzdG2c5HDW3kXgYCUtUd5fTZw/s400/churchlawford5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Sheep grazing on the banks of the meandering Avon.<br />
This view is taken mid-way between Church Lawford and Kings Newnham, looking down the Avon Valley in the direction of Coventry. The tall buildings of Coventry are just visible beyond the group of 3 trees at the far left of the picture. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOWlJ9ngDwSneC-MmIvhD1OBIWAI8y0_WwYk9pG9R_ekRik2Gs6rfkW3hW0l69dYRN449XbJe7Z_zA6PB0KwDmfXsLVLnRSj4oKYDeuChoJqHKqisHsbHofgKtXBbP2lv22Eq3PjRokE/s1600/churchlawford6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOWlJ9ngDwSneC-MmIvhD1OBIWAI8y0_WwYk9pG9R_ekRik2Gs6rfkW3hW0l69dYRN449XbJe7Z_zA6PB0KwDmfXsLVLnRSj4oKYDeuChoJqHKqisHsbHofgKtXBbP2lv22Eq3PjRokE/s400/churchlawford6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>A ford across the River Avon.<br />
The place name Law-ford means a ford over the river. I don't know if this is the original ford. <br />
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The Avon flows left to right, behind the fence in the foreground. The water in the foreground is the roadway, which crosses the Avon here, then rises up the far bank. <br />
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A view looking down into the village of Kings Newnham from a hill just behind the village. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIk1MJfNVZot_0jXs6cP48s2FE3kng-nhJMo7TYLowzUzg93vqj5uYq92VDmOEtKRrjQ934AIXaI10ZJGpQ7epM4syKPH7gFjswXFyr-qDioYFH2kf3mg2sRqBmX4VFJVJjHq0ZfvHvrU/s1600/churchlawford8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIk1MJfNVZot_0jXs6cP48s2FE3kng-nhJMo7TYLowzUzg93vqj5uYq92VDmOEtKRrjQ934AIXaI10ZJGpQ7epM4syKPH7gFjswXFyr-qDioYFH2kf3mg2sRqBmX4VFJVJjHq0ZfvHvrU/s400/churchlawford8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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St Peter's Church, Church Lawford. <br />
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The Elizabethan Manor House, Church Lawford. John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-28727259345287015582011-08-04T04:59:00.026+01:002011-09-04T05:05:48.966+01:00Dunchurch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQrO-jWTYr5dYf1StCSNwTwMeD4Mdt8OxNO5NfXqD2F-Qk_UAfRanDSj-pGGKXA-oiIcAyLvMyhEo4S7WrnC8ZU62PjaJ3KrmKp4TjMeQtY9V5sAKLgTKKKinGJNecSRz4aLgHb0aHn4/s1600/dunchurch1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQrO-jWTYr5dYf1StCSNwTwMeD4Mdt8OxNO5NfXqD2F-Qk_UAfRanDSj-pGGKXA-oiIcAyLvMyhEo4S7WrnC8ZU62PjaJ3KrmKp4TjMeQtY9V5sAKLgTKKKinGJNecSRz4aLgHb0aHn4/s400/dunchurch1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This is St Peter's Church, Dunchurch. <br />
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Dunchurch was an important staging post on the road from London to the Midlands. It lies at the cross roads between the old London-Birmingham road, and the old Oxford-Leicester road. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-fpQgqeVZD0MbkVhJAZNUaKHxq_CNPnJYzekL6P5hRqEysBzGtfQd4SDi6JtWcOKkR6_mQ9A8UKsGgmn62HA_NTKVAplPD3EZywadFTW93gauKJCDjKBnk_iwoMzsyha1tMGu2X4ZaA/s1600/dunchurch3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-fpQgqeVZD0MbkVhJAZNUaKHxq_CNPnJYzekL6P5hRqEysBzGtfQd4SDi6JtWcOKkR6_mQ9A8UKsGgmn62HA_NTKVAplPD3EZywadFTW93gauKJCDjKBnk_iwoMzsyha1tMGu2X4ZaA/s400/dunchurch3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The inn sign of the Dun Cow Inn, Dunchurch. An 18th century coaching inn, the inn had stabling for 40 pairs of horses. The Dun Cow comes from a medieval romance. It was a monster terrorising local villages. According to the tale, the beast was defeated by the legendary Guy of Warwick. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvWVHQaVIdKeBUXKSPUXNDwNggvaHcNTCcU3M9yjTqN2-G4Y5dzlNKaFYznvyXTw7Sgto8cRVAJ0Jw2hK4hFON_wlaZw4sTXuKhkhV_Pf-0JKb-yGcbRv97oXrFDjQPKVnHjYPeYf2t8/s1600/dunchurch4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvWVHQaVIdKeBUXKSPUXNDwNggvaHcNTCcU3M9yjTqN2-G4Y5dzlNKaFYznvyXTw7Sgto8cRVAJ0Jw2hK4hFON_wlaZw4sTXuKhkhV_Pf-0JKb-yGcbRv97oXrFDjQPKVnHjYPeYf2t8/s400/dunchurch4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Just across the road from the Dun Cow Inn is the village Smithy. A blacksmith on hand was essential to keep those horses shod. And over the smithy is the Chestnut Tree. The present tree is a replacement for its parent.<br />
It is claimed by many English tourism guidebooks that this is the Smithy and Chestnut Tree that inspired Longfellow's poem The Village Blacksmith.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0tilpHjG-CIeRYvd6gUnh91uxBW51-4E1bJFWl49ckQZNbJ274sqYVEex7gaOmcZlewH0TUceeeLfo4W0ASC8vWkftP3Bqhd9L01Z4cqUGPocQS74rgH6_kFJV-J0C-iqWsL35tWPnw/s1600/dunchurch-draycote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0tilpHjG-CIeRYvd6gUnh91uxBW51-4E1bJFWl49ckQZNbJ274sqYVEex7gaOmcZlewH0TUceeeLfo4W0ASC8vWkftP3Bqhd9L01Z4cqUGPocQS74rgH6_kFJV-J0C-iqWsL35tWPnw/s400/dunchurch-draycote.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>2 miles West of Dunchurch is Draycote Water.<br />
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Managed by Severn Trent to supply Rugby with water, Draycote Reservoir covers more than 600 acres with a capacity of 5,000 million gallons. Draycote Water is one of the best locations in the Midlands for winter wildfowl and gulls, and for migrating birds on spring and autumn passage.John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-44196080304024778152011-08-04T04:50:00.025+01:002011-09-04T04:57:46.620+01:00Tanworth-in-Arden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGFV3ZRcHv63yFFeAxh768Islh1Y5SXEoAH68JsSnVhMgcV9CyG-Mw8HAYkmesqOkYVxxMUMBGzFGn3pWBbFQ6b3MRIA5bgZuiKjpzl-1PAhWX7VZyIPbjfDA_RTiJcPae6Jtp0gCdik/s1600/tanworth-green2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGFV3ZRcHv63yFFeAxh768Islh1Y5SXEoAH68JsSnVhMgcV9CyG-Mw8HAYkmesqOkYVxxMUMBGzFGn3pWBbFQ6b3MRIA5bgZuiKjpzl-1PAhWX7VZyIPbjfDA_RTiJcPae6Jtp0gCdik/s1600/tanworth-green2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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The green at Tanworth-in-Arden, showing the village pub. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyO3QCNCkql-Ciav9f_cTkgrsbuvh3Bp12yaELUCPl5TXetsj0xeexgD2RcDksotHeEcgrnFPlZxrGKlOgSucTb14f7QSQE9G8k5Z_sKx18sAiGdmHR0bDioPXXDb0HAiHsY-3XlU2P9c/s1600/tanworth-green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyO3QCNCkql-Ciav9f_cTkgrsbuvh3Bp12yaELUCPl5TXetsj0xeexgD2RcDksotHeEcgrnFPlZxrGKlOgSucTb14f7QSQE9G8k5Z_sKx18sAiGdmHR0bDioPXXDb0HAiHsY-3XlU2P9c/s1600/tanworth-green.jpg" /></a></div>Another view of the green at Tanworth-in-Arden, showing shops at the left, a nice red pillar box, and the church beyond.<br />
We always like to see hollyhocks growing outside people's houses, at the left of the picture.<br />
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This is quite a small green, but was presumably much larger before the tarmac roads were laid around its sides.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9bW4XLeslBzBY9a0HgvHyEyQe-wP7iA9PHlpi54FXQv6qpNs5_EXjN9PnGykgJ7nNmaGnd3kRdIkBq7nWBhyphenhyphenyPt8reM7k_RKiZ_A4gQY3OI6zlF96O01_mkBkUd57lsYTm7SZ2XVo3s/s1600/tanworth3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9bW4XLeslBzBY9a0HgvHyEyQe-wP7iA9PHlpi54FXQv6qpNs5_EXjN9PnGykgJ7nNmaGnd3kRdIkBq7nWBhyphenhyphenyPt8reM7k_RKiZ_A4gQY3OI6zlF96O01_mkBkUd57lsYTm7SZ2XVo3s/s1600/tanworth3.jpg" /></a></div>The 14th century church of St Mary Magdalene.<br />
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The churchyard contains the gravestone of folk icon Nick Drake, brother of Gabriel Drake, who became a cult figure after his death. <br />
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Tanworth was also the filming location for the village of Kings Oak in the TV series Crossroads. <br />
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This is the view from the Churchyard, across the Arden countryside.<br />
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Running right to left across this picture, in the distance, is the Stratford to Birmingham railway line. John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-60020041289973020412011-08-04T04:34:00.021+01:002011-09-04T04:41:07.593+01:00Lapworth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJgGbgFMWtpN9qKkJXQrFMKkH-ZINmFW4ejXWh_GEi_mhQKT5pfd25joRxDUjtG2fE-7ExPLAAbCO6s4jYTIMeOgFja5fsP__WDwkD-ZL2hq07jO1HYAlKW9yEBnaZyU_U1Avn4naXOo/s1600/lapworth6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJgGbgFMWtpN9qKkJXQrFMKkH-ZINmFW4ejXWh_GEi_mhQKT5pfd25joRxDUjtG2fE-7ExPLAAbCO6s4jYTIMeOgFja5fsP__WDwkD-ZL2hq07jO1HYAlKW9yEBnaZyU_U1Avn4naXOo/s400/lapworth6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Typical rolling countryside around Lapworth. <br />
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The church at the top of this hill is St Mary the Virgin, Lapworth. <br />
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St Mary the Virgin, Lapworth. <br />
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In Lapworth Church the stonework and polished wood are much in evidence, like Berkswell, but Lapworth has a much lighter feeling and less gravitas, perhaps befitting its dedication to St Mary. <br />
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Stonework at Lapworth Church. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkvFIkxnQ-VCr2Q0v6dFKU8_Yq_IqejWu1Ho2-3DPiko9XZ2PkPuZCQe7sUoE7vu1h6W5X01xLd3YOh9Y5Tp4i41Jr_5UotRZso-CLfVt0yQZlpiMOJeGYHLlPUThhh_yRkvnKTnzBYY/s1600/lapworth5.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkvFIkxnQ-VCr2Q0v6dFKU8_Yq_IqejWu1Ho2-3DPiko9XZ2PkPuZCQe7sUoE7vu1h6W5X01xLd3YOh9Y5Tp4i41Jr_5UotRZso-CLfVt0yQZlpiMOJeGYHLlPUThhh_yRkvnKTnzBYY/s400/lapworth5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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The table-top tomb beside the church porchway is the tomb of Robert Catesby, mastermind behind the Gunpowder Plot. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpVU1aEMp7NI9o9uLoXC2k9_PQonS7Wtpx-h2Tsqs2q8G6GP5JjxPuSRy7yKJ1MfUsiHIofwyg4iS_PZTOqHyBDcT3jZ3JYkh_VDnA-NdrfUZjDkSJJPaR76a-kdZuyPwtxpKSfe8uAw/s1600/lapworth-canal1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpVU1aEMp7NI9o9uLoXC2k9_PQonS7Wtpx-h2Tsqs2q8G6GP5JjxPuSRy7yKJ1MfUsiHIofwyg4iS_PZTOqHyBDcT3jZ3JYkh_VDnA-NdrfUZjDkSJJPaR76a-kdZuyPwtxpKSfe8uAw/s400/lapworth-canal1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Boats moored along the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal, at Lapworth. <br />
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A holiday houseboat on the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal, navigating locks at Lapworth. John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-73518429156661207872011-08-04T04:26:00.018+01:002011-09-04T04:31:28.197+01:00Lowsonford<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6YeXcHIJWgvOm2jk1vgfMcig-ouCIgualNDSLOOZlNT5M7EtuOCcFd1RxKODnToedByHDm2XuWfusyd0M3q5rV1WIoQsdDHvg2GZ2Jpz9ZSHFrzkGXPaWmmfptnMfct6R24qaTyTi8Y/s1600/lowsonford1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6YeXcHIJWgvOm2jk1vgfMcig-ouCIgualNDSLOOZlNT5M7EtuOCcFd1RxKODnToedByHDm2XuWfusyd0M3q5rV1WIoQsdDHvg2GZ2Jpz9ZSHFrzkGXPaWmmfptnMfct6R24qaTyTi8Y/s400/lowsonford1.jpg" width="400" /></a>Lowsonford is 4 miles North-East of Henley-in-Arden. <br />
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The Stratford Canal passes through the village. <br />
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The village is well known because of the Fleur de Lys pub, visible at the left of this picture. In the 1950's the pub started making meat pies, which was an innovative idea at the time. The Fleur de Lys meat pies are now a nationally known brand. <br />
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On the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal at Lowsonford. <br />
At the right is a barrel-roofed lockkeeper's cottage. <br />
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The boats moored in the background are moored opposite the Fleur de Lys canalside inn. <br />
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Looking across the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal at Lowsonford, towards the gardens of the Fleur de Lys canalside inn. John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-38547954771120610612011-08-04T04:14:00.013+01:002011-09-04T04:18:56.900+01:00Knowle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lZ5nLYVm38g7Pd0kQJB16R0X-fJC3HqMHklwkhaIrLNvb38T9HS3DNCFwomyMkGSL8Hgn1NajA1ZcNdInjfLf3VpNUTqZr6ue5j5Q4GerDFsWpkm_TH6iUoi247zfscE92MX1ansPJg/s1600/knowleguild.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lZ5nLYVm38g7Pd0kQJB16R0X-fJC3HqMHklwkhaIrLNvb38T9HS3DNCFwomyMkGSL8Hgn1NajA1ZcNdInjfLf3VpNUTqZr6ue5j5Q4GerDFsWpkm_TH6iUoi247zfscE92MX1ansPJg/s400/knowleguild.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The first records of Knowle date from 1200, and refer to bequests of William de Arden, an ancestor of Mary Arden, Shakespeare's mother. <br />
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This photo shows the Guild House, which dates from 1412. Thomas Shakespeare of Balsall, became a member of the Guild here in 1486. <br />
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Another view of Knowle Guild House, and the adjacent Church of St John Baptist, St Lawrence and St Anne. <br />
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Madonna lilies and blood-red roses, about the altar in Knowle Church.John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-68549798650302888962011-08-04T03:47:00.023+01:002011-09-04T03:54:40.034+01:00Barston<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_xQi2Yju2myvNziOA8xlXMyDIUOaah4CzLEUDa9a9GsoeXAiYOs8digse6idxPvq5fNqk0EFRzjk4fuBB7W566LVfbGZrZTVeDHdMEPKKaIQoo_H2gZH5WR0jUG1QKv2Atw3dP6ggc0/s1600/barstonchurch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_xQi2Yju2myvNziOA8xlXMyDIUOaah4CzLEUDa9a9GsoeXAiYOs8digse6idxPvq5fNqk0EFRzjk4fuBB7W566LVfbGZrZTVeDHdMEPKKaIQoo_H2gZH5WR0jUG1QKv2Atw3dP6ggc0/s400/barstonchurch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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St Swithins Church, Barston.<br />
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In the Churchyard at St Swithins Church, Barston.<br />
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The churchyard here is managed to encourage wildlife. <br />
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The village pub, The Bulls Head. <br />
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This is the view from a public footpath which runs from Barston Church, down to the River Blythe. The river lies behind the trees at the left, at the bottom of the hill. <br />
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The River Blythe, at Barston. <br />
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Many different species of wild flowers, along the bank of The River Blythe, at Barston. John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-54666261400688237322011-08-04T03:26:00.050+01:002011-09-04T03:42:25.548+01:00Dormston and Bag End<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoBICAEccGtP8lvGrAOdKUzR0pPAXDxd2thlp0gkZWe29TWi6VUuhdguWxWAdMqjv541yF4_fnmpQAxGFzpLeZHloZyq0vNZefErgib6T99QZIARxYtSAVXMASWESefZAoEz2thdZk_4/s1600/dormston-hillfarm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoBICAEccGtP8lvGrAOdKUzR0pPAXDxd2thlp0gkZWe29TWi6VUuhdguWxWAdMqjv541yF4_fnmpQAxGFzpLeZHloZyq0vNZefErgib6T99QZIARxYtSAVXMASWESefZAoEz2thdZk_4/s400/dormston-hillfarm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Dormston is a small hamlet 15 miles West of Stratford-upon-Avon. <br />
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This view shows the approach to Dormston from Stratford. The narrow lane only permits single a file of traffic. <br />
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Dormston is the location of the original Bag End. J R R Tolkien stayed here in 1923, and it became the inspiration for Bag End in The Hobbit. <br />
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This is a view overlooking Dormston from the the East. <br />
The building at the far right of the picture is St Nicholas' Church (more pictures below). <br />
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The farm at the left is Bag End Farm (more pictures below). <br />
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There are several half-timbered buildings in Dormston. <br />
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The area of the ditch and the grass verge in front of this timber-framed old cottage is covered with irises (flags) and other wild flowers. <br />
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This is a moated farmhouse, Moat Farm. <br />
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The farmhouse is surrounded by a moat of deep water. The moat is in the wide ditch running across the foreground of the picture. <br />
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This is St Nicholas' Church, Dormston. <br />
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The half-timbered church tower and wooden porchway.<br />
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The woodwork of the porchway is old and heavily weathered and very attractive. <br />
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A close-up of the heavily weathered woodwork of the porchway.<br />
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Tolkien would have appreciated weathered woodwork like this, and the door shown just below.<br />
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Inside the porchway, beneath heavy wooden beams, is this wooden door.<br />
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One might imagine Tolkien's figure Gandalf tapping on a door like this with his staff, commanding it to open. <br />
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Some 8 years later, Bag End and the Baggins's, and possibly some other impressions of Dormston, reappeared in Tolkien's story The Hobbit. <br />
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This oak is one of the largest I've seen in the area. It's probably around 300 years old, maybe much more. <br />
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This tree would certainly have been one of Tolkien's favourite trees, perhaps his favourite. <br />
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This is another view of the same ancient oak, showing Bag End Farm in the background. <br />
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This is the entrance to the house from the main road (by "main road" I mean the narrow lane you can see in the picture at the top of this page). The entrance appears to be overgrown and disused. Many of the farm outbuildings also appear to be in a state of disrepair. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNJdgQljZn7iF0iQFRRRwk-k_fJ-Sz8V8T_g9KTd8pSVJYg9K4XhDJMo5gz3ZaD67iDuCiKnq_Slj2t2pet6fwbAma65YvLtN2DTFBg15NzFJHoWBQDcGHEEPZfuxvT2haaV-LmHTLXI/s1600/dormston-viewwest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNJdgQljZn7iF0iQFRRRwk-k_fJ-Sz8V8T_g9KTd8pSVJYg9K4XhDJMo5gz3ZaD67iDuCiKnq_Slj2t2pet6fwbAma65YvLtN2DTFBg15NzFJHoWBQDcGHEEPZfuxvT2haaV-LmHTLXI/s400/dormston-viewwest.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This is the view, looking to the West, from the top of the hill behind Bag End. <br />
On the horizon towards the right you can see a range of hills and beyond them are mountains. These are the Malverns, and the Black Mountains. <br />
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Standing in this green meadow, you are drawn to wonder what lies in, and beyond, those distant hills and mountains. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmKoBjn4N6rpK_gkAZhV1uTuN0D6lB5a7_I6YjstQ-TlRAxQcxQJdB2gSCCbOIOSoekVFLPitOzz5uhcgT14H4h2sFox8WeoxIt7VxUoBVGqTBvJGPMeNTlpmoAHk-8K9HFcGuYrM9Hk/s1600/dormston-footpath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmKoBjn4N6rpK_gkAZhV1uTuN0D6lB5a7_I6YjstQ-TlRAxQcxQJdB2gSCCbOIOSoekVFLPitOzz5uhcgT14H4h2sFox8WeoxIt7VxUoBVGqTBvJGPMeNTlpmoAHk-8K9HFcGuYrM9Hk/s400/dormston-footpath.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This picture shows exactly the same view of meadows and distant mountains as the picture above, but is taken from a few yards further back, to show a footpath sign and a gate. <br />
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This footpath can take you, via other paths, all the way from Bag End in The Shire to the Black Mountains. John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-47395595277085548962011-08-04T02:58:00.064+01:002011-09-04T03:20:17.711+01:00Sarehole<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDcd2zCBJ3lu4WJFjZlkp3pKY82NHiSpJCZz32Ha8mk9tknZJLqQBW9zNVYJtmhPw7LkApr_BHGWvC_Ecfs1fpQyrB6j2wrZBWgPvsNjdqasx-TqwdkYnfwUCxQFVLoFBWp-L9Tn3RrE/s1600/gracewell1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDcd2zCBJ3lu4WJFjZlkp3pKY82NHiSpJCZz32Ha8mk9tknZJLqQBW9zNVYJtmhPw7LkApr_BHGWvC_Ecfs1fpQyrB6j2wrZBWgPvsNjdqasx-TqwdkYnfwUCxQFVLoFBWp-L9Tn3RrE/s400/gracewell1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The former village of Sarehole was the childhood home of J R R Tolkien. He lived at 5 Gracewell Road, which is the centre of the group of houses shown here. <br />
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In the 1930's this was a quiet village in the Warwickshire countryside. The area around Sarehole is now built-up and forms part of the Hall Green district of Birmingham. Gracewell Road is now called Wake Green Road. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvY7i2w3F-v99_-emb-67tLfdtR1lCivHQcBGZ0xrG-2SgImhHCrgJHWWCbO1hDZ169HXabHFf9pbOgAwmvRNeuUtbYLXh1egayM9Ssz3s3kT5F5m6e36EKpZuKCE77rqOtE5cGBZ2VY/s1600/gracewell2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvY7i2w3F-v99_-emb-67tLfdtR1lCivHQcBGZ0xrG-2SgImhHCrgJHWWCbO1hDZ169HXabHFf9pbOgAwmvRNeuUtbYLXh1egayM9Ssz3s3kT5F5m6e36EKpZuKCE77rqOtE5cGBZ2VY/s400/gracewell2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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This picture shows the large wooded area, Moseley Bog, which is immediately behind the houses in Gracewell Road. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWETmthfYUnj-5fslv5o_QuZ_9LXP8A08i74-1EEZsDWGFSbPcTuwQr6MpVbYIbYb_t5nFKR5k9EC9qvgZeF27jT7TR1V69OTzLRvfsSut1REZ6ng3FWMgSQ-M610atLQXPvfajero1ls/s1600/oldforest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWETmthfYUnj-5fslv5o_QuZ_9LXP8A08i74-1EEZsDWGFSbPcTuwQr6MpVbYIbYb_t5nFKR5k9EC9qvgZeF27jT7TR1V69OTzLRvfsSut1REZ6ng3FWMgSQ-M610atLQXPvfajero1ls/s400/oldforest.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This photo is a view inside the wood. <br />
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This wilderness extends back for about half a mile, although it is quite narrow in width. <br />
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It is claimed that playing in this wood gave Tolkien the inspiration for the Old Forest. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnGixUSETcw3Lr043S6T0QBYgdGVAB-fxM74I6pg-WNCNGfkZ6knyAFxr4aSHAPgu3Aw6dWsGyUn3CZGk8-8H8PFLm5nfeGS0w4T2iqtvqRACd9URPRC4RHDi7J-4HK3r1JRaaQpc4hc/s1600/moseleybog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnGixUSETcw3Lr043S6T0QBYgdGVAB-fxM74I6pg-WNCNGfkZ6knyAFxr4aSHAPgu3Aw6dWsGyUn3CZGk8-8H8PFLm5nfeGS0w4T2iqtvqRACd9URPRC4RHDi7J-4HK3r1JRaaQpc4hc/s400/moseleybog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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This pond, in a dell, is at the end of Moseley Bog near to Gracewell Road. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsGeFYEBXGuxb5P1z9QsmA3uGAwfZDRZT5kgQFTKB5LTaLq_Uqi-x-6DojOIQ9Esk4sRDOO36N6OCe5p83nQbOo73Ac4E6Qz6NBPALOt_y2K-M_vvi6m9rfR4_aZMI5d2Do8HP_uBT8g/s1600/sareholeoaks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsGeFYEBXGuxb5P1z9QsmA3uGAwfZDRZT5kgQFTKB5LTaLq_Uqi-x-6DojOIQ9Esk4sRDOO36N6OCe5p83nQbOo73Ac4E6Qz6NBPALOt_y2K-M_vvi6m9rfR4_aZMI5d2Do8HP_uBT8g/s400/sareholeoaks.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
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These mature oak trees are on the bank which is immediately behind the houses in Gracewell Road.<br />
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Tolkien would have certainly played around these oaks. <br />
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Moseley Bog is now administred by the Birmingham Wildlife Trust as a nature reserve. <br />
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The entrance into Moseley Bog is not easy to find (it's hard to find your way in and out!), but the helpful staff at the Sarehole Mill (see below) will give visitors a free map showing the entrance and paths. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLNpJ0cGSaYDiIMEgu_zANDJUa6xlMWBVn7TXH7sAyYFXxtKNMAbFcT8iURjB0J4e-bgxt_GCkkqQlQlCiqwrFtynjgdN07XaZ6orjfDNAbA9s9G8xAPN9W7TGwDjyOSjT-aFDTeRqKY/s1600/gracewell3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLNpJ0cGSaYDiIMEgu_zANDJUa6xlMWBVn7TXH7sAyYFXxtKNMAbFcT8iURjB0J4e-bgxt_GCkkqQlQlCiqwrFtynjgdN07XaZ6orjfDNAbA9s9G8xAPN9W7TGwDjyOSjT-aFDTeRqKY/s400/gracewell3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This is another view along Gracewell Road.<br />
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The houses in Gracewell Road are visible at the left of the picture. <br />
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In the right foreground is another wild area, which is part of the Sarehole Mill Millpond. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BB9V7C-V9xn_MOS1x3MTIqmANzQyCzI4My5esyTVx1WCBFVJlysJvGNAu94wjLMdFf9eDbOPCpYyHebvf9KRSUzy97l8jlU8hlgzONB2strJDrr30fuTYBP-7wNFUeh5xRfsaKhJUVo/s1600/tolkien-gracewell2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BB9V7C-V9xn_MOS1x3MTIqmANzQyCzI4My5esyTVx1WCBFVJlysJvGNAu94wjLMdFf9eDbOPCpYyHebvf9KRSUzy97l8jlU8hlgzONB2strJDrr30fuTYBP-7wNFUeh5xRfsaKhJUVo/s400/tolkien-gracewell2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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This is approximately the same view, showing the road as it was when Tolkien grew up here.<br />
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In the distance, a road on the right leads down to a very attractive ford over the River Cole, and another very nice place to play. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJM_JA-jnvyx63iJotLIzO3QqglT3BTEGHKB5Xw9FdQhBJTJLtt98tZeGqrHwoTgbjyedWvi-RUjQjZhSIub3_tPrHZIw8H80G26bnSVxG612pywVx0xhqsuLmFZOLTaAaovfKe265YV0/s1600/coleford1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJM_JA-jnvyx63iJotLIzO3QqglT3BTEGHKB5Xw9FdQhBJTJLtt98tZeGqrHwoTgbjyedWvi-RUjQjZhSIub3_tPrHZIw8H80G26bnSVxG612pywVx0xhqsuLmFZOLTaAaovfKe265YV0/s400/coleford1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This is the Ford over the River Cole.<br />
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Here the road crosses the River Cole. Gracewell Road is up the road to the right. <br />
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At times of exceptional rain the ford can become very deep. At the far left of the picture, in front of the fence, is a vertical post. This has graduations marked on it to mark the water levels. The markings go up to 6 feet. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSio1pa_N9rZ3Ar3tUsPL7V1Dx_BZzUYRvMh_5bfk5b9-o7LIpN9bEzb8w9Ubl-Klew3PVwovS9poXPyUQBPUCXgBYuOTWLULjKCHmVEKnqmTCud28OKjYfJGJ6I3FBVH07lHZM_kXy8/s1600/coleford2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSio1pa_N9rZ3Ar3tUsPL7V1Dx_BZzUYRvMh_5bfk5b9-o7LIpN9bEzb8w9Ubl-Klew3PVwovS9poXPyUQBPUCXgBYuOTWLULjKCHmVEKnqmTCud28OKjYfJGJ6I3FBVH07lHZM_kXy8/s400/coleford2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDww8vcXp2TYx2HNsnswlpjO7I_LbFF9-bgeUJNtQiBJO10xk6n9Y8th2OAqJALLoCzeTpUq5cM859SZ3RChVXMS0Kxp9cpRrhXCnYB4oLV61wJDdb5h0d1qoTuD4I_h8_U3AVSPL3Omw/s1600/rivercole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDww8vcXp2TYx2HNsnswlpjO7I_LbFF9-bgeUJNtQiBJO10xk6n9Y8th2OAqJALLoCzeTpUq5cM859SZ3RChVXMS0Kxp9cpRrhXCnYB4oLV61wJDdb5h0d1qoTuD4I_h8_U3AVSPL3Omw/s400/rivercole.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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The length of the River Cole, for a couple of miles, is preserved as a nature and recreational walkway, called the Millstream Way.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMieCDx4UUxv8g2d3MjGptxCQcGDMlfSVQ_eY_l-VtOwqURm4_4oNKl07aoCi26TzHkIMl1Sy54FYpcW6q3qnuvsCmbhzEBuaTFnAF5DhIx8lQUus0GZ7ZY_6-UXdABa5nq3Bg73Uu3_s/s1600/sareholemill1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMieCDx4UUxv8g2d3MjGptxCQcGDMlfSVQ_eY_l-VtOwqURm4_4oNKl07aoCi26TzHkIMl1Sy54FYpcW6q3qnuvsCmbhzEBuaTFnAF5DhIx8lQUus0GZ7ZY_6-UXdABa5nq3Bg73Uu3_s/s400/sareholemill1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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The River Cole runs behind the mature oak trees at the left of the picture. Gracewell Road lies to the right of the picture (out of shot).<br />
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The building in the right background is Sarehole Mill. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2JXOhUF7sNZWhjjnALxRzOIqOUjeXFhnXuMWUpZjc6qberTBLsMsRzJ96lVLAxRRrhlZDKxTTATBTnAxPO2auF7hRGByL2C9P3MLVkgkvJnsptPI_BtKtvjYKkPZ3J_i9GRR4NO4nao/s1600/sareholemill2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2JXOhUF7sNZWhjjnALxRzOIqOUjeXFhnXuMWUpZjc6qberTBLsMsRzJ96lVLAxRRrhlZDKxTTATBTnAxPO2auF7hRGByL2C9P3MLVkgkvJnsptPI_BtKtvjYKkPZ3J_i9GRR4NO4nao/s400/sareholemill2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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The outside of Sarehole Mill is concealed by trees on all sides.<br />
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This is the view from the roadway. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbTmt_FsZqTc9sHzkfFXfBT3JyEiRuWz-HNMGVH9037N1To8o-qLWWqV3p9_VpD0zIhS2BOQt9XmRuKB4RlYYRhv0RAse3XK-KggU7uKi-alyk4cOOhU_F2rwrBZUL9r3bd5aCnZRxX0/s1600/sareholemill3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbTmt_FsZqTc9sHzkfFXfBT3JyEiRuWz-HNMGVH9037N1To8o-qLWWqV3p9_VpD0zIhS2BOQt9XmRuKB4RlYYRhv0RAse3XK-KggU7uKi-alyk4cOOhU_F2rwrBZUL9r3bd5aCnZRxX0/s400/sareholemill3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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This is the Mill Yard. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJUm3ep071dQiUOhOVTj9yqbRDa1OOdI_4elwXV9DXFb5IukUQ0mqEIR1kdozhSc53bL5KKvmzrvr1x5ofifAqGBu2eXcX2FgjEOSmCBHt3NIo7qnE63R9VExQnpu5oYEE8AjQ-vpUAw/s1600/sareholemill4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJUm3ep071dQiUOhOVTj9yqbRDa1OOdI_4elwXV9DXFb5IukUQ0mqEIR1kdozhSc53bL5KKvmzrvr1x5ofifAqGBu2eXcX2FgjEOSmCBHt3NIo7qnE63R9VExQnpu5oYEE8AjQ-vpUAw/s400/sareholemill4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQC3G0TtfbR41B1l66CLciHezYbjgwI_l-hISfLW2-7DlUwyry8pCTQ-wTwTSzJjlux07qFSTNmm2_c6qrWLXwAlqRsifvPsNfu2mmi7hUrNSPgnqvIfQjulfHD6pMo74JaR1KMoe-pU/s1600/sareholemill5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQC3G0TtfbR41B1l66CLciHezYbjgwI_l-hISfLW2-7DlUwyry8pCTQ-wTwTSzJjlux07qFSTNmm2_c6qrWLXwAlqRsifvPsNfu2mmi7hUrNSPgnqvIfQjulfHD6pMo74JaR1KMoe-pU/s400/sareholemill5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Sarehole Mill is open to the public, as a museum showing how a water mill operated. <br />
There are also some Tolkien-related leaflets available in the small shop. <br />
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This is a view of some of the machinery inside the Mill buildings. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKapcRam_7SPmd8qyo9cclCjNszWS264ppzE1V7XuQ17RFQo-2G1BrOqF9R8gd_KGVw3fnzi1F3zqMvR_2U0N76jw8VybDnztq2zT1JIYB-nKSSLuMjNVEt_4J_0cWPZXmD0vbpMMuJs/s1600/sareholemillpond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKapcRam_7SPmd8qyo9cclCjNszWS264ppzE1V7XuQ17RFQo-2G1BrOqF9R8gd_KGVw3fnzi1F3zqMvR_2U0N76jw8VybDnztq2zT1JIYB-nKSSLuMjNVEt_4J_0cWPZXmD0vbpMMuJs/s400/sareholemillpond.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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This is the Mill Pond.<br />
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Gracewell Road lies just the other side of the trees. John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-54571479269019563182011-07-31T07:40:00.158+01:002011-09-02T04:25:44.271+01:00City of Coventry<b>Statue of Lady Godiva in Broadgate</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4koIjqrWbX1kILtYjZyLdAwF8OjEVjpL6ensemt2CW41-lBF3IZ6XK7XNxDChiSqG756jmNpzaUAo6N7Nil-EgZjjZq2OPOocTcCCMeGYZTTyjKIpXzew_PXD05EwqBwdETsjToqSGrQ/s1600/coventry-godiva-statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4koIjqrWbX1kILtYjZyLdAwF8OjEVjpL6ensemt2CW41-lBF3IZ6XK7XNxDChiSqG756jmNpzaUAo6N7Nil-EgZjjZq2OPOocTcCCMeGYZTTyjKIpXzew_PXD05EwqBwdETsjToqSGrQ/s1600/coventry-godiva-statue.jpg" /></a></div>Coventry has an important historical place in the region, and there are some attractive historical buildings that can still be found in the City.<br />
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In the mid-14th Century, Coventry was the largest and most important town in the Midlands of England. Coventry grew to prosperity through a trade in wool and textiles. Later it became the main centre in England for the manufacture of watches, bicycles, and then cars. Today the City employs workers in the sevice industries, light enginerring, and telecommunications. The City is also famous for its connections with Lady Godiva, and the Cathedral of St Michael, which was destroyed during the Blitz. <br />
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Arthur Mee's <i>The Kings England</i>, written in 1936, describes Coventry in the following terms: <br />
<blockquote><i>"In the middle of England like the hub of a wheel stands Coventry, the town of Fortune's Wheel, for the wheel has made its fortune. It is England's birthplace of the age of speed and swift communications. </i><br />
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<i>Coventry gave us the means to span continents in the aeroplane; it made all England our parish if we own a car. The city puts a girdle round the earth with its telecommunications. If we turn back the pages of this town's history as a manufacturing centre we see how one great industry and then another has risen and often declined, but how the long view has made Coventry what it is."</i></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGCy6H5uCGbndVa9NgMJaQ7WYy2cQGEvj4XxckUIefXGWvLdhZfj-b2SGKrbSM5m-dhzmQqORgFVJFOZpTus_t3RydldGf-3ZpYyqsQKL6x8iIR0khCfC0fq9_0fiFsAfnU7jufI0Cbc/s1600/coventry-kenilworthroad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGCy6H5uCGbndVa9NgMJaQ7WYy2cQGEvj4XxckUIefXGWvLdhZfj-b2SGKrbSM5m-dhzmQqORgFVJFOZpTus_t3RydldGf-3ZpYyqsQKL6x8iIR0khCfC0fq9_0fiFsAfnU7jufI0Cbc/s1600/coventry-kenilworthroad.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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The approach to Coventry from the South is impressive.<br />
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This picture shows the approach to Coventry along the road from Warwick and Stratford. <br />
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It is an avenue over a mile long with broad verges, backed by banks of mature oak and beech.<br />
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<b>Origins of Coventry - the Benedictine Priory</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByuA41ZtUX2yz1mVCAeo8dnrRjS8_SiZ-IMBoTa0Vhc6M1pbAt0vMdWc2Ebm37y0e0yVHP2w0SNqfmYVFP60wQVTdoOc_rFbpY5kZet5rE-XDZSWtFVy4_7jud55WFdYQhYPFpxSe4MU/s1600/coventry-priory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByuA41ZtUX2yz1mVCAeo8dnrRjS8_SiZ-IMBoTa0Vhc6M1pbAt0vMdWc2Ebm37y0e0yVHP2w0SNqfmYVFP60wQVTdoOc_rFbpY5kZet5rE-XDZSWtFVy4_7jud55WFdYQhYPFpxSe4MU/s1600/coventry-priory.jpg" /></a></div>One of the oldest habitations in Coventry was a nunnery, near the present town centre. This was sacked by the Danes in 1011. Between 1020-1043, the Saxon Earl Leofric and his wife, Lady Godiva, founded a Benedictine Abbey on the site of the nunnery.<br />
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All that remains, above ground, of the abbey are some foundations. The two buildings shown left are the Old Blue Coat School, built on the old foundations, in 1850.<br />
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There is another view of some of the abbey foundations further down the page. <br />
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Leofric and Godiva endowed the abbey with extensive estates and it soon became one of the richest foundations in the midlands. In 1102 the abbey church became Coventry's first Cathedral, and the abbey became a Priory. (Abbeys and priories are both monastic houses. A priory is associated with a cathedral, but an abbey is independant). <br />
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Around 1540, with the dissolution of the monasteries, the original Cathedral here and its priory were demolished, under the orders of Henry VIII. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIygxcfyInG6LPKJryShR_ed0hnrW_V8q2Gq4nn0eay0y3hnGLAxn1Ac5DcLjC89PDTSDU0TdaY9oS5qa-zCAN-rmCFvgHB9jBM4UXXcIfaLtrpTXs2a7SZqj-FmbemHD4N5tKGT6ocg/s1600/coventry-holy-trinity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIygxcfyInG6LPKJryShR_ed0hnrW_V8q2Gq4nn0eay0y3hnGLAxn1Ac5DcLjC89PDTSDU0TdaY9oS5qa-zCAN-rmCFvgHB9jBM4UXXcIfaLtrpTXs2a7SZqj-FmbemHD4N5tKGT6ocg/s1600/coventry-holy-trinity.jpg" /></a></div>Visitors to Coventry may find it confusing that there are 4 very large churches (or their remains) all together in the centre of the city: <br />
<ol><li>The remains of the Cathedral of St Mary and its Priory. This was the oldest and grandest church. The surviving buildings are shown in the photo above. Very little of the original buildings remains above ground. </li>
<li>Built alongside and parallel to the Cathedral of St Mary is a very large church, Holy Trinity Church, shown right. This is the parish church for the West side of the centre of Coventry.</li>
<li>At the East end of the Priory Cathedral of St Mary, and perpendicular to it is the New Cathedral Church of St Michael, built in the 1960's (described further down this page).</li>
<li>At the South end of the New Cathedral is the shell of the Old St Michael's Cathedral (also described further down this page). This was formerly the parish church for the East side of the City, and was made a cathedral in 1918. This was the cathedral that was destroyed during the Blitz. </li>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ31ay_5STwZiDeBKaThfyvNyhQpOu_VBpqzDsx8FHa0tKQcU1d5ub1Yafs0z9a_ScG1m0WbYC3r4UBztEBPnGCbtXd3n-ELd-3VqtLrhLw6DwHVGSEq2rHiZYImHw0jRATg1bk1kQv4o/s1600/coventry-priory-map.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ31ay_5STwZiDeBKaThfyvNyhQpOu_VBpqzDsx8FHa0tKQcU1d5ub1Yafs0z9a_ScG1m0WbYC3r4UBztEBPnGCbtXd3n-ELd-3VqtLrhLw6DwHVGSEq2rHiZYImHw0jRATg1bk1kQv4o/s1600/coventry-priory-map.gif" /></a></div>This plan shows the 4 churches: the outlines of the Cathedral of St Mary and its Priory (in blue), together with the existing Holy Trinity Church, and the New and Old Cathedrals of St Michael. The two small surviving buildings of the Priory (in the photo above left) are shown black on the plan. <br />
Quite recently some excavations have been performed around the area at the top of this plan, and some medieval stonework has been unearthed (more details just below). A visitors centre has been built (shown green) and the remainder of the area is in the process of being made into a condition suitable for visitors. <br />
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<b>Time Team Excavation of St Mary's Cathedral and Priory </b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifR4l9zKVN8rwKZXNWYe17_fELP-n525X4yYmgBbhwHYL9hwwWQyM75uOrlqNc_OH3w1dcX1K-5rfGTMgm-aYmJgqC_TKa7ux8wM_6uZU1ear14lenZewETRNIeIvxHtv07CzMpAloSCk/s1600/coventry-time-team-dig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifR4l9zKVN8rwKZXNWYe17_fELP-n525X4yYmgBbhwHYL9hwwWQyM75uOrlqNc_OH3w1dcX1K-5rfGTMgm-aYmJgqC_TKa7ux8wM_6uZU1ear14lenZewETRNIeIvxHtv07CzMpAloSCk/s1600/coventry-time-team-dig.jpg" /></a></div>The initial excavation of the grounds of Coventry's Cathedral of St Mary and Priory was undertaken by the Channel 4 TV archaeology program Time Team. Coventry City Council are redeveloping this area and had asked Time Team to visit the site.<br />
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This picture shows the Time Team at work on the excavation.<br />
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The Time Team TV program has been repeated on the Discovery Channel. Pictures in this section which have the "Discovery Channel" icon at the top right corner, are from that program. The very recent pictures at the bottom of the section are my own.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2S2cbFBoPaSNy4XPX0SXdXA7DSWBu0jebnz9ZgxnEoQ7yjAItzLCM72Xy7E1JfBlduAzMdV_Mz9Lww8Z-z_S5vRnJ_7TKCJX9Wv5t5G6fMOc8Hghv1fU3it_PTtpzrBICSvy8WOhOsLE/s1600/coventry-time-team-aerial1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2S2cbFBoPaSNy4XPX0SXdXA7DSWBu0jebnz9ZgxnEoQ7yjAItzLCM72Xy7E1JfBlduAzMdV_Mz9Lww8Z-z_S5vRnJ_7TKCJX9Wv5t5G6fMOc8Hghv1fU3it_PTtpzrBICSvy8WOhOsLE/s1600/coventry-time-team-aerial1.jpg" /></a></div>This aerial photo shows the area, just before excavation.<br />
In the left foreground of the picture is the shell of the Old St Michael's; in the right foreground, with the green roof, is the New Cathedral; Holy Trinity can be seen towards the upper left. <br />
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The area formerly covered by the Priory Cathedral consists of the two areas of grass, and the buildings in the centre of the picture.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7GnMNEYnXzPwAHaqAZE62ohyphenhyphenq85sr-MUkOP1otti0T8gacSrEmpgDVch1_ZE75r71WlIyWk46sEoVPpU3OpVKhY4NlNZdw-au4WpebBtJshwzmxR-GQD8BePldFSQM1Jr38kFHwDQAY/s1600/coventry-time-team-aerial2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7GnMNEYnXzPwAHaqAZE62ohyphenhyphenq85sr-MUkOP1otti0T8gacSrEmpgDVch1_ZE75r71WlIyWk46sEoVPpU3OpVKhY4NlNZdw-au4WpebBtJshwzmxR-GQD8BePldFSQM1Jr38kFHwDQAY/s1600/coventry-time-team-aerial2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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An aerial view from a different angle, giving a better view of Holy Trinity, now on the right. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplXAuQPZDiXqPLTJMdW_5IRr09ATS9dE-4rdCdEEysq9LmyY3h28XEQBTmSTEPeCdyZr0NPHYdIMhCJn7_W2kr6rOu7p3rTQR2KuHG4kWeslPSnYBXzn9KgaaRMkk1mdkKXsyjUWYnjI/s1600/coventry-time-team-plan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplXAuQPZDiXqPLTJMdW_5IRr09ATS9dE-4rdCdEEysq9LmyY3h28XEQBTmSTEPeCdyZr0NPHYdIMhCJn7_W2kr6rOu7p3rTQR2KuHG4kWeslPSnYBXzn9KgaaRMkk1mdkKXsyjUWYnjI/s1600/coventry-time-team-plan.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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This shows a plan of the Priory Cathedral, superimposed on the aerial photo above.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrZrVyzBu7xYyOABdNEK4beqa6nHLtsOLkrispqABkfQTiMgopHwwjy2q7wXSwGYPkNKPpSUYZer_vMl13mz-EOE_M7zFnQhXwRsWE0kTPJuyJLooWcjLsyEwLMWumVFOspvDRGLi3KM/s1600/coventry-time-team-lichfield1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrZrVyzBu7xYyOABdNEK4beqa6nHLtsOLkrispqABkfQTiMgopHwwjy2q7wXSwGYPkNKPpSUYZer_vMl13mz-EOE_M7zFnQhXwRsWE0kTPJuyJLooWcjLsyEwLMWumVFOspvDRGLi3KM/s1600/coventry-time-team-lichfield1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Coventry's Cathedal of St Mary is believed to have been very similar to Lichfield Cathedral, which is about 40 miles away. Coventry was the only cathedral to be demolished during the dissolution.<br />
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This picture shows the West front of Lichfield Cathedral today. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhik9fH1EESuk7X0GAfIb_3NrByrG8QNkusPxxwoPNpHA3Zungc57KKAVqMVKFyZhBHcntUhsqntHuY_v5o0gNYmCYPGhx0x-WZSTdIpUN2OA6HjPMo8WFF8se9vjz3Wc5nkph5x8TxK-s/s1600/coventry-time-team-lichfield2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhik9fH1EESuk7X0GAfIb_3NrByrG8QNkusPxxwoPNpHA3Zungc57KKAVqMVKFyZhBHcntUhsqntHuY_v5o0gNYmCYPGhx0x-WZSTdIpUN2OA6HjPMo8WFF8se9vjz3Wc5nkph5x8TxK-s/s1600/coventry-time-team-lichfield2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Here Tony Robinson, the Time Team presenter, visits Lichfield Cathedral.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07dLIrGbE1LA20Xeoxqj-pPsnBFxc20-ZGAGC68LSniTVeRD-YL5ygWDWuMcn_p3BwoUUMl_ebMVHESgWwsArCsD12MtTj3MNhw5nmZkv3vDVSqT9LrAxURNBEPR2pG5MCVecEtajAAA/s1600/coventry-time-team-painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07dLIrGbE1LA20Xeoxqj-pPsnBFxc20-ZGAGC68LSniTVeRD-YL5ygWDWuMcn_p3BwoUUMl_ebMVHESgWwsArCsD12MtTj3MNhw5nmZkv3vDVSqT9LrAxURNBEPR2pG5MCVecEtajAAA/s1600/coventry-time-team-painting.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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This painting is a reconstruction showing how Coventry's Cathderal of St Mary and its Priory, would have originally appeared, in its medieval hilltop setting.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UTKDdBiapxcB_k81w22F4gEM38VwkO0Ycq6TQpf2ah2QQ1WPyYRe9FfdkUtRz1A0GaqJfjrGYq0CcpxHxlmTcbx-hJZnz1z_FK1uZCfQP9bPFJKN2_bM5EO8exO1val9u619Lr1Yt4Y/s1600/coventry-west-wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UTKDdBiapxcB_k81w22F4gEM38VwkO0Ycq6TQpf2ah2QQ1WPyYRe9FfdkUtRz1A0GaqJfjrGYq0CcpxHxlmTcbx-hJZnz1z_FK1uZCfQP9bPFJKN2_bM5EO8exO1val9u619Lr1Yt4Y/s1600/coventry-west-wall.jpg" /></a></div><br />
This photo shows the foundations of the West Front of the cathedral. These moss-covered stones have been uncovered for some years.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65OKYUFI-uMls4f-NbudlVkeQdGI1xx3mc7Cut8E2DbOsT-djqncoRZD90NZwIbSsdp5VwdWy_udMSVHc78LhMjXeCmYuOXsZl-3vUttarFAmxnZQAivaBt49oKWbk1ekAzt2QH5wO0I/s1600/coventry-south-wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65OKYUFI-uMls4f-NbudlVkeQdGI1xx3mc7Cut8E2DbOsT-djqncoRZD90NZwIbSsdp5VwdWy_udMSVHc78LhMjXeCmYuOXsZl-3vUttarFAmxnZQAivaBt49oKWbk1ekAzt2QH5wO0I/s1600/coventry-south-wall.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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The stonework in the foreground of this picture is the recently unearthed base of the South Wall of the Cathedral. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtK2szpebnJ7jfqIaE8aVR2OXtLDNZCkRdE53Gfenlfp63_beHOaUB6y_d7ld8SUwUige5w9z2VqW9PYz2WG5jPOoJaof8DoqXgggMVoCbzDy_rTOTHbLMUn7SPfDFjqQ_gpxyK84ieo/s1600/coventry-excavation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtK2szpebnJ7jfqIaE8aVR2OXtLDNZCkRdE53Gfenlfp63_beHOaUB6y_d7ld8SUwUige5w9z2VqW9PYz2WG5jPOoJaof8DoqXgggMVoCbzDy_rTOTHbLMUn7SPfDFjqQ_gpxyK84ieo/s1600/coventry-excavation.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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This picture shows the best of the excavations of the Priory. This site is about 50 yards from the Cathedral wall above.<br />
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When these pictures were taken (February 2002), work was about to start to make the area available to visitors. <br />
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A modern building was erected over the top of the ruins, and the ruins were maintained, effectively forming part of the basement of the new appartment block. <br />
There is a large window, at street level, from which visitors can look down into the basement of the new building and see this view of the ruin. <br />
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Most visitors to Coventry today come to visit the Cathedral Church of St Michael's, which was destroyed during the Blitz. Most people share a sense of sorrow that such a beautiful religious building should have been wantonly destroyed. The Cathedral Church of St Michael has become an international symbol of forgiveness and reconciliation. <br />
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However, Coventry's former cathedral, which was even more glorious, was also destroyed by the hand of man. But this was not done by "wicked Germans", but under the orders of England's own King. If you wish to draw moral lessons from Coventry's past, Coventry offers much to ponder.<br />
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<b>Growth of Coventry - The Wool Industry</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FEhX_9DBv7TBVM-t7jCyfDn7jcd8Mb-cMTHBtb1oBt0PfbzK0LlRpBgQtS1mZXM4_L5Q11idmmt92hK71TRFfq_ktYsQZvCt3CCt85nfDMj2ClhV_8oo3gyhMXRfu0UIOEHqXfolvZA/s1600/coventry-butcherrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FEhX_9DBv7TBVM-t7jCyfDn7jcd8Mb-cMTHBtb1oBt0PfbzK0LlRpBgQtS1mZXM4_L5Q11idmmt92hK71TRFfq_ktYsQZvCt3CCt85nfDMj2ClhV_8oo3gyhMXRfu0UIOEHqXfolvZA/s1600/coventry-butcherrow.jpg" /></a></div>Soon after the foundation of the priory, a market and small town began to develop. By the beginning of the 12th century the abbey was served by two churches, Holy Trinity, fronting on the market place, and an independent church at nearby Radford. The prosperity of the abbey encouraged the Bishop of Chester to transfer the diocesian see to Coventry in 1095.<br />
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By 1150 more than a dozen textile mills had become built in the town, and the textile trade had become the foundation of the town's prospetity and growth. <br />
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By the 14th century merchants were building large timber-framed houses with cellars in which to store their merchandise. <br />
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This picture, actually taken in 1900, shows Butcher Row, and gives a good impression of how Coventry would have been at that time. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DmC0iRKPPZzZmxncG_msRjRMktSfQ5l10skYfr0xLBr8CmTAnWcp_Adbh5H1SVpmjyqt40GphkhUaiUYwm5lBKocJxDoYIJZuymUaBPHN9ztzncFWJe28Y3TG81pj7QizfMMP4luRnc/s1600/coventry-butcherrow-today.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DmC0iRKPPZzZmxncG_msRjRMktSfQ5l10skYfr0xLBr8CmTAnWcp_Adbh5H1SVpmjyqt40GphkhUaiUYwm5lBKocJxDoYIJZuymUaBPHN9ztzncFWJe28Y3TG81pj7QizfMMP4luRnc/s1600/coventry-butcherrow-today.jpg" /></a></div>This picture was taken from near the same place, today.<br />
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By 1300 Coventry mechants were engaged in an international wool trade. The city's prosperity rested not just on the manufacture of cloth, but on its dyes and its non-fading Coventry-blue cloth. <br />
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By 1345 the power of the merchants in the the town had become so great that the town was granted a charter so that it became governed by a mayor, rather than by the priory.<br />
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In the mid-14th century the most important wool merchants in the country were Warwickshire men, mostly from Coventry. Most wool was exported thorugh London, and the trading links between Coventry and London became very strong. On 19 occasions between 1349 and 1377 the mayor of Coventry was a wool merchant. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBp4ZTERqynDk7b2Rq_UNdnfD6L8poLcrhtT9QS8SyCBB5KTTeylbTQ5Hl6ixgsD88SMDfnfORw8xrEvOB2DhqsevPVsCixHxtKTgOWFxTS8Jqk-lzdV8Q3j1XU2Vc1VkXOGCG0ou5Do/s1600/coventry-spon-street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBp4ZTERqynDk7b2Rq_UNdnfD6L8poLcrhtT9QS8SyCBB5KTTeylbTQ5Hl6ixgsD88SMDfnfORw8xrEvOB2DhqsevPVsCixHxtKTgOWFxTS8Jqk-lzdV8Q3j1XU2Vc1VkXOGCG0ou5Do/s1600/coventry-spon-street.jpg" /></a></div>In 1398 Coventry was the largest wool marketing and production centre in England. The town gave employment to a host of related trades including weavers, dyers, tailors and drapers. <br />
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This picture shows Spon Street in Coventry, today. This street has been preserved as a heritage area, and many of the buildings have been restored to their medieval appearance. A few of the buildings in Spon Street were originally located in other parts of the town, and were taken apart and re-assembled here. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0JgErNZxeQGsjQSCnMc17rg5gVFhRrKRn-Wrq3UUBo6qLMyvTwHllCUiXl3gsZb7BwHVVClB3TKxEbCyCpCS9L2KU7VdMUY5LAd3tFalxr6IEvct0Dw4eT7z0BtsYGVeo4e98dLc05g/s1600/coventry-spon-street2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0JgErNZxeQGsjQSCnMc17rg5gVFhRrKRn-Wrq3UUBo6qLMyvTwHllCUiXl3gsZb7BwHVVClB3TKxEbCyCpCS9L2KU7VdMUY5LAd3tFalxr6IEvct0Dw4eT7z0BtsYGVeo4e98dLc05g/s1600/coventry-spon-street2.jpg" /></a></div>Cloth manufacture declined in the 16th and 17th centuries, but other related higher-value trades rose to prominence.<br />
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Caps were made from high quality wool and felt, and the cappers became one of Coventry richest and most important guilds. <br />
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By 1815 some 10,000 workers were engaged in high quality ribbon-making, half of Coventry's population. In the 1850's 25,000 people in Coventry were employed in ribbon-weaving. A high proportion was made of locally produced silk. <br />
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Glove making had been a speciality in nearby Stratford-Upon-Avom. William Shakepeare's father, John Shakepeare, had been a glovemaker. <br />
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<b>Ford's Hospital</b><br />
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Some of the wealthy merchants helped to found charitable institutions in the town. While their fortunes and the houses that they owned have disappeared, they are remembered now by the institutions that bear their names. <br />
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There is Thomas Bond's Hospital, John Hale's Hospital and later Grammar School in Hales Street, and Ford's Hospital. <br />
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Ford's Hospital, shown here, was an almshouse for elderly men and women, and was provided for in the will of William Ford. <br />
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It is one of the finest examples of 16th century architecture in the country. <br />
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<b>St Mary's Guild Hall</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6Na3eiI7OqL9y1Hl7hVTRgRm136ASmOecY_eI-61tHY0dmQ9oeE6lLel8HUwzKJVPnCBykSn60B6q74lar5bfx_I8uwZITMbpMp3nUNo3h7p8fI0l1JbzS3TWMaiNYPUVXJ_n0cd3DU/s1600/coventry-bayley-lane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6Na3eiI7OqL9y1Hl7hVTRgRm136ASmOecY_eI-61tHY0dmQ9oeE6lLel8HUwzKJVPnCBykSn60B6q74lar5bfx_I8uwZITMbpMp3nUNo3h7p8fI0l1JbzS3TWMaiNYPUVXJ_n0cd3DU/s1600/coventry-bayley-lane.jpg" /></a></div>St Mary's Guild Hall is the heart of Coventry. The various trades were organised into guilds. The guilds would meet to discuss the town's affairs at the guild hall. Coventry's guild hall was built between 1340 and 1460, and is among the finest examples of a medieval guild hall in the country. Here also visiting dignitaries would be entertained.<br />
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This picture shows Bayley Lane, with the old cathedral on the left, and the guild hall in the centre. The building does not look very attractive from outside, but the inside is impressive, shown in the photo below. <br />
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The stained glass windows around the hall are portraits of the kings of England. There are also life-size paintings of the kings of England on the wall, at the far end, though not easily visible in the photo above. On the opposite wall (behind my back) is a tapestry depicting Henry VI, who was frequently entertained here.<br />
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<b>The Town Wall and its Gates</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0t7PTWd8iBV86hyphenhyphenojyCObqpP-qrh4RMmgKUBJBLlM808ic-lX-wtPKl3LG3WmAESBZEurAWU_3th4kBkhjMozfEbIQ5GyIpzrZ0yvRgB8BCtTyDYUAmSAIUcqmExNjeOoTOhxaOjFJSQ/s1600/coventry-city-wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0t7PTWd8iBV86hyphenhyphenojyCObqpP-qrh4RMmgKUBJBLlM808ic-lX-wtPKl3LG3WmAESBZEurAWU_3th4kBkhjMozfEbIQ5GyIpzrZ0yvRgB8BCtTyDYUAmSAIUcqmExNjeOoTOhxaOjFJSQ/s1600/coventry-city-wall.jpg" /></a></div>Work began on the town wall in the 1355 and took 40 years to complete. The whole town wall was nearly three miles long, eight to nine feet thick, and had a defensive ditch on the outside. It was the most substantial town defence outside London.<br />
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During the Civil War, Royalist forces were denied entry into the City, and in 1662 Charles II ordered that the town wall should be demolished. <br />
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Very little of the town wall now remains, but there are still some short sections remaining. The best preserved section is this part between the Cook Street Gate and the Swanswell Gate. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PmdfysQhqfzR2KobVqDL_9UIdskaTH5TMuBOK32__6ttufF2LWsnJbuIRh34qkQPBcUUXCn6y4JbXJ-Q9t1L5DtYEXauzEpq8rEH96Z4RDwx9l1kpK-pQkVtn-DAW5B04_Rxixs4XXI/s1600/coventry-cook-street-gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PmdfysQhqfzR2KobVqDL_9UIdskaTH5TMuBOK32__6ttufF2LWsnJbuIRh34qkQPBcUUXCn6y4JbXJ-Q9t1L5DtYEXauzEpq8rEH96Z4RDwx9l1kpK-pQkVtn-DAW5B04_Rxixs4XXI/s1600/coventry-cook-street-gate.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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There were 12 original gates, but only three remain.<br />
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This is the Cook Street Gate, which is the best preserved. This gate is listed as a national historic monument. <br />
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The gates were equipped with portculises. <br />
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An interesting feature of this gate is a gargoyle which you can just see jutting out of the wall at the upper right.<br />
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<b>Cheylesmore Manor House</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghac70Atuwgbsg-NW-gfNN6bfx2CSQyPz2dAJ4ZnEG3_AxUbt_chCGul5AJnt9TXWB9Fydu3IBKo6ZspqO_UtgSy4xQ-J6xzAHXL5LE2_GTLmp2RP4g3JmYXIPPcQGLTH_Nc8SBNgORs/s1600/coventry-manor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghac70Atuwgbsg-NW-gfNN6bfx2CSQyPz2dAJ4ZnEG3_AxUbt_chCGul5AJnt9TXWB9Fydu3IBKo6ZspqO_UtgSy4xQ-J6xzAHXL5LE2_GTLmp2RP4g3JmYXIPPcQGLTH_Nc8SBNgORs/s1600/coventry-manor.jpg" /></a></div>Cheylesmore Manor House is what remains of a Royal Palace, which dates back to 1250.<br />
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This building is in a part of the town which is now largely occupied by solicitors and estate agents. <br />
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This half-timbered building was part of the manor where Queen Isabella and the Black Prince stayed in the 14th century. <br />
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<b>The Church of St John The Baptist</b><br />
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The Church of St John The Baptist was founded by Queen Isabella in 1344, as a chapel in memory of her dead husband, King Edward II. <br />
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The church became a parish church in 1734. <br />
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During the civil war, the building was used as a prison for captured Royalists. Captured Royalists were sent to this prison, in Coventry, and this was the origin of the phrase sent to Coventry. <br />
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<b>The Cathedral Church of St Michael</b><br />
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The Cathedral Church of St Michael dated from the early 13th century. <br />
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This was originally a parish church, and was raised to the status of cathedral in 1918.<br />
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This picture showing the interior view was taken in 1939.<br />
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During the Second World War, in a bombing raid on 14 November 1940, the cathedral was destroyed, together with 75% of the buildings in the inner area of the city. <br />
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After the war a new cathedral was built alongside the ruins of the old one.<br />
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The new cathderal was designed by Sir Basil Spence. <br />
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Many craftsmen and artists from around the country were commissioned to contribute to the new cathedral.<br />
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These included an abstract stained glass window designed by John Piper; a great engraved screen of clear glass designed by John Hutton; the bronze statue of St Michael and the Devil designed by Sir Jacob Epstein (shown in this photo), and a huge tapestry behind the cathedral altar designed by Graham Sutherland. <br />
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<b>19th and 20th Century Industry</b><br />
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Clocks and watches came into domestic use in the early 17th century, and by the 1660 watch making was well established in Coventry. By the 1850s there were some 2,000 watchmakers in Coventry. <br />
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In 1863 the Coventry Sewing Machine Company was founded, originally to make sewing machine. However, against strong competition from foreign companies the enterprise did not flourish, and it turned to making bicycles. In 1896, it became Swift Cycles, and was the germ of a rapidly expanding bicycle market. By 1896, Coventry's Premier Cycle Company was the largest in the world, with an output of 20,000 units per year. This network of small engineering firms became the backbone of the motor car industry.<br />
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In January 1896 the Daimler Motor Company of Coventry was registered as the first manufacturer of cars. Around 120 motor car firms subsequently built factories in the city.<br />
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In the early 1900's the City's industrial skills were turned to making armaments. This picture shows battleship gun-barrels being manufactured. The City also began to manufacture tanks, and later, aircraft parts. <br />
At the time of the Second World War, the City was an obvious military target. <br />
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The city's Museum of British Road Transport holds a collection of around 200 cars, plus bicycles, buses and other road transport. <br />
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<b>The City Today</b><br />
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In the 1970's the motor car industry entered a deline. Today the only car manufacturers in the City are Jaguar, which has a manufacturing plant at Browns Lane, and a successful Peugeot plant at Ryton. <br />
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Most recently the area to the North of the Cathedral has being redeveloped. <br />
This futuristic structure is called the Whittle Arch in memory of Frank Whittle, the inventor of the jet engine, who came from Coventry. <br />
John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-25620846502853396412011-07-29T06:17:00.038+01:002011-08-29T06:32:46.946+01:00Wootton Wawen<br />
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The church is known as The Saxon Sanctuary. <br />
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At first the visitor may think the grass has just been left untended. But inside the church, the visitor will find details of a scheme to encourage grasses and wild flowers, which is operating is in selected churchyards in Warwickshire. The grass is cut at particular times of year (haymaking) to help the flowers.<br />
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The tomb of Francis Smith, 1604. <br />
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Near to the church is Wootton Hall, built in 1637, and home to various Catholic families, principally the Carington family. <br />
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Hollyhocks growing outside people's homes. <br />
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The Bulls Head, at Wootton Wawen. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmZpO6Z9O-KHMy3YJ-dQHz8oT0lFivWzwKsq2w-wDA9yep8MKp5_Hb_MKMGUXbjGduoRg2ZxMW4s0JT4GNXPs7zpDdhn-UNpeXf14BgdWqiVQ_7sZz-i6CUP0nsp0meXlXNXf8fsLjeE/s1600/wootton8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmZpO6Z9O-KHMy3YJ-dQHz8oT0lFivWzwKsq2w-wDA9yep8MKp5_Hb_MKMGUXbjGduoRg2ZxMW4s0JT4GNXPs7zpDdhn-UNpeXf14BgdWqiVQ_7sZz-i6CUP0nsp0meXlXNXf8fsLjeE/s1600/wootton8.jpg" /></a></div>The Stratford-on-Avon canal, built in 1813, runs through Wootten Wawen and there are moorings there, the Wootton Wawen Basin. <br />
These ladies were on a "canal boat holiday" touring through Warwickshire, with the narrow boat as a floating hotel. Their boat had stopped overnight at moorings, and they had just visited the Saxon Church, and were now on their leisurely way through the Arden countryside in the direction of Stratford. <br />
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Here, the Alne flows over a weir at Wooton Wawen. John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-46025968233364899632011-07-29T05:54:00.016+01:002011-08-29T06:05:33.728+01:00Offchurch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiuwuaG-2tHDPSYtDYaSv21UR2BWsxSWx_O_xfh59QihX1-t8D0LMrMmTZq3FK-LrvavuFEvu1Jc44_8R-q3aDd39_V_6MaLwzWmSLr7hILm__NGcy9TNrOH-C_P1LMdGGVZWyjLSlZQ/s1600/offchurch9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiuwuaG-2tHDPSYtDYaSv21UR2BWsxSWx_O_xfh59QihX1-t8D0LMrMmTZq3FK-LrvavuFEvu1Jc44_8R-q3aDd39_V_6MaLwzWmSLr7hILm__NGcy9TNrOH-C_P1LMdGGVZWyjLSlZQ/s400/offchurch9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Offchurch, 3 miles East of Leamington, lies on the Welsh Road, a former sheep droving road from sheep farming areas of Wales to London. <br />
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Anglo-Saxon artifacts from the 7th century have been found here. Offchurch takes its name from King Offa of Mercia (757-796), who had a manor nearby and built the first church here. <br />
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The present St Gregory's Church is mainly Norman, with some Saxon features. <br />
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The windows in this church are very small, so it is quite dark inside. The darkness accentuates the brightness of the stained glass windows. <br />
The area of the church near the main door is bathed in blue light coming from one window near the door. <br />
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This picture shows the doorway into the church and the adjacent window.<br />
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Visible through the doorway is a bench in the porch outside.<br />
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Offchurch is part of a living churchyards project, where the churchyard is managed to encourage wildflowers and wildlife.<br />
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A notable feature at Offchurch is its communities of different species of tall wild flowers. <br />
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There are ivy covered tombstones, and many bird and bat boxes up in the yew trees.<br />
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There were also squirrels in the trees. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-IXgeuC3DZjh9niUqWcjPHJnoM71WFhvZDfreT0pskf4SOcR074sD7z08XLHO3M5PHsjVVSYevUiuclZDNi2IeXl2KCUBFAFIAaTwcyIcApsGFOr_LdFFuv8hvp5MABg6QKEbKSr5UEQ/s1600/offchurch8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-IXgeuC3DZjh9niUqWcjPHJnoM71WFhvZDfreT0pskf4SOcR074sD7z08XLHO3M5PHsjVVSYevUiuclZDNi2IeXl2KCUBFAFIAaTwcyIcApsGFOr_LdFFuv8hvp5MABg6QKEbKSr5UEQ/s400/offchurch8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-76613920090260524402011-07-29T05:28:00.050+01:002017-03-21T07:01:42.026+00:00Rowington<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The village of Rowington lies 4 miles North-East of Henley-in-Arden. <br />
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This village is dominated by St Laurence's Church, which sits on top of a hill at the centre of the village. <br />
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Rowington was the home of one branch of the Shakespeare family during the 15th century. <br />
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This picture shows the family's home, Shakespeare Hall. <br />
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Local legend claims that Shakespeare wrote As You Like It at Shakespeare Hall. <br />
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Shakespeare did own other property in Rowington. A cottage and some land in Rowington passed to his daughter Susanna on his death. <br />
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The picture of Shakespeare Hall above, and this one, were taken from the Heart of England Way, a recreational footpath through Warwickshire. <br />
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From the point where the photo above was taken, the Heart of England Way leads up a hill around the right side of the house, and then around the opposite side of the house, which is the front entrance. <br />
But there is no clear view of the house from the front entrance. <br />
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This picture, which shows Shakespeare Hall at the far right of the picture, was taken from another footpath, which leads from Rowington to the adjacent village of Wroxall.<br />
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Shakespeare's grandfather, Richard Shakespeare, was born in Wroxall, c1500. <br />
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The black dots in this picture are cows in grazing pasture. <br />
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A view looking across typical rolling countryside towards Rowington Church. <br />
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From Shakespeare Hall, the Heart of England Way leads over some fields to Baddesley Clinton.<br />
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The top of the tower of Baddesley Clinton Church is just visible in this picture, where there is a small gap in the trees, just over the gate post with the yellow waymark symbol. <br />
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Another view towards Baddesley Clinton, further along the Heart of England way, and with a better view of the church tower.<br />
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Beyond Baddesley Clinton, the Heart of England Way leads to Oldeditch, the original home of the Shakespeare family. <br />
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The Cock Horse Inn, at Rowington.<br />
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This building formerly incorporated the village forge. <br />
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This photo was taken some years ago, when the building was an inn. The building is now a private house,<br />
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On the Grand Union Canal at Rowington. <br />
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On the Grand Union Canal at Rowington.John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237803088045833626.post-76516897296800295552011-07-29T05:22:00.015+01:002011-08-29T05:27:59.374+01:00Aston Cantlow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenk67qaqsYifhoDu7kFXXXNI5P1T0G_ByMkCAFJ65ZPouLH8lE7jOECuOr3voYjQ8kOp4h9FQnRRma3WZvatIr3V69fBnWkfwrc9a-heUQ6zJSro1Ues_qKKHTc_gxg8JMAQo8u2-ve8/s1600/astoncantlow3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenk67qaqsYifhoDu7kFXXXNI5P1T0G_ByMkCAFJ65ZPouLH8lE7jOECuOr3voYjQ8kOp4h9FQnRRma3WZvatIr3V69fBnWkfwrc9a-heUQ6zJSro1Ues_qKKHTc_gxg8JMAQo8u2-ve8/s400/astoncantlow3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Aston Cantlow lies 5 miles North-West of Stratford, and 2 miles North-East of Wilmcote, the home of Mary Arden, Shakespeare's mother.<br />
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This picture shows the 16th Century Guild House, just opposite the village church. <br />
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This is the village pub, The King's Head. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMv1bpll63Gdhufu1PWGRCpi0_QKmUhKpYyn1x3YnRarQOkrhJqx69xNVsthdKiq5Vr5CWZ_7W0Tz7rEtGUpd0cHZKVc_LhK86S_0_PYIcX0DvDviwEC9fAngVJLxNqiAwFQrFtxJNdY/s1600/astoncantlow1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMv1bpll63Gdhufu1PWGRCpi0_QKmUhKpYyn1x3YnRarQOkrhJqx69xNVsthdKiq5Vr5CWZ_7W0Tz7rEtGUpd0cHZKVc_LhK86S_0_PYIcX0DvDviwEC9fAngVJLxNqiAwFQrFtxJNdY/s400/astoncantlow1.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><br />
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Old tombstones, old yew trees, and old pines in the churchyard of St John the Baptist at Aston Cantlow.<br />
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This is the church in which Shakespeare's parents, John Shakespeare and Mary Arden, are believed to have been married. <br />
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The interior of the church is shown in the picture just below. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehos3mi8ynGr1liahMtvWQLl_Jh2bv2CMWJcUez0YkbDA3cyearcG5DNmV3KVEvo62gBQj0fC_TZNK8QW7ZuJqSklCHmSXxK0rKXS4WoR5MVr3cPTs45OVFO8uwKz8PoHzOOP_o4JQCg/s1600/astoncantlow2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehos3mi8ynGr1liahMtvWQLl_Jh2bv2CMWJcUez0YkbDA3cyearcG5DNmV3KVEvo62gBQj0fC_TZNK8QW7ZuJqSklCHmSXxK0rKXS4WoR5MVr3cPTs45OVFO8uwKz8PoHzOOP_o4JQCg/s400/astoncantlow2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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John Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938808921010638noreply@blogger.com0