Category Archives: History

Cold stone and warm hearts

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Sue Vincent

Last year we visited Haddon Hall in Derbyshire as part of our research, both for the upcoming workshop and the continuing trail of clues we follow as we look back through history. We learned a lot about the Manners and … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches, History, Stuart France and Sue Vincent | Tagged bakewell, effigy, Elizabethan, family, fashion, history, tomb, Tudor, Vernon and manners families | 31 Comments

A flying visit – The Guild Chapel, Stratford upon Avon

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Sue Vincent

I mentioned that, during our visit to Stratford upon Avon, we had wandered off on our way back to the car, drawn by the tower of a small church. It had proved a profitable detour, bringing us to an old … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches, England, historic sites, History, medieval wall paintings, Photography, Stuart France and Sue Vincent, symbolism | Tagged art, grotesques, Guildhall, New Place, schoolroom, shakespeare | 22 Comments

A flying visit – A Shakespearean story arc…

Posted on April 9, 2018 by Sue Vincent

The afternoon was drawing to a close and the chill of early spring was settling over Stratford-upon-Avon as we made our way back towards the car. There were still many things we would have liked to see, but, with the … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Photography, Stuart France and Sue Vincent | Tagged Elizabethan, historic sites, Jacobean, Photography, shakespeare, Stratford on Avon, The Silent Eye, theatre, travel, Tudor, writing | 36 Comments

Empty #midnighthaiku

Posted on February 25, 2018 by Sue Vincent

Urban desert weeps A stage without its players Bereft of laughter The photos were taken in ancient city of Bath, last visited one rainy day with a dear friend. On that day, there was no shortage of laughter, or wonder, … Continue reading →

Posted in historic sites, History, Photography, Poetry, rain | Tagged friendship, haiku, laughter, town | 3 Comments

Memories of the written word

Posted on February 15, 2018 by Sue Vincent

There is a certain irony in the fact that I became aware of the Unesco Memory of the World Programme whilst researching the most ancient artefacts. Wikipedia says that the initiative was launched to ‘safeguard the documentary heritage of humanity … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, History, Life, Memories, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged collective amnesia, leaving a legacy, Memory of the World, posterity, Unesco, written record | 33 Comments

5000 year old discovery! #travel #India #humor – Barb Taub

Posted on February 3, 2018 by Sue Vincent

Reblogged from Barb Taub: We witness a 5000 year old discovery! But first…we have to get out of bed. How we travel… [click image for previews, reviews, and buy links on Amazon] “Five and a half hours,” promised the SatNav. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, food, Friendship, historic sites, History, Humour, Photography | Tagged archaeology, India, travel | 1 Comment

A walk in the past… the prehistoric landscape of Cresswell Crags

Posted on January 12, 2018 by Sue Vincent

Way back in summer, we took a trip to a place I have long wanted to visit… Cresswell Crags, a hidden valley on the border between Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. The folder of photographs has sat on my desktop for months, … Continue reading →

Posted in historic sites, History, Photography | Tagged bear, bone carvings, cave art, hyena, Ice Age, mankind, prehistory | 61 Comments

On the trail yet again…

Posted on November 30, 2017 by Sue Vincent

We opened the door of St Mary’s and walked in. It felt rather odd as the altar was at the ‘wrong’ end for the door. Usually, you enter from the south and turn right to the altar, here, the main … Continue reading →

Posted in adventure, albion, Ancient sites, Art, Books, Churches, Don and Wen, historic sites, History, Photography, Stuart France and Sue Vincent | Tagged buckinghamshire, Clayton and Bell, fleur de lys, lilies, stained glass, symbolism | 27 Comments

On the trail again…

Posted on November 29, 2017 by Sue Vincent

We tend not to do any research before we visit a sacred site, be it an old church or a stone circle. I have written before of some of our reasons. First, there is the risk of spoiling the surprise … Continue reading →

Posted in adventure, albion, Ancient sites, Books, Churches, Don and Wen, historic sites, History, Photography, Stuart France and Sue Vincent | Tagged beheaded saints, buckinghamshire, fleur de lys, St Philomena, symbolism, virgin martyr | 29 Comments

Garnering gold…

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Sue Vincent

We followed a golden path through a wood steeped in history and mystery. Mesolithic folk once walked here, whose flints are found eroding from the soft earth. Mines have been dug to gather minerals from deep below a surface where … Continue reading →