The Knoll on the way to Lulworth Cove 08-08-2009

On the way to Lulworth Cove after a wonderful afternoon in Lyme we saw this strange, obviously deserted building on the top of a hill and had to take a small detour to find out more. Turns out it's call the Knoll and there was a footpath to the top where there was a stunning view of the coastline. For the curious it's near the village of Puncknowle in Dorset.





View to the West



View to the East

Lyme - 08-08-2009

What a fantastic day trip and a way to celebrate a birthday even if it was a 250 mile round trip (the google map below is slightly out but it's close enough to the trip we made). Why Lyme? It is the setting for some of Jane Austen's Persuasion, including a fateful accident on the Cobb. On the beachfront there were two cottages Benwick and Harville named after Captain Benwick and Captain Harville from the book.





The view from the car park at Lyme



View of the Cobb from the start of the promenade



On top of the Cobb, so you can appreciate how uneven the surface is on the top. I wouldn't fancy trying to walk along it in bad weather.



Panoramic view from the end of the Cobb across Lyme bay.



Walking on to the dog friendly part of the beach so Charlie could have some fun too



I'm not sure Charlie has ever been to the seaside, I know I've never taken him, but he did soon find his sea legs.



Tentatively dipping his toes in...



Getting the hang of this...



Old Salty the Sea Dog!

Winchester 25-07-2009

Looking down the nave of Winchester Cathedral. The building was begun in 1079 and has undergone revisions and restorations throughout its history.



Looking up at the vaulted ceiling of the nave.



One of many memorials that line the walls to the Cathedral. This one to the Nepalese Gurkha soldiers who have served in the British Armed Forces.



The grave of Jane Austen

In Memory of
JANE AUSTEN,
youngest daughter of the late
Revd GEORGE AUSTEN,
formerly Rector of Steventon in this County
She departed this Life on the 18th of July1817,
aged 41, after a long illness supported
with the patience and hopes of a Christian.

The benevolence of her heart,
the sweetness of her temper, and
the extraordinary endowments of her mind
obtained the regard of all who knew her and
the warmest love of her intimate connections.

Their grief is in proportion to their affection
they know their loss to be irreparable,
but in their deepest affliction they are consoled
by a firm though humble hope that her charity,
devotion, faith and purity have rendered
her soul acceptable in the sight of her
REDEEMER.

Memorial to Jane Austen



Sound II by Antony Gormley in the crypt. This part of the cathedral regularly floods in the winter months, leaving the statue contemplating his reflection.




North Transept



Holy Sepulchre Chapel beneath the tower with paintings dated circa 1180 rediscovered during conservation work in 1963



Chapel with a ceiling painted with angels.



Joan(na) of Arc



Roof of Bishop Langton's Chantry Chapel



Federov's icons in the style of Russian or Greek orthodoxy.



Relics of early kings of England are held in 6 chests either side of the Quire



Great Screen separating the Quire from the Chantry Chapels to the East.

Winchester - The Great Hall

We walked on from Wolvesey Castle to The Great Hall, said to be home of King Arthur's Round Table (proved to be a 14th century fake that was later repainted in the Tudor style on the orders of Henry VIII)

Along the way we met Gareth the crazy street entertainer, whose finale was juggling a chainsaw.



Into the Great Hall, the last and largest of the great medieval halls of England.



On one end wall was the Round Table, the other was decorated with a painted mural depicting all the Members of Parliament for Winchester until the Victorian era.



Close up of the most recent part of the mural



Bronze of Queen Victoria (not looking very amused!)



Interesting piece of stonework, the face looked quite anguished which of course it would do as it was supporting such a heavy weight.



The fake Round Table with the names of King Arthur and his 25 Knights, though the original legends name over 50 knights in the various stories. The middle is the Tudor Rose, uniting the White Rose of York and the Red Rose of Lancaster.



Stainless Steel gates (one of a pair) at one end of the Hall commemorating the wedding of Diana, Lady Spencer to Charles, Prince of Wales



One of the many stained glass windows, this one caught my eye as it commemorated Edward, The Black Prince (Blackadder anyone?)



Outside to a small formal garden and then onwards back to the Cathedral.



These two Celtic inspired designs caught my eye, they are part of an installation celebrating the history of Winchester.






The Round Table set in stones in the pavement outside a civic office



Public sculpture on the way back through Winchester

Winchester - Wolvesey Castle 25-07-2009

Wolvesey Castle is a ruined castle in Winchester. It was erected by the Bishop of Winchester, Henry of Blois between 1130 and 1140.

t was once a very important building, and was the location on July 25th 1554 of the wedding breakfast of Queen Mary and Phillip II of Spain. The castle was destroyed by Roundheads during the English Civil War in 1646.



Through the original entrance.



These red tiles were used in the 1930s to replace the original facing stones that had been stolen.








Paved areas indicated rooms, grassed areas were outside courtyards



The present day Bishop of Winchester's residence lies adjacent to Wolvesey Castle ruins. It is the remains of a larger house.