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Alloway Auld Kirk

Alloway Auld Kirk, the ruined old church at Alloway dates from the 16th century, though the site could be much older. It is most famous now due to it being featured in Robert Burns' poem 'Tam o' Shanter' (1791), as the place where witches and warlocks gather. The churchyard is fascinating and includes the graves of Burns' father, William Burnes, and sister, Isabella Burns Begg. Combine with a visit to the Robert Burns' Museum, his birthplace, Burns Monument and Brig o' Doon.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
40 Alloway
County
Ayrshire
Post Code
KA7 4PQ
Main Historic Period
Tudor
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
The Robert Burns' Museum, the cottage where he was born, the Burns Monument and Brig o' Doon are all within walking distance.
Primary Management
National Trust for Scotland
Surgery

The Anaesthesia Museum is part of the Anaesthesia Heritage Centre of the Association of Anaethatists and contains objects relating to the history of anaesthesia. The earliest object in the collection is a resuscitation set of 1774. The museum gives an insight into the history of anaesthesia, resuscitation and pain relief.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
21 Portland Place
County
London
Post Code
W1B 1PY
Main Historic Period
Modern
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
BBC, Regent's Park
Primary Management
Educational establisment
ANGEL of the NORTH

Antony Gormley’s enormous steel erection, controversial when it was unveiled in 1998, has become one of the iconic images of the North East, alongside the Tyne Bridge, Durham Cathedral and Newcastle United scoring a goal, the kind of thing that makes locals go all misty-eyed.

Accessed from the A167, not the adjacent busy A1, the Angel of the North, Antony Gormley's steel sculpture south of Gateshead, weighs 200 tonnes, is 20 metres high and has a wingspan of 54 metres.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Durham Road
Low Eighton
Gateshead
County
Tyne & Wear
Post Code
NE9 6AA
Main Historic Period
Modern
Link to featured article
Tip/Nearby
Access from the A167.
Primary Management
Local Authority
Anne Bronte's burial place

Anne Bronte is the only one of the famous siblings not to be buried in the family vault at Haworth. She worked as a governess in Scarborough and journeyed the 70 miles from home when she was ill, hoping the sea air would help. She arrived on Saturday 25 May 1849, very ill, accompanied by her sister Charlotte and a friend, Ellen and died on the Monday. Charlotte commissioned the very worn headstone seen today, but returning 3 years afterwards found a number of errors on it. The errors, whatever they were, were seemingly corrected – but the inscription still has Anne’s age wrong. A modern plaque has been placed on the ground by the Bronte Society.

St Mary's Church dates from the 12th century and is interesting in its own right. Canons were based in the churchyard during the Civil War, from which Parliamentary troops exchanged fire with the Royalists in the castle.

Location/Address
158 Castle Rd
Scarborough
County
North Yorkshire
Post Code
YO11 1HY
Main Historic Period
Victorian
Link to featured article
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Scarborough Castle
Primary Management
Church authorities
ANOTHER PLACE

Art installation by the sculptor Antony Gormley. 100 cast-iron, life-size figures spread out along the foreshore and out to sea.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Mariners Road
Crosby Beach
Crosby
County
Merseyside
Post Code
LE23 6SX
Main Historic Period
Modern
Primary Management
Local Authority
APPULDURCOMBE HOUSE

Begun in the early 18th century as the seat of the Worsley family, Appuldurcombe was once the grandest house on the Isle of Wight. Sir Richard Worsley, the 7th baronet, gained notoriety for a 1782 court case in which his wife, Seymour, admitted to having had 27 lovers.  Appuldurcombe was a masterpiece of English Baroque architecture. Following war damage, it is now a graceful shell, but still retains some of its former dignity and many fine architectural details. The celebrated landscape designer 'Capability' Brown enhanced the rolling grounds in the 1780s. Now, they're a great place for a picnic.

Photo via Pixabay

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Appuldurcombe Road
Wroxall
County
Isle of Wight
Post Code
PE38 3EW
Main Historic Period
Georgian
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Godshill, Ventnor Botanic Gardens
Primary Management
English Heritage
Arnside, Cumbria

Arnside was a tiny fishing village until it grew as a holiday destination in Victorian times. It is located on the estuary of the River Kent on the north-eastern corner of Morecambe Bay, within the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is predominantly residential. There's a small pier, a collection of shops and cafes, a couple of pubs and easy walks along a modest promenade with lovely views of the Cumbrian mountains. The tides at Arnside go out a long way, and turn very quickly creating a tidal bore when the water floods back. It is also highly dangerous to venture onto the sands. Nearby Arnside Knott, a limestone hill, provides woodland and open hillside walks and is famous for its views over Morecambe Bay - and its butterflies and flowers. On the Silverdale side of Arnside Knott is Arnside Tower, a Pele tower built as a defence against border (Scottish) raiders. The railway (Furness Line) between Lancaster and Carlisle via Barrow-in-Furness crosses the River Kent via the Arnside viaduct.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Arnside
County
Cumbria
Post Code
LA5 0HE
Main Historic Period
Victorian
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Arnside Knott, Levens Hall, Carnforth, Kendal
Primary Management
Local Authority
ARNSIDE KNOTT

A limestone/sandstone hill offering grassland, meadow and woodland walks, with great views over the Kent estuary and Morecambe Bay. Famous for wildflowers and butterflies. Nearby Jack Scout's cliffs are good for bird watching and sun sets. Limited parking. Signposted from Arnside.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Arnside
County
Cumbria
Post Code
LA5 0BP
Main Historic Period
N/A
Tip/Nearby
Arnside, Sizergh Castle, Morecambe
Primary Management
National Trust
ARTHUR’S QUOIT, Pembrokeshire

Arthur’s Quoit (or Coetan Arthur), according to legend, was thrown from nearby Carn Llidi by King Arthur. This is one of many 'Arthur's Quoits' in Britain - one source identifies more than 30. It is the remains of a single-chambered Neolithic burial chamber, or Dolmen, between 4 and 6,000 years’ old; the capstone (the bit that reminded folk of a quoit) is about 20’ long and now only supported, seemingly precariously, by one upright stone.

Post code is a guide only.  This Arthur's Quoit is located on St David's Head, where there is also the remains of a small prehistoric hut settlement, and can only be reached on foot. Park in Whitesands Bay and follow the coast path. Interesting site of a chapel dedicated to St Patrick on the way, where an early medieval cemetery has been excavated.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
St David's Head
County
Pembrokeshire
Post Code
SA62 6PS
Main Historic Period
Prehistory
Link to featured article
Tip/Nearby
Whitesands Bay
Primary Management
National Trust
ASHBY ST LEDGERS

Very small, attractive, village between Daventry and Rugby. The Jacobean manor was owned by the Catesby family and the gatehouse is famous for being the place where the Gunpowder Plot was planned (neither the gatehouse nor the manor is open to the public). There is a wonderful medieval church, dedicated to St Leodegarius, a pub (the Olde Coach House) and a series of estate workers' cottages designed by Lutyens.

NB Warning notice that village website may be hacked, hence the link has not been included here.

Region/Nation
County
Northamptonshire
Post Code
CV23 8UN
Main Historic Period
All
Link to featured article
Tip/Nearby
Off the A361 between Kilsby and Daventry
Primary Management
Local Authority

This is a growing listings directory – over 950 entries have been listed as of September 2022. 

Entries have links for further information, such as opening times and entry fees.

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