CONTENT
- 7 Wonders of Britain Challenge
- Destinations: Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire
- 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
Seven Wonders of Britain Challenge
In the last issue of Britain Update, I mentioned a survey by the English Tourist Board which named the "Seven Wonders of Britain". Several readers rightly pointed out that all the "wonders" were English!
So, let's see if together we can do better than the ETB - I invite you all to submit YOUR choices for the "Seven Wonders of Britain" from across the entire UK, including England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands.
Your wonders may be human-built (such as Edinburgh Castle) or natural landscape features (such as Snowdonia). If you can't come up with 7 wonders, just send as many as you can think of, and I'll publish the results in the next newsletter. Come on, let's see if Britain Update readers can do better than the ETB!
Just for the record, here are my own choices, in no particular order:
Hadrian's Wall (northern England), Silbury Hill (nr Avebury, Wiltshire, England), The Thames Barrier (London), The Giant's Causeway (Antrim, NI), York Minster (Yorkshire, England), Snowdonia (northern Wales), and Callanish Stone Circle (Isle of Lewis, Scotland). Disagree? Good! So let me know YOUR choices!
UK Destinations
Kedleston Hall
Derbyshire, England
Just three miles from the centre of Derby lies this stately Palladian-style house, the seat of the powerful Curzon family since the early 12th century.
The south front and lavish interior (1759-65) was largely the work of the preeminent Palladian architect, Robert Adam. The interior probably represents the most complete and unaltered example of Adam's work still remaining in England.
The Marble Hall is supported on columns of pink alabaster rising 25 feet to the ceiling.
More about Kedleston Hall ...
Travel Tips and News
LONDON EVENTS
London Waterways Week
London Waterways week takes place between 7-15 September. The event will start with the Great River Race and finish with the Mayor's Thames Festival. Many waterside attractions are taking part in the festivities offering special events and discounts. A special leaflet with details of events and discounts is available from London Tourist Information Centres and libraries from mid-August.
Bond, James Bond
For true 007 fans, this exhibition at the Science Museum in London will display a vast collection of objects, costume designs, storyboards and images. See Oddjob's killer bowler hat and Roas Klebb's flick-knife shoe. Visitors will have a real behind the scenes look at the work of the creative and technical teams of these world-famous films. Specially themed areas will allow fans of Bond to gain a sense of what it's like to be the special agent. Visitors must embark on a 'death-defying stunt' and negotiate 'the mirrored maze in the villain's lair' before they are granted secret agent status! The exhibition runs from 16 October 2002 - March 2003.
Apsley House
The London Palace of the Duke of Wellington, Apsley House will host a week of events to commemorate the anniversary of his death. Between 10 - 15 September, there will be tours of his house, talks on his life and other activities including the performance of 'Wellington' by Martin Wimbush.
Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Festival
Pearly Kings and Queens are traditional Cockney costermongers and this is the best occasion to see them. The altar and the pulpit are arrayed with the fruits of the earth, and a Pearly King or Queen reads one of the Lessons, while the congregation sings the hymns of the harvest season. Date: 6 Oct 2002, St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 4JJ
Web: http://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org
Bristol's new Commonwealth Museum
Bristol gets a major new international attraction on Sept. 26 with the opening of the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum. Housed in a restored building at Temple Meads Station, designed by the great Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the museum covers 500 years of Britain's imperial past and today's Commonwealth.
Three permanent galleries tell the story chronologically, starting with the birth of the empire 1500-1790, a period of voyages of exploration, trade, piracy, slavery, transportation and war. Then comes 1790-1914, when the empire was at its height. The third gallery shows how Britain evolved into the independent nations of the Commonwealth.
The museum will also stage a series of temporary exhibitions and has extensive archives of films, photographs and oral history recordings. There are a cafe and shop.
Open daily, admission £4.95 adult, £2.95 child.
Website:www.empiremuseum.co.uk
Real Beer Week
What do Lincolnshire Yella Belly, Old Hooky, Bishops Finger and Henry's Original have in common? Answer: they are all traditionally brewed British 'real ales' and the family-run breweries which create them want to encourage more people to try them. The 33 brewers, which have each been in the business from 100 to 300 years, are staging the first Real Beer Week in British pubs this autumn (September 30 - October 6). During the event, pub-goers will be able to:
1. Enter a competition to win a Young's pub for an evening
2. Get a voucher for a pint of 'real beer' with every lager beer they buy
3. Win a year's supply of Bateman's beer.
If visitors are not sure they would like the beers on offer, many pubs will provide a no-obligation free taste on request.
Website: www.familybrewers.co.uk
Traditional (and just plain quirky) Events for September
2 Sep - 7 Sep 2002 (repeated Sept 7-14)
Chesterfield Well Dressing
Visitors are invited to watch the well being dressed. Dressers will be happy to explain the techniques of well dressings.
Peacock Information Centre Courtyard, Low Pavement, Chesterfield, Derbyshire,
S40 1PB, Email: tourism@chesterfieldbc.gov.uk
Web: http://www.chesterfieldbc.gov.uk
5 Sep - 8 Sep 2002
Silloth Beer Festival
Around 80 different cask beers, Cumbrian food, bread and cheese and entertainment in the evenings.
The Green, Criffel Street, Silloth, Carlisle, Cumbria.
5 Sep - 11 Sep 2002
Guys Oyster Festival
The annual oyster festival with 5 days of Irish craic starting with the oyster eve, Fri oyster festival, Irish jig, family jamboree and celebrity cricket match, sportsman's dinner, rounds of charity golf, bowling and cricket tournament.
Guys Thatched Hamlet Canal Side, St Michaels Road, Bilsborrow, Preston, Lancashire, PR3 0RS, Web: http://www.guysthatchedhamlet.co.uk
7 Sep 2002
Braemar Gathering
The first gathering in Braemar was 900 years ago making it the longest-running gathering. The event is very popular and tickets need to be booked in advance. Attractions include heavy and track events, piping and highland dancing. The patron of the gathering is Her Majesty the Queen.
Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park, Braemar, Ballater, Scotland, AB35 5YA, Email: info@braemargathering.org, Web: http://www.braemargathering.org
7 Sep - 8 Sep 2002
Prize Leek Show at Beamish
A traditional leek, vegetable and flower show in the appropriate setting of the colliery village. Local gardeners exhibit home-grown produce and there's the customary grand auction to close the event.
The North of England Open Air Museum, Beamish, County Durham, England, DH9 0RG
Email: museum@beamish.org.uk, Web: http://www.beamish.org.uk
7 Sep - 8 Sep 2002
Haddenham Steam Rally
Steam rally, heavy horses, vintage vehicles, tractors, fair, crafts, food, beer tent and trade stands.
Clay Pits, Haddenham, Ely, Cambridgeshire, England.
8 Sep 2002
Morris Dancing in Norfolk
The King's Morris are joined by several guest teams of Morris dancers and they all walk around the village, giving displays of massed Morris dancing outside the three pubs, The Old Coach House at 1130; The King's Head at 1215 and The Lifeboat Inn at 1315. After the dancing, there is folk music in The Lifeboat Inn.
Various Venues in Thornham, Hunstanton, Norfolk, PE36 6LT, Web: http://www.thekingsmorris.co.uk
13 Sep 2002
Kendal Torchlight Procession
Spectacular cavalcade over 100 entries, 2 miles long with a cast of 2,000 people in a super festival of light, colour, music and merriment. Superb floats in theme of 'Community Spirit of Cumbria' with classic cars, foot groups, veteran cycles, commercial vehicles, street entertainers, 10 horse teams, steam engines and 20 marching bands.
Kendal, Cumbria, Email: ronc@torchlight.net1.co.uk, Web: http://www.lakesnet.co.uk/kendaltorchlight
13 Sep 2002
Conwy Honey Fair
Conwy's oldest event, a 700-year-old street fair, founded by King Edward I. Many local beekeepers sell a wide variety of honey, plus craft, charity, plants and produce stalls.
High Street, Conwy, Clwyd, Wales, Email: peter.mcfadden@gda.ge.com
15 Sep 2002
Borrowdale Shepherds' Meet and Show
Traditional shepherds' meet set against a backdrop of mountain splendour. Sheep, fell ponies, dog and decorated shepherds' crooks judging. Sheepdog trials, fell races, Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, veteran farm machinery, trail hounds, main ring attractions, craft display.
Yew Tree Farm, Rosthwaite, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5XB.
21 Sep 2002
Invercharron Traditional Highland Games
Traditional highland games with all disciplines in traditional highland games including heavy events, light field events, piping, highland dancing and hill racing. There will also be on-field catering, refreshments, tug o' war contests and children's amusements.
Bonar Bridge, Bonarbridge, Ardgay, Scotland,
Email: ianbrinklon@brinternet.com
23 Sep 2002
Druid Order Autumn Equinox Ceremony
Druidic Ritual celebration of the harvest and libation to Mother Earth, followed by meditation and address.
Primrose Hill, London.
29 Sep 2002
Coster Mongers' Harvest Festival Parade
Parade from Guildhall Yards, EC2, setting off at 1230, with a marching band, donkeys, carts, decorated taxi cabs, Pearly Kings and Queens. Service at the church at 1500. In aid of the Whitechapel Mission.
St Mary Le Bow Church, Cheapside, London, EC2V 6AU, Web: http://www.cockneymuseum.u-net.co.uk
That's all for now. Until next issue, let me remind you that laughter is contagious. Be a carrier.
David Ross, Publisher, Britain Express
