The evocative ruins of Clun Castle are set in magnificent countryside on the edge of the tiny town of Clun, whilst kites soar overhead. It is a dominating position on natural high ground in a loop in the river, built to help dominate the border between Wales and England.
Britain’s moving memorial to the 35th President of the USA, John F Kennedy, is in an acre of ground in Surrey, gifted to the American people in perpetuity. The designer, Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe, was inspired by Bunyan’s allegory of life in Pilgrim’s Progress. The memorial stone itself is a 7 ton block of Portland stone from the same quarry used to for St Paul’s Cathedral.
Glastonbury Tor is a magical place, with links to Celtic mythology and the legend of King Arthur. Some say this almost perfect cconical hill, rising from the Somerset levels, is the Isle of Avalon. Now topped with the roofless tower of 14th century St Michael’s church, there is evidence of other structures on the site
The magnificent Hereford Cathedral was founded in the year 696, although its current buildings date from the 11th and 12th centuries. It is possibly most famous for its chained library and the Mappa Mundi, a graphical representation of the medieval world, made in the early 14th century.
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The Imperial War Museum appropriately housed in an old mental hospital, tells the story of conflicts involving Britain and the Commonwealth since 1914. With its imposing entrance showcasing two, massive, 15″ naval gun barrels, the museum includes many large exhibits, such as aircraft and tanks, as well as thought-provoking artwork. There are both permanent and temporary exhibitions as well as an extensive closed access archive of material, personal and official.
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Ashby St Ledgers is a small, attractive, village between Daventry and Rugby. The largely Jacobean manor, remnodelled in the 20th century, was owned by the Catesby family from 1365 to 1611 and the gatehouse is famous for being the place where the Gunpowder Plot was planned. Neither gatehouse nor manor is open to the general public, but the manor is available for private hire. Also in the village is a wonderful medieval church, dedicated to St Leodegarius, a pub (the Olde Coach House) and a series of attractive thatched estate workers’ cottages designed by Lutyens.
Borough Market claims to be the oldest in London, established in 1014, when a market took shape at the foot of London Bridge. It has been in its current location, west of London Bridge since 1756. It has developed to become a riot of colour, noise and food products. It is an astonishing place, mainly selling an enormous range of fresh produce – fruit, vegetables, fish, cheese, nuts – as well as nuts, speciality chocolate and drinks. At its fringes are a host of street food outlets, with dishes from all over the world.
Cambridge American Cemetery commemorates almost 9,000 Americans who died while based in the UK, or travelling to it, during the Second World War. It is the only World War II American military cemetery in the United Kingdom. The site was established as a temporary military burial ground in 1943, on land donated by the University of Cambridge, and has been granted free use in perpetuity by HM Government
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Pendragon Castle is a beguiling place, in a remote location by a small road, surrounded by places with names out of a fantasy novel. Despite being a ruin, it has an atmosphere all of its own. According to legend, it was the fortress of Uther Pendragon, father of King Arthur, who battled the Saxons here in the mists of the Dark ages. Sadly, that is unlikely to be true – the current ruins date from the 12th century, long after Arthur is said to have lived – but they do have their own stories to tell.
Castlerigg is one of several stone circles in the North West and, arguably, the best known. It was constructed in the Neolithic Age, around 3,000BC. Set against the backdrop of the Lakeland fells, it is a dramatic location and, especially on a lonely winter’s day, very atmospheric. Castlerigg was one of the first scheduled ancient monuments in Britain in 1883.
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The site of the Battle of Towton lies a little to the south of Tadcaster, along the B1217, where a battlefield cross is located. The battle was fought on 29 March 1461, Palm Sunday, and is reputedly the longest, biggest and bloodiest battle ever on British soil.
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York’s Treasurers’ House, once occupied by the Treasurer to the adjacent Minster, is a gem. It was vastly refurbished in Edwardian style by a wealthy industrialist and is reputedly haunted – including by Roman soldiers.
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