CONTENT
- Destinations: Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire
- In the News
- UK Travel tips and news
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
UK Destinations
Tenbury Wells
Worcestershire, England
Tenbury is an attractive town situated in the northwest corner of Worcester near the borders of Herefordshire and Shropshire. Tenbury lies on the River Teme, in an area known for growing hops and cider apples. For this reason, Tenbury has been called the "The Town in the Orchard".
As its name would suggest, Tenbury Wells was a spa town, popular from about 1840 onward for its unusual saline waters (i.e. "salty"). This spa heritage is reflected in the architecture of Tenbury, which is largely Victorian.
Within the largely 19th century St. Mary's church are the remains of a Saxon cross, and the town itself contains several half-timbered buildings from the 16th and 17th centuries.
More about Tenbury Wells ...
UK Destinations
Carew Castle
In Carew, Dyfed, Wales.
The ruins of Carew Castle stand in majestic splendour on the low banks of the river Carew, near Pembroke.
Gerald of Windsor erected a Norman motte and bailey castle here about 1100, building on a still earlier Iron Age fort. The lovely present castle is based on a 13th-century structure begun by Sir Nicholas de Carew. Three towers and the chapel survive from Carew's time, but more obvious are the early Tudor additions of Sir Rhys ap Thomas, including the gatehouse.
IN THE NEWS
From the "It could only happen in England" department:
Monkey elected mayor of Hartlepool
H'Angus the Monkey has been elected mayor of Hartlepool in a victory for the mascot of the town's football team. H'Angus, also known as Stuart Drummond, beat off opposition from the main political parties to land the £53,000-a-year job as a local talisman. More at http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_1965000/1965569.stm
Travel Tips and News
Suffolk Historic Houses Open
In a scheme unique to Suffolk, 20 privately owned historic houses and gardens - most of them not normally open to the public - can be visited by appointment this spring and summer. The tours are conducted by the owners, and a new website describes the properties in detail. Three new properties have joined the scheme this year: High Hall, which has a garden designed by Mark Rumary; Parham Hall, whose owner hand-makes violins; and Haughley House. The others range over several centuries, and include medieval Columbine Hall, Hemingstone Hall from the Jacobean period, and Bawdsey Manor, a Victorian house where radar was invented.
Properties involved in the scheme include:
Barsham Old Hall
Bawdsey Manor
Bedfield Hall
Butley Priory
Columbine Hall
Glemham Hall
Haughley House
Hemingstone Hall
High Hall Gardens
Leiston Abbey
Linden House, Eye
Mockbeggars Hall
North Cove Hall
Otley Hall
Parham Hall Gardens
Playford Hall Gardens
Somerleyton Hall & Gardens
South Elmham Hall
Wingfield Old College & Gardens
Visits cost from £7 to £12.50, and can only be booked through local tourist information centres. Website: www.suffolkhistorichouses.co.uk
National Museum of Wales Events
Three new exhibitions have been announced at the National Museum and Gallery in Cardiff. At "Uncovering Evidence" you can explore the methods and techniques used to uncover clues about our past. Then, "Walking with Dinosaurs" is an exciting and educational exhibition based on the recent BBC television series. Both of these run until 30 June.
Last but not least, visit "Recreations: Facing the Past" - this exhibition looks at the way in which we picture the past. It involves collaboration between artists, craftsmen, historians, archaeologists, forensic scientists and ecologists. This runs until 1 September. National Museum & Gallery Cardiff (Telephone: 029 20 397951)
Cornwall's New Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum Cornwall opens in the port and yachting centre of Falmouth this summer (June 22). The striking £21 million building is the centrepiece of a waterfront development which includes an events square for concerts and exhibitions, restaurants, shops, a cinema, and a marina.
The new museum, which has a tower with views over the harbour, will house the National Small Boat Collection - over 120 historic and contemporary vessels. Highlights include:
~ The Tidal Gallery, which has partially submerged windows giving a unique perspective on the interaction of time and tides.
~ Among the other 10 galleries are those covering boat building, Cornish maritime history, the growth of global communications, navigation and weather, and water science, including model boats visitors can experiment with.
~ Interactive displays and demonstrations of boat building.
Museum admission £5.90 adults £3.90 seniors and children. Website: http://www.nmmc.co.uk
London Prepares for Cow Parade
Hundreds of cows will be grazing on the streets, parks and public areas of London this summer. They will not be escapees from a cattle market but exhibits in the city's biggest public art event. "Cow Parade London 2002" (June 17-September 13) consists of life-size animals made of fibreglass, decorated by artists and a variety of TV and sports personalities.
The 'livestock' - including examples sitting in an armchair and dancing the tango - will eventually be herded up and auctioned for charity. Cow Parade, the brainchild of Walter Knapp, was first held in Zurich, Switzerland in 1998 and has since been seen in four US cities. Website: http://www.cowparade.co.uk
Scotland Travel News
A few of the many events happening in Scotland in May and June
May 10-Sept 15 David Octavius and Robert Adamson
The Bicentenary of these photographic pioneers will be celebrated with a nationwide festival of exhibitions and events including a display.
National Portrait Gallery, Queen Street, Edinburgh
Tel. 0131 6246200 or visit http://www.natgalscot.ac.uk
May 10-Oct 19 Pitlochry Festival Theatre
The Festival Theatre offers a selection of plays, including Amadeus, Arsenic and Old Lace, Absurd Person Singular, Side by Side by Sondheim and The Queen of Spades.
Festival Theatre, Port-Na-Craig, Pitlochry
Visit http://www.pitlochry.org.uk
May 18 Scottish Pipe Band Championships
A day of piping championships as well as sideshows, craft stalls, entertainment, refreshments and whisky tasting.
Sponsored by Laphroaig, admission is free.
Levengrove Park, Dumbarton at 10.30am.
May 24-June 2 Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival
A ten-day festival taking place throughout Dumfries and Galloway covering a wide variety of art forms suitable for adults and children.
Gracefield Arts Centre, Edinburgh Road, Dumfries
Visit http://www.dgartsfestival.org.uk
May 24-June 15 The Piers Arts Centre Open Exhibition
A showing of many works by resident Orkney artists.
Piers Arts Centre, Victoria Street, Stromness, Orkney
May 25-June 2 Highland Wild Encounters Week
Highlights include dawn chorus walks, visits to Black Grouse Leks and a possum colony, otter watching, a cycling trip to a Wester Ross estate and day out with the Wester Ross Fishermans' Trust. Various venues around Caithness, Sutherland and Wester Ross.
May 31-June 2 Gardening Scotland
Scotland's premier gardening event with displays from more than 100 of the UK's leading nurseries.
Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh
Visit http://www.gardeningscotland.com
That's all for now. Until next issue, let me remind you that laughter is contagious. Be a carrier.
David Ross, Publisher, Britain Express
