My upcoming trip to England

As some of you know, I'll be in England for a self-guided Ricardian tour this summer (a birthday present from my very special sister). So far, my list of places to visit includes Fotheringhay, Ludlow, Middleham, York, Westminster (abbey or cathedral?), Crosby Place/Hall if we can get in (!), Windsor Castle, and Leicester. I'm not sure about Baynard's Castle, the Tower of London (I might have trouble tolerating the Beefeaters' spiel), and Nottingham. I don't suppose we need to see the Houses of Parliament except from the outside, which I've already done. I could add Richard's chapel for the dead of Towton if it's worth seeing.

A couple of questions that I should know the answers to but don't: Was Richard crowned at Westminster Abbey or Westminster Cathedral? And was Windsor Castle his primary residence as king (when he wasn't on progress or waiting for the Tydder)?

Have I forgotten any place important? Is anything on my list not worth seeing? Can we see all this in two weeks? If anyone wants to contact me offlist, please mention in your post that you're doing so as I seldom check my Yahoo e-mail.

The list is in roughly chronological order (birth to death) but the order would, of course, need to be changed to make sense geographically. I'm not sure whether to rent a car (and let my left-right-challenged sister drive!) or what for the places that can't be reached by train.

Which reminds me. My grandson may want to see the Richard III locomotive. Anyone know where it is? We also want to see Hadrian's Wall, not that it has anything to do with Richard.

We do have a travel agent, but she hasn't seen my full list of places to see yet.

Thanks in advance.

Carol

As some of you know, I'll be in England for a self-guided Ricardian tour this summer (a birthday present from my very special sister). So far, my list of places to visit includes Fotheringhay, Ludlow, Middleham, York, Westminster (abbey or cathedral?), Crosby Place/Hall if we can get in (!), Windsor Castle, and Leicester. I'm not sure about Baynard's Castle, the Tower of London (I might have trouble tolerating the Beefeaters' spiel), and Nottingham. I don't suppose we need to see the Houses of Parliament except from the outside, which I've already done. I could add Richard's chapel for the dead of Towton if it's worth seeing.

A couple of questions that I should know the answers to but don't: Was Richard crowned at Westminster Abbey or Westminster Cathedral? And was Windsor Castle his primary residence as king (when he wasn't on progress or waiting for the Tydder)?

Have I forgotten any place important? Is anything on my li st not worth seeing? Can we see all this in two weeks? If anyone wants to contact me offlist, please mention in your post that you're doing so as I seldom check my Yahoo e-mail.

The list is in roughly chronological order (birth to death) but the order would, of course, need to be changed to make sense geographically. I'm not sure whether to rent a car (and let my left-right-challenged sister drive!) or what for the places that can't be reached by train.

Which reminds me. My grandson may want to see the Richard III locomotive. Anyone know where it is? We also want to see Hadrian's Wall, not that it has anything to do with Richard.

We do have a travel agent, but she hasn't seen my full list of places to see yet.

Thanks in advance.

Carol

Carol,How wonderful for you! My husband and I have been planning a trip to England for two years, but life keeps getting in the way. This year is out! We have one son graduating, one getting married and our daughter is having a baby! Anyway your trip sounds perfect and I do envy you. Have a great time.Vickie
Sent from my iPad
On Jan 11, 2014, at 7:18 PM, <justcarol67@...> wrote:

As some of you know, I'll be in England for a self-guided Ricardian tour this summer (a birthday present from my very special sister). So far, my list of places to visit includes Fotheringhay, Ludlow, Middleham, York, Westminster (abbey or cathedral?), Crosby Place/Hall if we can get in (!), Windsor Castle, and Leicester. I'm not sure about Baynard's Castle, the Tower of London (I might have trouble tolerating the Beefeaters' spiel), and Nottingham. I don't suppose we need to see the Houses of Parliament except from the outside, which I've already done. I could add Richard's chapel for the dead of Towton if it's worth seeing.

A couple of questions that I should know the answers to but don't: Was Richard crowned at Westminster Abbey or Westminster Cathedral? And was Windsor Castle his primary residence as king (when he wasn't on progress or waiting for the Tydder)?

Have I forgotten any place important? Is anything on my list not worth seeing? Can we see all this in two weeks? If anyone wants to contact me offlist, please mention in your post that you're doing so as I seldom check my Yahoo e-mail.

The list is in roughly chronological order (birth to death) but the order would, of course, need to be changed to make sense geographically. I'm not sure whether to rent a car (and let my left-right-challenged sister drive!) or what for the places that can't be reached by train.

Which reminds me. My grandson may want to see the Richard III locomotive. Anyone know where it is? We also want to see Hadrian's Wall, not that it has anything to do with Richard.

We do have a travel agent, but she hasn't seen my full list of places to see yet.

Thanks in advance.

Carol

As some of you know, I'll be in England for a self-guided Ricardian tour this summer (a birthday present from my very special sister). So far, my list of places to visit includes Fotheringhay, Ludlow, Middleham, York, Westminster (abbey or cathedral?), Crosby Place/Hall if we can get in (!), Windsor Castle, and Leicester. I'm not sure about Baynard's Castle, the Tower of London (I might have trouble tolerating the Beefeaters' spiel), and Nottingham. I don't suppose we need to see the Houses of Parliament except from the outside, which I've already done. I could add Richard's chapel for the dead of Towton if it's worth seeing.

A couple of questions that I should know the answers to but don't: Was Richard crowned at Westminster Abbey or Westminster Cathedral? And was Windsor Castle his primary residence as king (when he wasn't on progress or waiting for the Tydder)?

Have I forgotten any place important? Is anything on my list not worth seeing? Can we see all this in two weeks? If anyone wants to contact me offlist, please mention in your post that you're doing so as I seldom check my Yahoo e-mail.

The list is in roughly chronological order (birth to death) but the order would, of course, need to be changed to make sense geographically. I'm not sure whether to rent a car (and let my left-right-challenged sister drive!) or what for the places that can't be reached by train.

Which reminds me. My grandson may want to see the Richard III locomotive. Anyone know where it is? We also want to see Hadrian's Wall, not that it has anything to do with Richard.

We do have a travel agent, but she hasn't seen my full list of places to see yet.

Thanks in advance.

Carol

Westminster Cathedral is comparatively modern and Roman Catholic.

The Houses of Parliament are Victorian, apart from Westminster Hall - and it is an awful lot of security to go through just for the one space.

I don't know about Richard's primary residence, but it would not be a surprise if it were Westminster/Whitehall, which was destroyed by fire in Stuart times. The Banqueting House on modern Whitehall is the only building left.

Tewkesbury generally has a medieval event in early July.

Best wishes
Christine

As some of you know, I'll be in England for a self-guided Ricardian tour this summer (a birthday present from my very special sister). So far, my list of places to visit includes Fotheringhay, Ludlow, Middleham, York, Westminster (abbey or cathedral?), Crosby Place/Hall if we can get in (!), Windsor Castle, and Leicester. I'm not sure about Baynard's Castle, the Tower of London (I might have trouble tolerating the Beefeaters' spiel), and Nottingham. I don't suppose we need to see the Houses of Parliament except from the outside, which I've already done. I could add Richard's chapel for the dead of Towton if it's worth seeing.

A couple of questions that I should know the answers to but don't: Was Richard crowned at Westminster Abbey or Westminster Cathedral? And was Windsor Castle his primary residence as king (when he wasn't on progress or waiting for the Tydder)?

Have I forgotten any place important? Is anything on my list not worth seeing? Can we see all this in two weeks? If anyone wants to contact me offlist, please mention in your post that you're doing so as I seldom check my Yahoo e-mail.

The list is in roughly chronological order (birth to death) but the order would, of course, need to be changed to make sense geographically. I'm not sure whether to rent a car (and let my left-right-challenged sister drive!) or what for the places that can't be reached by train.

Which reminds me. My grandson may want to see the Richard III locomotive. Anyone know where it is? We also want to see Hadrian's Wall, not that it has anything to do with Richard.

We do have a travel agent, but she hasn't seen my full list of places to see yet.

Thanks in advance.

Carol

Carol, How wonderful for you! My husband and I have been planning a trip to England for two years, but life keeps getting in the way. This year is out! We have one son graduating, one getting married and our daughter is having a baby! Anyway your trip sounds perfect and I do envy you. Have a great time. Vickie
Sent from my iPad
On Jan 11, 2014, at 7:18 PM, <justcarol67@...> wrote:

As some of you know, I'll be in England for a self-guided Ricardian tour this summer (a birthday present from my very special sister). So far, my list of places to visit includes Fotheringhay, Ludlow, Middleham, York, Westminster (abbey or cathedral?), Crosby Place/Hall if we can get in (!), Windsor Castle, and Leicester. I'm not sure about Baynard's Castle, the Tower of London (I might have trouble tolerating the Beefeaters' spiel), and Nottingham. I don't suppose we need to see the Houses of Parliament except from the outside, which I've already done. I could add Richard's chapel for the dead of Towton if it's worth seeing.

A couple of questions that I should know the answers to but don't: Was Richard crowned at Westminster Abbey or Westminster Cathedral? And was Windsor Castle his primary residence as king (when he wasn't on progress or waiting for the Tydder)?

Have I forgotten any place important? Is anything on my list not worth seeing? Can we see all this in two weeks? If anyone wants to contact me offlist, please mention in your post that you're doing so as I seldom check my Yahoo e-mail.

The list is in roughly chronological order (birth to death) but the order would, of course, need to be changed to make sense geographically. I'm not sure whether to rent a car (and let my left-right-challenged sister drive!) or what for the places that can't be reached by train.

Which reminds me. My grandson may want to see the Richard III locomotive. Anyone know where it is? We also want to see Hadrian's Wall, not that it has anything to do with Richard.

We do have a travel agent, but she hasn't seen my full list of places to see yet.

Thanks in advance.

Carol

To Carol,

I asked my husband who is a steam railway enthusiast about the locomotive Richard III. He says it is actually called Edward II but The Great Central Railway have the nameplate Richard III for future use.
He thinks that the locomotive has now gone back to the Great Western Railway Society at Didcot in Oxfordshire where it was originally restored.
I personally wouldn't be surprised if it resurfaced at The Great Central Railway in the event of Richard's 're-burial in Leicester Cathedral.

Jess

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

ÿ

As some of you know, I'll be in England for a self-guided Ricardian tour this summer (a birthday present from my very special sister). So far, my list of places to visit includes Fotheringhay, Ludlow, Middleham, York, Westminster (abbey or cathedral?), Crosby Place/Hall if we can get in (!), Windsor Castle, and Leicester. I'm not sure about Baynard's Castle, the Tower of London (I might have trouble tolerating the Beefeaters' spiel), and Nottingham. I don't suppose we need to see the Houses of Parliament except from the outside, which I've already done. I could add Richard's chapel for the dead of Towton if it's worth seeing.

A couple of questions that I should know the answers to but don't: Was Richard crowned at Westminster Abbey or Westminster Cathedral? And was Windsor Castle his primary residence as king (when he wasn't on progress or waiting for the Tydder)?

Have I forgotten any place important? Is anything on my li st not worth seeing? Can we see all this in two weeks? If anyone wants to contact me offlist, please mention in your post that you're doing so as I seldom check my Yahoo e-mail.

The list is in roughly chronological order (birth to death) but the order would, of course, need to be changed to make sense geographically. I'm not sure whether to rent a car (and let my left-right-challenged sister drive!) or what for the places that can't be reached by train.

Which reminds me. My grandson may want to see the Richard III locomotive. Anyone know where it is? We also want to see Hadrian's Wall, not that it has anything to do with Richard.

We do have a travel agent, but she hasn't seen my full list of places to see yet.

Thanks in advance.

Carol

Westminster Abbey is where Richard was crowned. Anne is buried there and there is a plaque on the wall near where they think she is buried. I think that the Society put the plaque up. Tewkesbury is worth seeing. The Abbey is where Edward of Lancaster is buried and Clarence and Isabel are supposedly buried in the crypt. However, there has been some debate lately whether or not the bones are theirs and I think that there is some research going on. I think JAH has got something to do with it because he has got a book coming out about Clarence. Tewkesbury itself is lovely. There is a problem at the moment as the people who own the land where the Battle was fought want to sell it but Tewkesbury Battlefield Society are trying to raise money to buy it. Not sure when your trip is but in July ( around 12th or 14th) there is the Battle re-enactment which takes place every year. There is a fantastic medieval fair and they re-enact the Battle on the Saturday and Sunday afternoon. On Saturday evening they re-enact the trial of Somerset and the Lancastrians, Well they did when I was there last, which is a few years ago.

Towton isn't that far from York but you will probably need a car to get there. There is a memorial stone and when I went last you could go down through some fields to the Cock Beck. Quite atmospheric but not a lot to see.

Mary

Carol, you can't come to England without visiting Warwick. The castle is of course where Anne was born, Clarence and Richard Neville lived and Richard visited. The view of it from the bridge over the Avon is one of the best in England. If you don't want to pay the entry fees, then just look at it. And then go to the church of St Mary in the market square and visit Richard Beauchamp in his magnificent chantry (where Rous is also buried near his master). Look at the weepers round Beacuchamp's tomb which include Anne Beauchamp and Richard Neville. Elizabeth's Leicester is also buried there . Then, if you can stop off, go to the Saxon Mill hostelry on the road just out of town and watch the waters of the Avon flow past to Guy's Cliffe, where Rous worked in his chantry. And listen for the horses' bells on the hill above where another Warwick executed Gaveston. You can't miss Warwick! And then, for something completely different, go to any English village church, nearly all of which were there in Richard's day and just enjoy the tranquility. If you really have time, when you leave Leicester, go to Daddlington village church where those who died with Richard are buried. That's my suggestion . H.

On Sunday, 12 January 2014, 16:39, Jessie Skinner <janjovian@...> wrote:
To Carol, I asked my husband who is a steam railway enthusiast about the locomotive Richard III. He says it is actually called Edward II but The Great Central Railway have the nameplate Richard III for future use.
He thinks that the locomotive has now gone back to the Great Western Railway Society at Didcot in Oxfordshire where it was originally restored.
I personally wouldn't be surprised if it resurfaced at The Great Central Railway in the event of Richard's 're-burial in Leicester Cathedral. Jess

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
From: Sharon Feely <43118@...>;
To: <>;
Subject: Re: My upcoming trip to England
Sent: Sun, Jan 12, 2014 1:34:46 AM

ÿ Carol, You will need a car for Fotheringhay and Middleham (and Towton, although I don't think there's anything to see - correct me if I'm wrong!). All the other places will be fine by train. What about Sheriff Hutton? You will need a car for that too. The castle can be viewed froma public path all the way round the perimeter and the church is worth a visit. There's a small exhibition in there on Richard as they are still insisting the effigy is of his son. Think you may be struggling to include Hadrian's Wall if you plan to do all this in 2 weeks! You will also need a car for the Wall - the bus only runs in the summer. The best bit to see is about halfway along, between Hexham and Haltwhistle, especially in the area around Twice Brewed - that's where it sweeps and swoops up the hills and is the parts featured in all the tourist photos (and the bit known as Sycamore Gap where the lone sycamore tree grows). If you do manage to incorporate the Wall, what about Barnard Castle on your way up there? The castle is worth a look and has Richard's boar symbol above a window, as does the parish church - that has a boar on the outside, right hand side of the chancel. One of the head stops of the chancel arch is also reported to be of Richard. Didn't notice it myself though! Don't know if you want to bother with Nottingham - the castle has been rebuilt since Richard's time following a fire in the 18th or 19th century (can't remember!). There's a few old houses in the city, but generally you'd be better off spending that time at York. The Richard III loco is usually at the Great Central Railway (preserved line) which is at Loughborough (just north of Leicester). But check with them first before you make a journey on purpose as they often loan locos out to other preserved lines. Their website is http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/. Hope this helps a bit! And have a great holiday! When are you coming? The tour de France passes Middleham in July - so if it's then, it WILL be very busy! Just to be warned - it's a big event and everywhere has been booked up for ages! Sharon ----- Original Message ----- From: justcarol67@... To: Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2014 1:18 AM Subject: My upcoming trip to England
As some of you know, I'll be in England for a self-guided Ricardian tour this summer (a birthday present from my very special sister). So far, my list of places to visit includes Fotheringhay, Ludlow, Middleham, York, Westminster (abbey or cathedral?), Crosby Place/Hall if we can get in (!), Windsor Castle, and Leicester. I'm not sure about Baynard's Castle, the Tower of London (I might have trouble tolerating the Beefeaters' spiel), and Nottingham. I don't suppose we need to see the Houses of Parliament except from the outside, which I've already done. I could add Richard's chapel for the dead of Towton if it's worth seeing.

A couple of questions that I should know the answers to but don't: Was Richard crowned at Westminster Abbey or Westminster Cathedral? And was Windsor Castle his primary residence as king (when he wasn't on progress or waiting for the Tydder)?

Have I forgotten any place important? Is anything on my li st not worth seeing? Can we see all this in two weeks? If anyone wants to contact me offlist, please mention in your post that you're doing so as I seldom check my Yahoo e-mail.

The list is in roughly chronological order (birth to death) but the order would, of course, need to be changed to make sense geographically. I'm not sure whether to rent a car (and let my left-right-challenged sister drive!) or what for the places that can't be reached by train.

Which reminds me. My grandson may want to see the Richard III locomotive. Anyone know where it is? We also want to see Hadrian's Wall, not that it has anything to do with Richard.

We do have a travel agent, but she hasn't seen my full list of places to see yet.

Thanks in advance.

Carol

"I asked my husband who is a steam railway enthusiast about the locomotive Richard III. He says it is actually called Edward II but The Great Central Railway have the nameplate Richard III for future use.
He thinks that the locomotive has now gone back to the Great Western Railway Society at Didcot in Oxfordshire where it was originally restored.
I personally wouldn't be surprised if it resurfaced at The Great Central Railway in the event of Richard's 're-burial in Leicester Cathedral."

Hi all (and Carol specifically!),

Towton now has a battlefield walk which is well laid-out and goes around the whole area that it took place, through lanes and meadows with vantage points for looking onto specific sites like the Bloody Meadow. There's a leaflet and also boards which show exactly where and when the action was taking place. The walk is fairly new, which may be why most people don't think there's much to see, and it is also associated with two pubs where you can pick up the leaflet and eat before or after the walk. One (rockingham Arms, I think) has further info about the battle in it. You can also go in the Lead Church, which is really ancient, beautiful, and where it's thought the troops may have prayed before the battle. And another church has the grave of Lord Dacre and others who took part and were killed.

As others here have said, it's just a short drive from York - and from Towton it's another short drive to Cawood, another Ricardian site which is a very quaint atmospheric little town in its own right. The village of Saxton near Towton - and on the battlefield route - is worth a look for itself too - the whole route can be used as a ramble through some fairly idyllic English villages.

Sorry if I've duplicated any info from other posts - I find the Yahoo format REALLY hard to follow now!

http://www.towton.org.uk/

Janet

Jan wrote:

Jan again. Westminster Abbey as it looks now was begun by Henry III in1245, but Edward the Confessor had built a palace there before & he also had an Abbey started to be his burial church. The Bayeux Tapestry has the only image of this apparently. All coronations have happened there since 1066. Westminster Palace was the main royal residence till a fire in 1512, and then Parliament carried on meeting in it. Westminster Hall & the Jewel Tower still survive from the old palace & the Hall has an amazing hammer beam roof for which we thank Richard II & his royal carpenter Hugh Herland. The Hall is huge. It held the Courts of King's Bench, Common Pleas & Chancery& important trials were held there: Sir Thomas More, Bishop John Fisher, Guy Fawkes & King Charles I. Go & imagine!

Sent from my iPad
On 12 Jan 2014, at 17:46, <justcarol67@...> wrote:

Jan wrote:

"Hi all (and Carol specifically!),

"Towton now has a battlefield walk which is well laid-out and goes around the whole area that it took place, through lanes and meadows with vantage points for looking onto specific sites like the Bloody Meadow. There's a leaflet and also boards which show exactly where and when the action was taking place. The walk is fairly new, which may be why most people don't think there's much to see, and it is also associated with two pubs where you can pick up the leaflet and eat before or after the walk. One (rockingham Arms, I think) has further info about the battle in it. You can also go in the Lead Church, which is really ancient, beautiful, and where it's thought the troops may have prayed before the battle. And another church has the grave of Lord Dacre and others who took part and were killed.

"As others here have said, it's just a short drive from York - and from Towton it's another short drive to Cawood, another Ricardian site which is a very quaint atmospheric little town in its own right. The village of Saxton near Towton - and on the battlefield route - is worth a look for itself too - the whole route can be used as a ramble through some fairly idyllic English villages.

"Sorry if I've duplicated any info from other posts - I find the Yahoo format REALLY hard to follow now!"

That sounds great Janet, it is quite a long time time since I visited Towton. Obviously worth another visit.

Mary

Hi, Sharon. Apologies for top-posting, but I don't know where to snip your very helpful post. I've added Sheriff Hutton and Barnard Castle to my list. I've bookmarked your message and am bearing in mind your warnings, especially the one about the Tour de France. We do plan to go there in summer or perhaps May when Wordsworth's famous daffodils should be in bloom. April, my actual birth month, would be too cold for us Arizonans.

Thanks very much for the excellent advice and thanks in advance to others whose posts I haven't read yet (also thanks to Vickie for the good wishes). I don't want to clog the forum by responding to every post in the thread!

Carol

http://www.towton.org.uk/

That is quite a programme to fit into two weeks, but if you make three main bases of London, York, and Leicester you should be able to see most of it. Tewkesbury will require another base though. Tewkesbury is all flooded st present, it is most years at about this time, but is a nice town. I would have thought it shouldn't be too hard to find a nice country hotel in that area.
If I find out anything else about the steam locomotive from my husband I will let you know.

Jess

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Jan wrote:
"Westminster Abbey as it looks now was begun by Henry III in1245, but Edward the Confessor had built a palace there before & he also had an Abbey started to be his burial church. The Bayeux Tapestry has the only image of this apparently. All coronations have happened there since 1066. Westminster Palace was the main royal residence till a fire in 1512, and then Parliament carried on meeting in it. Westminster Hall & the Jewel Tower still survive from the old palace & the Hall has an amazing hammer beam roof for which we thank Richard II & his royal carpenter Hugh Herland.  The Hall is huge. It held the Courts of King's Bench, Common Pleas & Chancery& important trials were held there: Sir Thomas More, Bishop John Fisher, Guy Fawkes & King Charles I. Go & imagine!"

Carol responds:

So Westminster Hall is part of Richard's main residence when he was king (along with the Jewel Tower)? That's all I need to know to make sure it's on my list. Thanks very much.

Here's my revised list (starred items are on the Richard III Society's list of places associated with Richard and therefore must-sees):

*Fotheringhay village and the Church of Saint Mary and All Saints
*Middleham
*Crosby Hall (if possible)
*Sheriff Hutton
*Leicester and Bosworth Field
York (including York Minster)
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Hall and the Jewel Tower
Tower of London (I'll grit my teeth or obtain and wear a boar pin, which I'll flaunt conspicuously!)
Tewkesbury (hopefully at the right time for the medieval fair)
Warwick Castle
Towton Chapel excavation

And, in the unlikely event that we can fit them in:
Barnard Castle
Ludlow
The Richard III locomotive (if it's at the station and has its sign on it)

I'll have to rearrange the list geographically. Right now its more or less in order of priority.

By the way, Towton has an interesting website with a very moving video and a "Loyaultie Me Lie" section for Richard. Click here if you're interested
(I'm in the process of looking up official websites for all the places on my list):

http://www.towton.org.uk/

"That is quite a programme to fit into two weeks, but if you make three main bases of London, York, and Leicester you should be able to see most of it. Tewkesbury will require another base though. Tewkesbury is all flooded st present, it is most years at about this time, but is a nice town. I would have thought it shouldn't be too hard to find a nice country hotel in that area.
If I find out anything else about the steam locomotive from my husband I will let you know.

Our weather has been absolutely awful recently with constant storms and flooding.
Luckily I am off to stay with my sister in her house in Florida next week for the best part of a month, so hopefully we will be over the worst by the time we get back. England in the spring can be delicious.

Jess

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Jessie wrote:

"That is quite a programme to fit into two weeks, but if you make three main bases of London, York, and Leicester you should be able to see most of it. Tewkesbury will require another base though. Tewkesbury is all flooded st present, it is most years at about this time, but is a nice town. I would have thought it shouldn't be too hard to find a nice country hotel in that area.
If I find out anything else about the steam locomotive from my husband I will let you know.

From: Gilda Felt <gildaevf@...>
To:
Sent: Monday, 13 January 2014, 12:36
Subject: Re: My upcoming trip to England

> And one place that was a very pleasant surprise was Ashby De La Zouch Castle.

What a lovely thing to read! (I went to school at the Manor House next door, and the adjacent St Helen's Church with the Hastings Chapel is also worth a look).

Re the castle itself, if you take a pair of binoculars, you can still see a gorgeous fireplace emblazoned with roses and sunbursts towards the top of the Hastings Tower.

Jonathan


From: Gilda Felt <gildaevf@...>
To:
Sent: Monday, 13 January 2014, 12:36
Subject: Re: My upcoming trip to England

Hi Carol,
As someone else has mentioned, the Wall is quite a distance from everything else, but, depending on the length of your stay, certainly doable. I've visited, and enjoyed, all the other places you've mentioned except Baynard's Castle, which doesn't exist anymore, and Windsor Castle. I did attempt a visit to Windsor this last August, but I really only wanted to see St George's chapel. The price, and the ridiculously long lines, changed my mind. Maybe if my next trip is off-season, I'll try again.
Some other places you might think of visiting (though some have no real Ricardian connection,) are Bosworth Battlefield, Sheriff Hutton, Tewksbury Abbey, Sudeley Castle, Skipton Castle, Rievaulx Abbey (which I preferred over Fountains Abbey,) Sandal Castle, Scarborough Castle, Bernard Castle, and Minster Lovell. And one place that was a very pleasant surprise was Ashby De La Zouch Castle.
I also think you'd enjoy the Tower of London. You don't have to follow the guides. I never have. Just take off on your own and see the place at your leisure. And there's a small piece of the castle left at Nottingham, certainly more than at Fotheringhay, but most of the place is of a far later age.
Gilda

On Jan 11, 2014, at 8:18 PM, <justcarol67@...> <justcarol67@...> wrote:


As some of you know, I'll be in England for a self-guided Ricardian tour this summer (a birthday present from my very special sister). So far, my list of places to visit includes Fotheringhay, Ludlow, Middleham, York, Westminster (abbey or cathedral?), Crosby Place/Hall if we can get in (!), Windsor Castle, and Leicester. I'm not sure about Baynard's Castle, the Tower of London (I might have trouble tolerating the Beefeaters' spiel), and Nottingham. I don't suppose we need to see the Houses of Parliament except from the outside, which I've already done. I could add Richard's chapel for the dead of Towton if it's worth seeing.

A couple of questions that I should know the answers to but don't: Was Richard crowned at Westminster Abbey or Westminster Cathedral? And was Windsor Castle his primary residence as king (when he wasn't on progress or waiting for the Tydder)?

Have I forgotten any place important? Is anything on my list not worth seeing? Can we see all this in two weeks? If anyone wants to contact me offlist, please mention in your post that you're doing so as I seldom check my Yahoo e-mail.

The list is in roughly chronological order (birth to death) but the order would, of course, need to be changed to make sense geographically. I'm not sure whether to rent a car (and let my left-right-challenged sister drive!) or what for the places that can't be reached by train.

Which reminds me. My grandson may want to see the Richard III locomotive. Anyone know where it is? We also want to see Hadrian's Wall, not that it has anything to do with Richard.

We do have a travel agent, but she hasn't seen my full list of places to see yet.

Thanks in advance.

Carol

Gilda wrote:

Marie replies: Personally I find Warwick a beautiful town. There are medieval buildings surviving, such as the Lord Leycester Hospital, which had been the Guildhall - you've just got to walk to the parts of town that escaped the fire; also, the fire was in the 1690s so there is much that is pre-Georgian - ie in traditional style. Try this link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ell-r-brown/sets/72157619882416193/ From the church I recommend walking down Church Street, then turn right along the High Street to the Lord Leycester Hospital, then back along Jury Street to the Eastgate and Smith Street. Warwick is also relatively unspoilt in the sense that it hasn't sprawled. The town's situation above a leafy loop of the Avon is idyllic and the castle is breathtakingly beautiful. You can take it all in from a boat trip on the river - or at least you used to be able to. Personally I much prefer Warwick to Stratford, which is very sprawling and the riverside area much more urban, tame and modern. I'm afraid I don't like the RSC building either. Warwick record office is a boring modern building outside the town centre, granted, but the documents it holds are far from disappointing, and the inside of the Shakespeare Centre archives in Stratford isn't much more inspiring. It's funny how different people can have such different takes on the same thing - it's like Richard's portraits. But, yes, I agree with both of you that the Beauchamp Chapel in St. Mary's church is the jewel of the town - just superb. We're so lucky to have it. Much of the medieval church was actually destroyed in the fire, and much of the other bits of it are a rebuild. Marie

Hilary wrote: Eileen, Yes the town is like the Record Office - disappointing :) H

On Wednesday, 15 January 2014, 18:16, EILEEN BATES <eileenbates147@...> wrote:
Yes agreed Hilary,,,the church is wonderful....and should not be missed.

Overall though I was a bit disappointed with the town...as most of it is Georgian...this is because Warwick had a 'Great Fire' as did London so not much medieval surviving. Apparently one of the places that the people gathered in for safety was the church...which thank God survived.
Eileen

I did that yesterday, after the suggestion. For those of us, who are over 60, it is relatively inexpensive.
On Jan 15, 2014, at 9:39 AM, "justcarol67@..." <justcarol67@...> wrote:

Gilda wrote:

Gilda wrote:

Doug wrote:

Carol,

When visiting Fotheringhay, visit the market town of Oundle, Its about 5 miles away and is gorgeous to look at. A famous school is in it and both town and school have beautiful buildings. If you can fit it in, go and stay at or have a meal at the Talbot Hotel. It has a staircase from Fotheringhay Castle in it, and ask about Mary Queen of Scots ring mark in it.

Pete.

"When visiting Fotheringhay, visit the market town of Oundle, Its about 5 miles away and is gorgeous to look at. A famous school is in it and both town and school have beautiful buildings. If you can fit it in, go and stay at or have a meal at the Talbot Hotel. It has a staircase from Fotheringhay Castle in it, and ask about Mary Queen of Scots ring mark in it."

Carol responds:

Thanks, Pete. We're in the process of rethinking our itinerary. It seems we have only eight days!

Carol