Barnett Vicarious Adventures: July 7, 2013

With Lee and Becky, we departed Edinburgh at 9:00am on a Rabbie’s bus tour that was to include York, Yorkshire and the Lake District of England. Our first stop was Berwick-upon-Tweed which is an ancient walled city with walls that are more like levies rather than the usual stone walls.

We arrive at Berwick and climb the barrier walls.

Below, not sure that these gun emplacements would have worked very well with their limited angle of fire.

From the walls you see the North Sea. Edward is walking along the old church yard cemetery.

This lovely village is still an active military barracks.

Below, our next stop was Holy Island, the place where Christianity first came to England. The island sits in a tidal basin. It is an island at high tide, but at low tide is accessible via a causeway. Below is the low tide access.

Below is the ever present castle at all major sites.

Below is the site of the original parish church where the Christians first worshiped in England. From this small island church, Christianity spread throughout England and was ultimately adopted by Henry VIII as the Church of England (Anglican/Episcopal).

Another view of the castle in the distance.

There is an ancient winery in the village where they made Mead which is a honey wine. The wine shop also had some interesting beers. There was “Kraken” for you Craig Ferguson fans like us (“release the Kraken”), and there was “Puffin” which would be Elaine’s favorite regardless of taste.

From here we head to Alnwich Castle. This castle has been the home of the Percy family (Duke of North Umberland) for more than 800 years. It is still a residence for the family. But, for you Harry Potter fans, it was the site for many of the Harry Potter scenes in all the movies.

Above and below, the castle is as pretty from a distance as it is close up. The photos that follow need almost no commentary so I will just be quiet for a while and let you enjoy the scenes of the castle. But, can you imagine living here today and your ancestors having lived here for more than 700 years? Sadly, we were not allowed to take photos inside the castle, but believe me that it is suitable for royalty. The rooms we saw are actually used by the family when the tourists leave for the day and the castle is closed. When we were there, the family was on vacation! How do you go on vacation from a home like this?????

We arrive at the carriage house. This carriage was last used in 2011 for the wedding of the Percy daughter.

Left, a statue of Sir Henry Percy from the 14th century.

Elaine in the children’s games area. All the games are based upon the Harry Potter movies. Children can dress in costume, play Quiddich and slay dragons as Elaine is doing below. This dragon is made of a synthetic/rubberized material that makes it feel real. Elaine said the mouth was, “Icky!”

Below, Elaine trying to get into an “Off Limits” door of course and Edward trying on a Black Knight Monty Python helmet.

Below, the village stocks where bad little boys and girls were displayed for the citizens of the community to use as target practice with their spoiled fruit and vegetables.

A tour of the dungeon. This set was created for the Harry Potter films and has been left in place by the castle owners for the enjoyment of the children. Being children ourselves, we had to take a tour.

Was the monster above used in a Harry Potter movie? Below, a family tree wall celebrating 700 years of Percy Family Heritage.

Farewell to Alnwick Castle.

Below, we stop at the “Angel of the North.” We had seen this sculpture from the train when we traveled from Bristol to Edinburgh and did not have a clue what it might be. Perhaps a model airplane? Actually, it is a sculpture commemorating the industry that was prevalent in this area at one time. It is not far from Newcastle, the center of coal mining in Northern England and the iron ore mines. It is a massive iron statue in the form of a winged angle.

Below, we arrive in the ancient town of Richmond, England. Richmond is today a market town meaning an area town where markets were held in earlier years.

Richmond Castle in North Yorkshire England.

We arrive in the historic town of York, England. York was a very important town in early English history. It still has most of its city walls intact and has a massive cathedral. It was the most important religious, governmental and administrative center center outside London and Canterbury. It was originally founded as a regional government center by the Romans who occupied England from 79-410CE.

Left, plaque marking a city entry through one of the original Roman walls.

The Minster, is a massive cathedral and administrative complex from which church affairs for all of Northern England were governed.

Below, an area of York called “The Shambles.” The streets are very narrow and the buildings are ancient. The area looks like something right out of Charles Dickens.

For the Cat lovers, a shop just for you.

This plaque marks the site of (1) the first paved street in the city in 1378, (2) the site where Thomas Percy (see the Alnwick Castle above), Earl of Northumberland was hanged, and (3) the site where Oliver Cromwell was hung and burned for his instigation of the English Civil War.