England Adventure: August 2013

Bridlington

A women’s group from our village for their summer outing took a bus to Bridlington to the celebration of the former Augustine Abbey's 900th anniversary.

Front of Priory

Looking toward Altar in church. European churches the altar always faces east.

West window of church

To celebrate they were having a flower show. I assumed the flower show would be in the gardens around the church. It was actually flower arrangements placed throughout the church.

The craftsman who did the wood work inside the church (pulpet, doors, choir stalls etc.) carved mice into his pieces. There are 18 mice scattered throughout the church. It was much more interesting finding them then looking at the flowers.

Mouse on door

Mouse in choir stall

After we toured the church, we were on our own to explore the beach town. A friend and I walked through the old town and the 1 ½ miles down to the beach front and harbor. This is a town that a lot of Englishmen come to for their holidays.

South beach and harbor walk

Bridlington Harbor between the two beaches

Town wall with north beach in distance

Sibsey Trader Mill

This is a working windmill built in 1877. It is a 6 storey mill with 6 sails and a fantail all still working. It still grinds organic flour for the local area.

Fantail

You climb up inside the mill and see all of the gears working. It was fascinating and a great view.

grinder

Ladder to third level

Hadden Hall

Hadden Hall across Wye River

This was a manor house built in 1079. A protecting wall was allowed in 1148 with the condition that it not make the house a fortress. As a result it was built in a totally different style than we’d seen before. The current house dates from the 1100 - 1300’s.

Entrance court yard

Entrance court yard looking at clock tower and chapel entrance

Great Hall - Tapestry gift from Henry VIII

Room built for exercise- walking

Windows in walking room were built with a wave to enhance the garden view and cause rainbows in the room.

The terraced gardens are beautiful and this time of year very fragrant. We were there on a windy day and the garden was surprisingly calm, warm and enjoyable.

It is still lived owned by descendants of the builders, and lived in. For those who have seen the movie the Princess Bride, this is Humperdinck’s castle from the movie.

View from third terrace to Wye river.

Wall the King gave permission to build. Forms garden terraces.

North Yorkshire Moors Railway

This railway runs from Pickering in the Yorkshire Dales to the coastal town of Whitby. The route takes you through the Yorkshire moors national park.

My cousin Tim was visiting and is a train fan, so we had saved this trip for when he and his wife were here. We rode on a desiel train stopping at the village of Goathland. After a walk around we caught the steam train for the rest of the journey to Whitby.

I enjoyed Goathland as the English TV show Heartbeat is set in the village. It was fun to see the station, walk into the pub, stores, and the village green seen on the show.

Front of Goathland Station

Goathland station train side

Whitby we enjoyed fish and chips at the restaurant that is supposed to have the best in the country.

We toured the Abbey ruins, quickly walked through the old town, down to the beach and back to catch the train. The harbor was lined with people crabbing. They lowered strings with bait into the water, the crabs would grab on and they'd haul the crabs in. The biggest ones we saw were about 4 to 5 inches across. The crabs didn't look worth the effort.

Hall Farm Garden

A classic English garden with formal, informal, and whimsical areas. It is three acres hedges, arches, fences, sculptures, pond and a moat. Roses here have a fragrance you can smell from quite a ways off. The whole garden smelled beautifully as we walked through it. The warm day probably helped. We are having wonderful summer weather the high 70’s and low 80’s. The English think it is too warm!

I’ve included a variety of pictures, but I know very little or nothing about flowers so sorry they are not named. Hopefully you’ll enjoy strolling through the pictures as much as I enjoyed the garden.