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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
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
BATEMAN’S

Bateman's was the home of author Rudyard Kipling for 34 years.  Set in acres of charming gardens, the house is 17th century but the interior is definitely early 20th century.  There's a real sense of the man there.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Bateman's Lane,
Burwash
County
East Sussex
Post Code
TN19 7DS
Main Historic Period
Edwardian
Link to featured article
Tip/Nearby
Bodiam Castle, Sheffield Park
Primary Management
National Trust
Brig o' Doon

The Brig o' Doon is a beautiful old cobbled bridge over the River Doon, built in the 15th century. It features in the 1791 poem, 'Tam o' Shanter', when Tam gallops across the bridge on his horse, Meg, pursued by witches and warlocks. He escapes - but they grab Meg's tail! Combine with a visit to the Robert Burns' Monument, Museum, Alloway Old Kirk and his birthplace.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Alloway
County
Ayrshire
Post Code
KA7 4PQ
Main Historic Period
Medieval
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Robert Burns' Monument, Museum, Alloway Old Kirk and the cottage he was born in are all within walking distance.
Primary Management
National Trust for Scotland
Bronte Parsonage, Haworth

The Brontë family moved to Haworth in 1820, when Patrick Brontë was appointed ‘perpetual curate’ of the parish church. They lived in the Parsonage, where the three immensely talented sisters wrote some of the finest literature in the English language. Though it will overwhelm those who do not actually worship the Brontës, the Parsonage Museum is fascinating. And the town of Haworth is always worth a visit anyway. Don't miss the Gothic splendour of the churchyard!

Location/Address
Church Street
Haworth
Keighley
County
West Yorkshire
Post Code
BD22 8DR
Main Historic Period
Victorian
Link to featured article
Tip/Nearby
The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (heritage railway).
Primary Management
Other
Cowan Bridge Schoolhouse

What used to be Cowan Bridge School for clergymen’s daughters, attended by the Bronte sisters, is now a row of cottages, one of which has been restored and is available as a holiday let. The school appears to have been a horrendously cruel and unhealthy place - the two older sisters, Maria and Elizabeth, died aged 10 and 11 in 1825 having allegedly contracted tuberculosis there. Charlotte drew on her experiences at Cowan Bridge to create Lowood School in Jane Eyre. There is a plaque marking the association on the gable end of the building, by the side of the A65.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Bronte Cottages
Cowan Bridge
County
Lancashire
Post Code
LA6 2HS
Main Historic Period
Georgian
Link to featured article
Tip/Nearby
Yorkshire Dales, Kirkby Lonsdale
Primary Management
Private - not open to the public
BUNHILL FIELDS Burial Ground

Bunhill Fields is a former burial ground established in the 17th century (though with a longer history than that) and the last resting place for an estimated 123,000 bodies. It is particularly known for its nonconformist connections. Among those commemorated here are William Blake, Daniel Defoe, John Bunyan and Susannah Wesley (John Wesley's mum). The burial area is fenced in, and crowded; there is an open area, primarily used by office workers at lunch times.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
38 City Road
County
London
Post Code
EC1Y 2BG
Main Historic Period
Georgian
Link to featured article
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
John Wesley's House and Museum, Quaker Gardens
Primary Management
Local Authority
COLERIDGE COTTAGE

Coleridge Cottage - this 17th century cottage (originally two) was rented by the romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) for about 3 years between 1797 and 1799. He was visited here by his friend, William Wordsworth, and it was here that he wrote 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', the interrupted/unfinished 'Kubla Khan' and other works. The National Trust has done a very good job presenting the cottage as the Coleridge family might have known it - and there's a cute garden.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
35 Lime Street
Nether Stowey
Nr Bridgwater
County
Somerset
Post Code
TA5 1NQ
Main Historic Period
Georgian
Primary Management
National Trust
CS LEWIS Nature Reserve

Small community nature reserve, formed from part of the garden once owned by author and academic Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963). It is said the woods and pond helped inspire his books that featured the imaginary land of Narnia. The nature reserve is adjacent to Lewis' home for more than 30 years, The Kilns.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
5 Lewis Close
Risinghurst
Oxford
County
Oxfordshire
Post Code
OX3 8JD
Tip/Nearby
The Kilns
Primary Management
Other
Dr Johnson's House

"When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life." Dr Samuel Johnson, writer and wit, is one of the most quoted Englishmen of all time and lived at this house between 1748 and 1759 whilst compiling his famous "Dictionary of the English Language" in the garret. The house was built at the end of the 17th century and is one of 17 different places Johnson lived in in London. After he left, it was used as a hotel, print shop and warehouse. It now contains exhibitions about Johnson's life and works and many original items relating to the man. All five levels are open to the public. A statue of his cat, Hodge, is at the other end of the square and one of his favourite inns, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is round the corner on Fleet Street.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
17 Gough Square
County
London
Post Code
EC4A 3DE
Main Historic Period
Georgian
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Just off Fleet Street, not far from the Inns of Court
Primary Management
Private - open to the public

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.

If your favourite attraction is not listed yet, and you have a good quality digital photograph of it that you are able to freely send, please get in touch

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