Innehållsförteckning för October - November 2022 från Discover Britain

A medieval village enclosed within a half-mile loop of the River Coquet, Warkworth is dominated by the Norman castle that stands on a hill to the south. Proximity to the Scottish border and the influence of powerful families have ensured it a rich history of wars, rebellions, and even a place in Shakespearean drama. Human occupation here dates from Neolithic times. Cup-and-ring carvings can be seen on the crags above the riverbank. In AD737, a wooden church was built on the site of the present St Lawrence’s Church at the northern end of the village. The Anglo-Saxon King Ceolwulf of Northumbria gifted the church and village, Wercewode, to the monks of Lindisfarne. The church was destroyed during a Danish Viking raid in AD875 and rebuilt in stone. Piecemeal construction of…

ROUTE The blush pink of Pendle Grit gives the countryside of Lancashire’s Ribble Valley a distinctive pastel hue. Many farmhouses, barns, out buildings, even entire villages, are made of this attractively coloured sandstone. And this distinctive natural resource is what separates northern Lancashire from Yorkshire with its granite terrain. This valley’s long history is not without fascinating, and even gruesome, events but nowadays it is the link with J.R.R.Tolkien and his children’s book The Hobbit that is perhaps most enduring. Tolkien was in digs in the Ribble Valley’s Hurst Green during the Second World War and stayed at Stonyhurst College, where his son had been evacuated to. Fans of The Hobbit may know that the Shire and Hobbiton are inspired by the pastoral beauty of this area. It is also…

1. Which of these islands is the largest of the Channel Islands? a) Guernsey b) Jersey c) Sark 2. Which beloved novel by J.R.R.Tolkien celebrates its 85th anniversary this year? a) The Hobbit b) The Return of the Kingc) The Fellowship of the Ring 3. Which Suffragette threw herself under the King’s horse at the Epsom Derby in 1913 in order to make a political statement? a) Emmeline Pankhurst b) Emily Davison c) Millicent Fawcett 4. Henrietta Howard, Countess of Suffolk, was the mistress to which king? a) George II b) George III c) Edward VII 5. Which English actress has starred in both the 1970 and 2022 film adaptations of The Railway Children? a) Emma Thompson b) Kate Winslet c) Jenny Agutter 6. What was the name of Britain’s…

BEAUTIFUL GARDENS Nymans The West Sussex National Trust garden Nymans has unveiled its theatrical new ‘Garden in the Ruins’, created within the remains of the Great Hall, which was lost in a catastrophic fire 75 years ago and has been inaccessible ever since. The garden has been inspired by a former inhabitant of Nymans, the leading 20th-century theatre designer, Oliver Messel, and the plantmanship and artistry of his family, who bought Nymans in the 1890s. The Messels created one of the UK’s most exquisite gardens, and the new garden includes plants which the Messel family introduced to western horticulture, including Camellia and Forsythia suspensa. The design takes inspiration from Messel’s theatre scenery and includes motifs that reference the family and the original Great Hall building. With water features interspersed between…

It was the family film with enduring appeal. Released in 1970, The Railway Children, directed by Lionel Jeffries, was an adaptation of a 1906 book by the same name by E Nesbit. The film, which was a huge success, and is still much-loved today, tells the story of three siblings, Roberta (known as Bobbie), Phyllis, and Peter Waterbury. Having spent the first part of their childhood living in a lovely house in an affluent part of London, the children find themselves suddenly down at heel (due to the fact that their father, who works for the Foreign Office has just been arrested on suspicion of being a spy – a fact hidden from them by their mother) and are forced to move with their mother to the beautiful, but remote,…

We help to create brilliant experiences for people from all over the world who come to visit the Tower of London Gary Thynne Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London I spent nearly 24 years in the British Army, serving in the Royal Artillery. Early in my career I pinpointed becoming a Yeoman Warder as my ‘dream job’ and was determined to reach the required prerequisites – at least 22 years’ service, being a former warrant officer or senior non-commissioned officer, and holding the Long Service and Good Conduct medal. On retirement from the Army I became a Metropolitan Police Officer, but continued to look out for vacancies at the Tower of London. In just under a year a position became available. There were interview stages and, as Yeoman Warders…

Lady Carnarvon wears it well I enjoyed the article and photos of Highclere Castle, the butler and other staff, and Lady Carnarvon in the June 2022 issue of Discover Britain. My query may seem silly, but I can’t resist! In any photo I’ve seen of Lady Carnarvon, she is wearing the most beautiful and luxurious scarves. The photo of Lady Carnarvon with that stunning wrap/scarf on page 35 particularly piqued my interest (of course the lovely dog and the beautiful Library setting were outstanding as well!) Is it possible to discover where to look for such wonderful scarves? It is known where, for instance, the Duchess of Cambridge buys some of her woollen walking coats, so I thought it might be possible to know where to source Lady Carnarvon’s scarves…

Not many people get to lift a Grand National trophy, but handling famous sporting silverware is a very normal part of the job for Candice Devine. Working for the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office in London, Candice hallmarks objects made from precious metals to prove their authenticity. “It’s great to handle the item which I then see presented on the TV,” she says. With her precise work, hand striking metal, she is preserving a craft that has existed for more than 700 years. The Goldsmiths’ Company has been responsible for testing (assaying) gold and silver since 1300, when King Edward I passed a statute requiring items made from those precious metals to be ‘marked with the leopard’s head’ to prevent fraud by goldsmiths. The City of London livery company received its…

COMPETITION Discover Britain has teamed up with Pride of Britain Hotels to offer one lucky winner and their guest a luxurious two-night stay at Farlam Hall in Cumbria. Set in the beautiful Cumbrian countryside, overlooking serene, sculpted grounds, and surrounded by endless opportunities to explore, Farlam Hall is about relaxing and appreciating nature. Unwind in cosy lounges, and beautifully appointed bedrooms, dine in style and enjoy stunning views of the grounds and gardens. For those looking to explore the area, this is a walker’s paradise, with the unspoilt North Pennines on your doorstep. Farlam Hall is also steeped in history, dating back to the 16th century and is near to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hadrian’s Wall, which celebrates its 1900th birthday in 2022. The Prize One lucky winner,…

PLACES TO STAY Britain has a bounty of historic pubs that date back hundreds of years, and over those years many of them have accumulated some unusual and sometimes disturbing stories. While some people love the idea of a haunted old pub, others might imagine dingy rooms with cobwebs and draughty windows. However, at these four pubs that couldn’t be further from the truth. These old inns with tragic tales and spooky sightings are now beautifully renovated places to stay, perfect for an autumn getaway. From converted barns to loft rooms in historic pubs, you can soak up the atmosphere of a scary story while relaxing in luxury. JAMAICA INN Launceston, Cornwall Jamaica Inn, high up on Bodmin Moor, was made famous by Daphne Du Maurier in her book of…