Exploring Bristol and beyond
I started this website to give more information for visitors to the South West of England and South Wales. I already run a blog which has become quite popular. The Platinum Line Continue reading “Introducing the South West rambler”
Last year we decided to visit Tintern Abbey a ruined Cistercian abbey that sits high above the river wye, the river that divides South Wales from England. The abbey was built in the gothic style between 1361 and 1550 and the monks grew rich from the profits of the wool trade. It was dissolved by Henry VIII but the fact that so much survives is a tribute to the skill of the early builders. Continue reading “A Falconry display at Tintern Abbey”
This week is valentine’s week and the theme for this week’s photo challenge is sweet.
First a confession I don’t usually like sweet things, I prefer savoury snacks and don’t take sugar in my tea. However since this week’s #Sunday stills photo challenge is “sweet” I thought I would try to see what I could manage.
The Tolsey Bradford on Avon.
I am adding this post to #Thursday Doors. This is a weekly fun feature run by Norman Frampton which allows door lovers from around the world to share their finds.
I discovered this door on a walk in Bradford on Avon near Bath. As it was obviously very old I tried to find out a bit more about it. Bradford on Avon was a Saxon town which grew up around a monastery. It is famous for having one of the earliest stone churches in England dating from around a thousand A.D. It also has an enormous medieval tithe barn which attests to the wealth of the area. (In medieval England people were expected to pay a tenth of their income to the church).
This door is in a road known as the shambles which gives Anglo Saxon scholars a clue to its identity. Shambles is believed to come from an old word for stall and often indicates a market. The shambles in York is particularly famous and well worth a visit. Local historians think my door would have once been the home of the market manager or Tolsey who would have collected market tolls. It is thought to be late 15th century. A pillory once stood opposite it and the cellars of the houses opposite were used as the town jail. The site may have been used as a market for over a thousand years and as you can see from the photo below looking along the Shambles is still in use. In case you are wondering the gold pillar box is to celebrate local man Ed Mckeever’s kayak win in the London 2012 Olympics.
Bradford on Avon museum has more information about the town and some lovely old photos.
If you want to read more about our walk around Bradford on Avon or find out about me please visit the platinumline
The South West of England is a favourite tourist destination. I will try to share the latest holiday and some other local competitions here. If you win any thing from one of my links please let me know in the comments below. Continue reading “The South West rambler Competitions page”
Clevedon is a small Victorian seaside town at the mouth of the river Severn about thirteen miles from Bristol. Recently it became famous as the location for many of the scenes in the television series Broadchurch starring Olivia Coleman and David Tennant. It is also home to the Curzon, one of the oldest purpose built cinemas still in use. However the grade 1 listed Pier is the town’s main claim to fame. Continue reading “Places to visit near Bristol”
Here are some suggestions for places to visit which are just a short drive or bus ride from Bath.
There are lots of reasons to visit Bristol this Christmas. The German market in Broadmead is bigger and livelier than usual. You can enjoy a Stein of Lager in the beer garden or try curling on the artificial ice rink. The galleries shopping centre are decorated with candy canes and lollipops and Cabot circus is hosting Santa’s Grotto.
