CONTENT
1. Great British Web Sites
2. Books on Britain
3. Travel news from Britain
Welcome friends, its time to put the kettle on, settle into a comfortable armchair, and enjoy the best of Britain with Britain Update. But before you do, please take the time to forward this newsletter to someone who loves Britain as much as you do.
David Ross, Publisher
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Great British Web Sites
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Ely Online (http://www.ely.org.uk) An excellent site covering the old cathedral town of Ely, in Cambridgeshire. There's thorough accommodation information for visitors, what's on, dining guide, a chat room, news, history, maps, photos, local links, even ghost stories of the area. There's an excellent section on Oliver Cromwell, who used to live in Ely, and lots of info on Ely Cathedral. You can check the local weather before your visit or search for your ancestors online. Recommended.
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Books on Britain
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My pick from the bookshelf this issue is "Hudson's Historic Houses and Gardens." The name says it all. This comprehensive guide to heritage properties in Great Britain and Ireland is like having a Bible in your hand. The lavishly illustrated (over 1000 photos) annual guide is large and heavy to cart around. Nevertheless, it's like owning a gold mine.
Inside you'll find nuggets of information-listings of properties to visit from the National Trust, National Trust for Scotland, English Heritage, Historic Houses Association, CADW and Historic Scotland. Opening hours, directions to the homes, telephone numbers and names for contact are just part of the information available.
Each entry gives a description of the property and its highlights and several properties are featured in longer articles. Also helpful is the listing of the homes' web sites, those that are open all year, wedding and corporate venues, those that provide accommodation, and even a list of places where movies were filmed. There is a listing of special events held at the sites if you want to schedule visits around them.
The detailed index and coloured side-of-book index make entries easy to find. Hudson's is the official reference guide used in the Tourist Information Centres in Britain, and it is easy to see why. This superlative book is the essential guide for independent travellers. Don't leave home without it. Review by Barbara Ballard
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New at Britain Express
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In our London Guide:
St. Paul's Cathedral
Destination profile:
Ely, Cambridgeshire
In our popular History and culture section, some of our new articles include:
William Morris
John Nash
Almack's Assembly Rooms
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UK Travel Tip: HHA membership
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Many people have heard of the National Trust and know about the value of an NT membership. Some have heard of the English Heritage and their membership card, which allows free entry to hundreds of historic properties around the UK. But there's another organisation that travellers to Britain need to consider. It's the Historic Houses Association (HHA).
The HHA is an association of over 1300 privately owned historic houses (stately homes), parks and gardens throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Included in the HHA are such national treasures as Althorp, Glamis Castle, and Castle Howard. Beyond these "big names" there are hundreds of wonderful historic manors and lesser-known houses such as Great Dixter (East Sussex) and gardens like West Dean, near Chichester.
Membership in the HHA carries with it free entry to about 300 HHA properties, a quarterly magazine called "Historic House", and optional discount tours especially arranged for members. Membership is valid for 12 months from purchase.
Most historic houses have entry fees in the range of £6 - £9 or more per adult, and the amounts can eat into a traveller's budget quickly. Current membership fees in the HHA are £28 single, £40 double. If you plan to visit more than a few historic houses in Britain, an HHA membership will quickly pay for itself.
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News from Britain
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Restoration by English Heritage has begun on a monumental history painting "The Battle of Hastings", painted around 1825 by Frank W. Wilkin (c. 1800-1842) once discovered rolled up under the floorboards of an exhibition gallery in Hastings. The major project is expected to take two years to complete, after which the painting, originally commissioned for the Great Hall at Battle Abbey, will be returned to Battle Abbey School for public display.
The vast and dramatic canvas measures 27 by 17 feet and is one of the largest paintings on canvas in Britain. Beneath layers of dirt and grime, the vibrant colours of the battered and torn painting continue to give this rare survivor of the genre of early 19th-century history painting an immediate appeal. Through an imaginary scene painted with meticulous detail, Wilkin depicts the crucial battle of 1066, with William the Conqueror and Bishop Oddo discovering the body of the Saxon King Harold. As the battle rages around them an attendant offers William Harold's crown. To the right, a soldier shows William the fateful arrow thought to have caused Harold's death.
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Calderdale Walking Festival 2000
23rd September - 8th October
A large number of guided walks form the centrepiece of this festival, now in its third year. Walks start from various locations within Calderdale, which is situated in the Yorkshire Pennines, and are suitable for all ages, ability, and level of fitness.
Calderdale's high moors, gritstone outcrops and wooded valleys with the almost hidden remains of long-gone textile mills have long captivated artists and lovers of the great outdoors. The uniqueness of this area is best explored and savoured on foot, and what better way than in the company of others.
Possible walks include: Pennine Way in Calderdale, Britain's first National Trail; Todmorden Centenary Way, on the tops above a fascinating mill town; Calderdale Way, Britain's first Recreational footpath; Special interest walks looking at wildlife, conservation, and local history; Ted Hughes walk, looking at at the locations which inspired his poetry; Other activities include exhibition and displays on landscape and walking, while accommodation packages should also be available.
Organisers:
Calderdale Tourism
1 Bridgegate
Hebden Bridge West Yorkshire HX7 8EX
That's all for now. Until next issue, let me remind you that laughter is contagious. Be a carrier.
David Ross, Publisher, Britain Express
