CONTENT
- Winchester Castle
- St Swithun
- 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
Winchester Castle
Winchester, Hampshire, England
Winchester Castle holds a prominent position in English history. It was built in 1067, within a year of the Norman Conquest. At the time, it was one of the greatest strongholds in England, and for over a century it served as the seat of government before that position was taken by London.
The castle was extended and rebuilt in the reign of Henry III, who added the Great Hall, and Edward II undertook more building. In 1302 Edward and his second wife, Margaret of France, narrowly escaped death when the royal apartments of the castle were destroyed by fire.
More about Winchester Castle ...
Related: Hampshire Hotel Guide | Hampshire Travel Guide
Heritage
In keeping with the Winchester theme, one name that is intertwined with the colourful history of Winchester is that of St. Swithun.
St Swithun (d. 862)
Very little is known for certain about the life of Winchester Cathedral's first patron saint. Some biographies of Swithun state that he was once Prior of Winchester, but there is no evidence to support this belief.
We do know that he was one of the chief advisors of Egbert, King of the West Saxons, and may have been responsible for the education of Egbert's son, Ethelwulf. Egbert's influence procured for Swithun the post of Bishop of Winchester, which he took up in 852.
When Swithun's health failed in 862, and he lay near death, he is said to have asked that his body be buried outside his cathedral, rather than within it, as was customary. He wanted passers-by to walk upon his grave, and raindrops from the eaves of the cathedral fall upon his resting place.
More about St Swithun ...
Travel Tips and News
CADW calendar now on sale
With twelve images spanning more than 5,000 years of Wales's built heritage, Cadw's calendar for 2003 showcases some of Wales's most admired historic sites at their photogenic best. The calendar retials for £5.95 and is available at all Cadw site shops in Wales.
Santa Rides the Heritage Rail
Britain's heritage railways are offering up a smorgasbord of festive rides this Christmas season, many featuring Santa Claus himself!
Among the highlights:
A six-course menu, including roast turkey and Christmas pudding, is served on the Great Central Railway steam trains from Loughborough, Leicestershire on Saturday evenings (Nov. 23 - Dec. 21) and Friday evenings (Dec. 13, 20). http://www.gcrailway.co.uk.
Santa will be on board certain trains of the Strathspey Steam Railway as they steam through the Highlands from Aviemore, Scotland, handing out presents for children and mince pies and drinks for adults. (Sundays only Dec. 1-22; Tues. Dec. 24). http://www.strathspeyrailway.co.uk.
A Victorian-themed special train will run on the Talyllyn Railway in Mid Wales, the world's first preserved railway. On the evening of Dec. 21, passengers in Victorian dress will travel to a carol concert given by a male voice choir in the mountains. Seasonal refreshments are served. http://www.talyllyn.co.uk.
Luxury Pullman style dining trains run on the East Lancashire Railway on Dec. 11 (Christmas lunch) and Dec. 6 and 13 (dinner), as they travel along a scenic valley from Bury near Manchester. Santa Specials on other Dec. dates. http://www.east-lancs-rly.co.uk.
Further details on other Heritage Railways and their special events throughout the year can be seen on the website http://www.ukhrail.uel.ac.uk
Edinburgh Christmas and Hogmanay
Edinburgh is making big efforts to entertain shoppers in the weeks before Christmas, and then lays on what it claims is the world's biggest Hogmanay party to welcome in the New Year. The Christmas illuminations will sparkle from Nov. 28, and there will be a German Christmas Market with more than 20 traders from Frankfurt, in Princes Street Gardens, which will also be the site of the Edinburgh Wheel (until Jan. 5) - the UK's tallest Ferris wheel.
East Princes Street Gardens will be transformed into an ice rink, and there will be a Christmas Parade on Dec 1, with street theatre including acts from across Europe. Castle Hill, at the top of the Royal Mile, has a month of special events in the daytime and evening, including a spectacular Festival of Light. Many hotels are offering pre-Christmas packages. For details, visit the website http://www.edinburgh.org.
For the 10th successive year, Edinburgh's Hogmanay is an extensive four-day programme to say farewell to the old year and welcome in the new (Dec.29 -Jan.1). Among the free highlights are the Torchlight Procession and Fire Festival, the Night Afore Fiesta (Dec.30, with massed pipes and drums and the world's largest ceilidh, a Celtic-style party), the Hogmanay Triathlon, and Huskies at Holyrood.
The vast Royal Bank Street Party (Dec.31) is free, but entry is by pass only: get one by joining the First Foot Club (£15). As well as entry to the party, this offers the holder discounts in shops and attractions, privileged booking for ticket events and a chance to enter members-only competitions. To join or to register and buy tickets, visit http://www.edinburghshogmanay.org.
West London Antiques & Fine Art Fair
60 colourful and varied stands of authenticated antiques and art will offer the visitor a selection from silver & jewellery to maps & prints, fine furniture to English & Oriental porcelain - covering the past 4 centuries of domestic art and artefacts. Prices will range from £20 for a small print to £10,000 for top quality furniture, and everything will have been authenticated by committees of experts. 16 - 19 January 2003, at the Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, W8. Kensington High Street Tube Station. Admission is £4.00
Origin Search
Here's a new resource for genealogists. Origin Search is a search engine just for finding family history information. You do have to pay a fee to use the service, but you can try out the Irish resources for free. http://www.originsearch.com/
Learn English at Youth Hostels
The Youth Hostels Association (YHA) has teamed with English Out There to offer English language courses for visitors to London. Accommodation will be at one of six YHA hostels in the capital and the packages include bed and breakfast, an Underground pass and tickets to some famous attractions.
The language lessons are designed around themes or tasks, and students can choose how many they want to take from 20 modules. The students are expected to be mainly families or young people, who want to combine a holiday with improving their English. Websites: http://www.yha.org.uk, http://www.EnglishOutThere.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
