Category Archives: buildings and structures

Consecration of Westminster Abbey, 28 December 1065

The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster is a large Gothic abbey church in the City of Westminster, London, England, situated to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It was a Benedictine monastic church until the monastery was … Continue reading →

Posted in Anglo-Saxons, architecture, British history, buildings and structures, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, Great Britain, history, legends and myths, Living in the UK, medieval, real life tales, religion, tradtions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Consecration of Westminster Abbey, 28 December 1065

Jodrell Bank Observatory, England’s First “Proper” Space Observatory

With all the recent news stories on UFOs and aliens, I thought it might be interesting to explore one of the early observatories. — that of Jodrell Bank. The observatory was originally called the Jodrell Bank Experimental Station. It is … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, exploration, history, inventions, real life tales, science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Jodrell Bank Observatory, England’s First “Proper” Space Observatory

Uffington Castle, Dragon Hill, and Wayland’s Smithy

To go along with my post on Friday on the preservation efforts of the White Horse, I thought I might mention other sites along the way in the Berkshire Downs. First and foremost, one must address the road that traverses … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, Great Britain, history, legends, legends and myths | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Uffington Castle, Dragon Hill, and Wayland’s Smithy

The Uffington White Horse

Near the village of Uffington in Oxfordshire, England, one can find a most miraculous symbol, the oldest of the English hill figures. Some 3000 years old, the Uffington White Horse is a stick figure-style horse nearly the size of a … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, history, medieval | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The Uffington White Horse

Rodean School, a Victorian School for Young Girls

Last week when I was writing the piece on the Brighton and Rottingdean Seashore Electric Railroad, I came across a short piece on another Rottingdean (East Sussex) landmark that caught my interest. It is Roedean School, a famous private school … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, British Navy, buildings and structures, history, Living in the UK, real life tales, research, war | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A Precious Piece of English Architecture: Lincoln Cathedral

The Lincoln Cathedral is the third largest English cathedral and one the prime examples of Gothic architecture. It is a sight that can easily steal away one’s breath. Its long nave crowns the hilltop 200 feet above the River Witham, … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, British history, buildings and structures, gothic and paranormal, history, medieval, real life tales, religion, research | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Milton Abbas, the First Planned Village in England

Dating back to 1773, Milton Abbas is a village in Dorset, eight miles south of Blandford and eleven miles northeast of Dorchester. Under the instructions of Lord Milton, the town of Middleton was, literally, moved elsewhere.  Middleton was originally within … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, Georgian England, Georgian Era, research, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Milton Abbas, the First Planned Village in England

Courts of Chancery, Barristers, and Solicitors

In the 15th Century, the Court of Chancery or of “equity” developed. It was under the lord high chancellor and provided an outlet for cases where results were not obtainable in the courts of common law. The courts of common … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, buildings and structures, Georgian England, history | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Windows in Jane Austen’s Stories, a Guest Post from Eliza Shearer

We, Janeites, know that windows are a thing in Jane Austen’s novels. One of Mr Collins’ most memorable scenes in Pride and Prejudice takes place when he and his wife are on the way to visit the formidable Lady Catherine de Bourgh alongside their visitor, Miss Elizabeth … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, Austen Authors, British history, buildings and structures, Emma, Georgian Era, Guest Post, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, Pride and Prejudice, reading habits, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Windows in Jane Austen’s Stories, a Guest Post from Eliza Shearer

The Royal Academy of Arts + an Excerpt from “A Lively Companion,” a Guest Post from Corrie Garrett

This post first appeared on the Austen Authors’ blog on 3 September 2020. From your Regency readings, you may be familiar with Somerset House and the Summer Exhibition, a lavish and popular yearly art show. A catalog (and therefore entry) … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Austen Authors, book excerpts, British history, buildings and structures, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Guest Post, heroines, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Pride and Prejudice, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Royal Academy of Arts + an Excerpt from “A Lively Companion,” a Guest Post from Corrie Garrett