Quex Park

Hi folks.
welcome to this lovely park near Birchington on the Isles of Thanet in Kent on south east coast of the UK.This was our camping spot last weekend organized by the  Kent and Sussex Auto Camping Club.

The Waterloo Tower below is in the 250 acre site with farmland and woodland surrounding it. The tower houses twelve bells and 66 ft high On the top of the tower is a white painted spire which rises another 65 ft. The tower was built in 1819 by John Powell Powell.

The formal front of the property.

At the rear are some spectacular gardens.

With cannons lined up in its courtyard.

With some beautiful and exotic flowers in bloom.

More to follow, watch out for part two. Mike

Opps, Almost Forgot

Hi folks,

Just as I was finishing on Stratford Upon Avon I remembered an important part of the church that being the Misericords of which there are 26 carved wooden seats found on each side on the Chancel. They were for allowing those attending long services to rest without actually sitting down. These dated from the 1400's and depicted life at those times.

Also I should include the Sanctuary Knocker on the inner porch door from the 1200's. Anyone touching the ring was given 37 days sanctuary.

Right, moving on we return to the River Avon and its narrow boats.

And the locks on the basin bringing goods into the town which were unloaded and sent on by Tram cart

One of the preserved Trams on display.

Below is the route to Morton on the Marsh.

 Which starts its journey across the Avon on this bridge.

Many different narrow boats were on the river.

Lastly before we started our walk back to the campsite we spotted this scene which made us thing that spring had finally arrived.

Right, we packed up camp ready for our next part of our journey up north.

Back soon, Mike

Shakespeare's Resting Place

Hi again  folks.
Now to go inside the Holy Trinity Church and dates from 1210 The north and south isles were added in the 1300's and the Chancel in the late 1400's. There has been a church on the site since 713.

This is the resting place of William Shakespeare.

William and his wife Anne were buried here together with members of his family in 1616 and a bust was erected in 1623 by his widow and friends. 

Magnificent windows in the Chancel.

This image has been turned round to show it more clearly and it is artificially lit and is a mirror reflection making the photography of it very difficult.

This image shows it more clearly and it was taken directly without the mirror and the light giving a much clearer image.

The church has a magnificent organ reaching to the roof.

Lastly a view of the outside High Altar window.

Thanks for looking, we thoroughly enjoyed the church and its surroundings an few more next time before we continue northwards to Chester. All the best, Mike

Walk to the Holy Trinity Church

Hi folks,

leaving the theatre and on to the church, the rear view shows more of the original design before the fire. Sorry but there was some construction going on site around the back.

Walking along the avenue there where lampposts donated by various councils along the route.

I noted this tribute along the way.

Back alongside the river a Swan leading the way.

We then passed this old theatre with wonderful murals painted on its walls.

I especially liked this one.

A shot along the Avon in the peace and quite before the holiday weekend, thankfully we will not be there then.

Arriving at the church yard.

and Shakespeare's place of rest.

Next blog we take a look inside. Mike.

Stratford Upon Avon and Shakespeare's Tower

Hi folks,
now back from our trip up to North Wales and stopping off on the way up to Anglesey.

After setting up camp we walked into the town to explore and after a cuppa found this sculpture of two Swans with cascading water.

Behind us was a high tower erected by the Royal Shakespeare Company to commemorate the life of Shakespeare and we just had to explore and climb it. From the top you can see views across, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Oxfordshire. 

Fortunately there was a lift so we purchased a couple of tickets and up we went.

Well it was well worth it for the views, if you look closely you can see the Obelisk on the Welcombe Hill as featured in the blog before above the site we stayed on.

The tower was inspired by the original Swan Theatre hence the Swan sculpture in the first picture.

The tower is 32 metres above street level and there are 174 steps to the viewing platform, we took the lift up and walked down. I had to insert the Wisteria house, Shakespeare was born in Henley street just behind.

The River Avon flowing from Naseby to Tewkesbury. the first bridge was originally used to transport coal to the Barges on the River Avon

The top of the Theatre with the original 1932 Theatre which was partly destroyed by fire.

The spire in the distance is the Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare was baptised and buried. 

We will visit there later.

Coming down the stairs there where scenes for many of Shakespeare's plays inlaid in the staircase.

I will try to show the Church and the town centre later in a blog.

Hope you enjoyed the tour and thanks for looking and please leave a comment if you can. Mike