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Britain
Update #40 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. *******************
******************** The first York Minster dates back to the year 627. Bishop Paulinus accompanied the Christian princess Ethelburga of Kent when she came north to marry Edwin of Northumbria. Edwin was convinced to convert to Christianity, and Paulinus baptised him in a church especially constructed for the purpose. This rude wooden church, of which nothing remains, is regarded as the first York Minster. This first church was rebuilt in stone a few years later, and dedicated to St. This church was itself rebuilt by St. Wilfrid around 670, but it was Egbert (732-766), the first recognised Archbishop of York, who made the cathedral school and library the envy of Europe. The Minster Church burned down in 741, but it was replaced by a glorious new church containing no less than 30 altars. The next few centuries were ones of turmoil in York, as the city was held by the Danes, Saxons, Norse, and English in turns. The pagan invaders left the church alone, and one Danish king, Guthfrith, converted to Christianity and was buried in the Minster in 895. A subsequent archbishop, Ealdred, was responsible for crowning William the Conqueror in London. Ealdred was buried in the Minster in 1069, and just a few days later the church was badly damaged in a struggle between the Danes, Normans, and Saxons. The city of York and the Minster suffered greatly during William's "Harrying of the North", but they suffered more when a Danish invasion destroyed the church completely in 1075. The new Norman Archbishop of York, Thomas of Bayeux, rebuilt the Minster. beginning in 1080. The foundations of this first Norman church can be seen today in the Foundations Exhibit In 1137 the Minster suffered severe fire damage yet again. The choir and crypt were rebuilt beginning in 1154, and a large chapel dedicated to St. Sepulchre was added to the nave. But by this time the Norman Minster was decidedly out of step with the new Gothic fashion then sweeping Europe. A slow makeover of the Minster began in 1220 with the South Transept, followed by the North Transept. The styles of these transepts are quite unique, though they were built but a few years apart. The North Transept is famous for its "Five Sisters"; five graceful lancet windows topped by five smaller gabled lancets. A great central tower was built at the same period as the transepts, but this collapsed in 1407. The delicate Chapter House, where the day to day business of the Minster was run, was begun in about 1260. It is a superb example of the Gothic Decorated style which was then in vogue. The ribbed wooden roof is truly a masterpiece of medieval architecture, and the traceried stained glass windows puts even the Five Sisters to shame. The old Norman nave was rebuilt, beginning around 1280. The new nave was exactly twice as wide as the old, making it the widest in Europe and the second tallest (after Westminster Abbey) in England. The last surviving part of the Norman cathedral, the choir, was rebuilt in 1395. Richard Scrope was appointed Archbishop by Richard II in 1398. Scrope then rebelled against Richard's successor, Henry IV in 1405, but he was captured and executed before the walls of York. More at http://www.britainexpress.com/cities/york/minster.htm ******************************
The origins of the game of cricket are lost in the mists of time. There is a reference in the household accounts of Edward I in 1300 of a game like cricket being played in Kent. It seems clear that the English game originated in the sheep- rearing country of the South East, where the short grass of the downland pastures made it possible to bowl a ball of wool or rags at a target. That target was usually the wicket-gate of the sheep pasture, which was defended with a bat in the form of a shepherd's crooked staff. By the 17th century the game was quite popular as a rough rural pastime, but in the following century the leisure classes took up the sport, particularly in Sussex, Kent, and London. We know that an organised match was held at the Artillery Grounds, Finsbury, London, in 1730. By the middle of the 18th century cricket was being played at every level of society, from village greens to wealthy estates. However, the game lacked a coherent set of rules. The first and most influential cricket club in the land was formed at Hambledon, Hampshire, in the 1760's. The club was sponsored by wealthy patrons, but the players were local tradesmen and farmers. The Hambledon club established techniques of batting and bowling which still hold today, and Hambledon claims a page in history books as the "Birthplace of Cricket". The rest of this article is online at www.britainexpress.com/History/pastimes/cricket.htm ******************************
A bed
may not be hung out of a window ****************************** Haggis
Backpacker Expands and Changes Name: The 3-day Sky High Tour at 79 pounds leaves Edinburgh 4 times a week and takes in Loch Ness, the Western Highlands and Skye. Prices include travel in modern Mercedes midi-coaches to the door of hostels for overnight accommodation which is not included, and services of a guide. You can get off and catch a later service if you wish. Details from Radical Travel phone: 0131 557 9393 or go to their web site at www.radicaltravel.com York
Food Festival: Scottish
Walking Festival: *************************************
DAY ONE
OK, this is Orientation Day. You're going to check out some of the main places that one hears about when someone mentions London. Wherever you're staying, take the tube (buy yourself a weeklong pass at the tube station) and take the Piccadilly Line to Leicester Square. At Leicester Square, follow the crowds up to the street past buskers who will entertain you along the way. Buskers are the musicians/actors you'll see and hear serenading you with all forms of instruments, including voice. Although it looks pretty laid back, busking is well organized in London. A busker has a certain area and that area is not to be infringed upon by another busker. It's all pretty interesting and neat. Toss a few pence into their instrument cases and head out onto the square. Look around at the various statues of Charlie Chaplin and others, and go around the corner to the huge Swiss cuckoo clock that plays music and has movement like the cuckoo clock back home on your wall. You can also check out the Half price ticket booth to see what's on at London theatres.. Maybe you can pick up tickets for a show tonight. It's always good to expose the kids to theatre and you're sure to find something that they'll enjoy. We took our kids to "Peter Pan" and it was a real thrill for all of us. In London, the audience isn't bashful - they'll hiss at the villains like Captain Hook. At intermissions, you can buy ice creams right in the aisles and just have a good time! While at Leicester Square, you can find all kinds of "take away" foods to eat as you stroll around. Too bad, my favourite espresso bar is no longer there. I enjoyed sipping a cappuccino at the big plateglass window and simply watching the goings on in Leicester Square from my vantage point. Now get back on the tube, Piccadilly Line and go one stop over to Piccadilly Circus. One of the first things folks recommended that we do when we arrived in London was to simply take a double-decker bus tour around to the various main attractions. Your tour guide will give you information about the city that you might not otherwise know and you'll have a quick orientation to this "city of a hundred small cities" for future reference. Expect to see things like Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace - you know, the typical haunts. With a Big Bus Company Tour Ticket you get a Live Commentary. With this company, your ticket is valid for 24 hours and you get a free river cruise and walking tours. Adult Ticket £14.00 ($21 USD). Book on line and save £1 (normal price £15) Child Ticket £6.00 ($9 USD). They have a really cool site, too. It's fun just to go there even if you don't buy any tickets! You'll be able to cruise the Thames and also get a free walking tour such as a Rock 'N Roll TourSsee where the Rolling Stones rehearsed and where the Beatles performed live for the very last time. From Piccadilly Circus, daily 1:30 and 4 p.m. If you're not totally blown out by all the day's activities, you might take the kids up into British Airways London Eye located at Jubilee Gardens South Bank, London, SE1 Phone: 0870 5000 600. At 135 meters high, this is the world's highest observation Wheel (Ferris wheel). It provides a 30-minute, slow-moving 'flight' over London. Designed to reflect the elements - air, water, earth and time - the central theme is a circle of white light from within the rim which sweeps the skyline at 135 meters. The passenger capsule signifying 'time', is lit internally at the point of embarkation. Take the Jubilee Line (gray on your map) south toward Waterloo station. The Jubilee Line meets up with Piccadilly Line at Green Park. Get a good night's rest! Hope the ghosts don't keep you up! NEXT
ISSUE:
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Ross
Contents © 2001 David Ross and Britain Express |
HISTORY CORNERName the Historic attractionBritish Heritage AwardsCelebrate the best of British Heritage in our annual British History QuizThis architect was responsible for the design of the Bank of England building and the Dulwich Art Gallery This Day in British History13 February, 1689 William and Mary jointly crowned monarchs of England Only the previous day Parliament declared a Declaration of Rights, making James II's constitutional reforms illegal Monarch Mayhem
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