St Albans – Wednesday 10th July 2024

St Albans is a cathedral city in Hertfordshire which was known as Verulamium when the Romans occupied it.  Its name comes from the first British saint, Alban. After the Romans left in 410 AD, the bricks from their ruined buildings were used as building materials for the new town of St Albans and the cathedral.  The town was granted city status in 1877.  The Waterstones is located in the main shopping area in a three-storey read bricked building.  Sadly I haven’t managed to find anything about the building’s history.

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St Albans

Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban

St Albans Abbey was founded in Norman times but ceased to be an Abbey after the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the sixteenth century.   It was made a cathedral in 1877 and has the longest nave of any English cathedral at 85 metres in length.  I found the nave to be restful and quite simple in its décor, but behind that, the rest of the cathedral is packed with exquisite and colourful features. 

Sudbury – Monday 8th July 2024

Sudbury in Suffolk is a medieval market town on the River Stour.  The English artist Thomas Gainsborough was born in the town in 1727 and there is a museum dedicated to him.  Sadly, we arrived quite late in the day, so we didn’t have time to do much exploring, but from what we saw it’s a pretty town.  The Waterstones opened in November 2023 and is located on the site of an old hotel called The Four Swans, which burnt down in 1997.  The hotel building was severely damage, and had to be demolished, and when rebuilt as shops, the design was made to look similar to the former hotel.   You can see a photo of the original building on this site.

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Sudbury map

Lavenham Guildhall

On our way to Sudbury (when the weather was nicer!) we stopped at Lavenham to visit the old Guildhall, which is now owned by the National Trust.   Built in the early 16th century for the Guild of Corpus Christi, this was one of four medieval guilds in Lavenham.  The decline in the woollen cloth trade saw the building repurposed as a prison, and then later a workhouse. It passed into NT ownership in 1951.  

Thomas Gainsborough’s house, and his statue in the town

The Thomas Gainsborough House picture above  is by John Firth, CC BY-SA 2.0

Leicester – Sunday 7th July 2024

Leicester is a diverse city in the East Midlands, which is possibly best known as the location where English King Richard III’s remains were discovered under a car park in 2012.  They were reburied in Leicester Cathedral three years later.  The city is also home to one of the oldest and largest outdoor covered markets in Europe, but unfortunately it wasn’t open the day we were there.  During the Industrial Revolution, hosiery, textiles, and footwear became the major trades and Leicester was granted city status in 1919.  The Waterstones is located in the Highcross Shopping Centre in the heart of the city.

Leicester map

Leicester Cathedral

The original Church of Saint Martin, Leicester was built around the year 900 and was rebuilt and enlarged between the 13th and 15th centuries.  More restoration work took place in the 1800s and it was made a cathedral in 1927.  It’s the final resting place of King Richard.  

Richard III’s Grave

Richard III Visitor Centre

Opposite the cathedral is the visitor centre, which was built over the area where the King’s remains were discovered.  The original position of the skeleton is projected onto the ground, as shown outlined in red in my photo below.

Guildhall Museum

The museum is a timber framed building, the oldest part of which was built in the late 14th century.  It’s free to visit, and I popped in on my way between the cathedral and the visitor centre. The Great Hall was closed for an event, but the rest of the building was very interesting.

The New Walk

New Walk is a Georgian pedestrian promenade which was established in 1785 and is around a mile long.  It’s very tranquil, as bikes and scooters are banned (although we did see a few!). It is a conservation area so that the character is preserved.

Below – Row 1. Abbey Pumping Station Museum. Row 2. Leicester Town Hall. Row 3. Statue of Thomas Cook, who began his travel company with a trip from Leicester station.

Currently reading:  The Survivors by Jane Harper and Standing in the Shadows by Peter Robinson

Bath – Saturday 29th June 2024

Bath is a city in Somerset renowned for its rich history, stunning architecture, and natural hot springs.   It has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987. It was established as a Spa town by the Romans, and named by them as Aquae Sulis.  Bath experienced a boom in popularity in the 18th century, leading to the construction of many Georgian buildings. The Royal Crescent, the Circus, and Pulteney Bridge are iconic examples of this elegant architectural style.  Lots of authors have made Bath their home over the years, and the most famous of these must surely be Jane Austen. Her novels Northanger Abbey and Persuasion are both set in the city.  There are many attractions in the city which means it’s exceptionally popular with tourists.  The most famous are the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, The Royal Crescent and The Circus and the Bath Thermae Spa, but there are many other reasons to visit.  It’s also the home to one of my closest branches of Waterstones!  The shop, which is set over three floors, is located at numbers 4-5 Milson Street.  It was originally two houses – part of a whole row (numbers 2-22) of large townhouses – and is Grade II Listed.  It opened as a Waterstones in the 1980s.

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Bath map

The Circus and the Royal Crescent

The Circus is one of Bath’s most iconic architectural masterpieces, designed by John Wood the Elder and completed by his son (John Wood the Younger) in 1768. This sweeping crescent – a shaped row of 30 terraced houses – is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the city. Joined to The Circus by Brock Street is the Royal Crescent, which was also designed by the younger Wood.  From above, it resembles a key!

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Bath Crescent

The aerial photograph of the Royal Crescent viewed from above was taken by Adrian Pingstone on 21st September 2005 and placed in the public domain.

The Roman Baths

The Roman Baths were constructed around 70AD during the Roman occupation of Britain. The site was originally a natural hot spring, which the Romans developed into a sophisticated complex for bathing and socialising.  The museum on site houses a vast collection of artifacts recovered from the site, including coins, jewellery and items related to daily life in Roman Britain.  Interactive displays and reconstructions help bring the history to life and the site is visited by around 1 million visitors per year.  I’m lucky enough to be able to visit free with my Residents’ Discovery Card.

Pulteney Bridge and Weir

Pulteney Bridge was designed by Scottish architect Robert Adam and completed in 1774 – it is now Grade I listed. It was commissioned by William Pulteney, who wanted to connect the city with the Bathwick estate on the opposite bank of the River Avon which his family wished to develop. The bridge is Palladian in style, and is one of only four bridges in the world that has shops spanning both sides along its full length, the others being in Florence and Venice in Italy, and Erfurt in Germany.  Pulteney Weir, which is a little way downstream from the bridge, was originally built to control the water flow and reduce the risk of flooding in the city. The current weir, with its distinctive curved design, was constructed in the early 1970s, although there have been various weirs at this location since the 1600s.  The Weir featured in the 2012 film adaptation of “Les Misérables” as the location of the suicide of Inspector Javert.

Theatre Royal – clockwise from top left. 1. the original entrance in Beauford Square (this area features in the Netflix period Drama, Bridgerton), 2. the main entrance now, 3, 4 & 5. the Seven Dials Fountain, which features bronze casts of various actors’ hands. 

 

Clockwise from top left – 1. view of Bath, 2. Bath Abbey, 3. Camden Terrace, 4 & 5. The Kennet and Avon Canal, passing through Sydney Gardens, 6. The Holborn Museum (Lady Danbury’s House in Bridgerton).

Bath – there’s lots to see here! 

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Bromley – Saturday 30th March 2024

We stayed in Ealing for the Easter weekend, so on the Saturday morning we hopped on a train from Victoria and went to Bromley.   The town was originally in the county of Kent and was a market town, having received its charter in 1158.  It became part of the London Borough of Bromley in 1965.  The Waterstones (originally an Ottakar’s) is located in the Glades Shopping Centre in the heart of the town, and is set over two floors.  Although in a very modern building, the store has a quirky layout.

Bromley map

St Peter and St Paul, Bromley

Bromley parish church, or to give it its official name, St Peter and St Paul, Bromley was mostly destroyed during a bombing raid in 1941 – the only remaining part was the tower.  The church was rebuilt and the nave of the new church was consecrated in 1952, with the chancel and sanctuary consecrated five years later.  The original tower was retained in the rebuilding.  The church was being prepared for the Easter services when we arrived, and we didn’t realise that it wasn’t officially open, but we were welcomed inside, and even taken to see the Children’s chapel, the main feature of which is the mural, which was designed and painted by Alison Hodson in 2007/08.

Bromley and H G Wells

The author H G Wells, probably best-known for his story The War of the Worlds, was born in Bromley in 1866 and lived in the town for the first thirteen years of his life.  There was a large mural of Wells in the town, but after severe deterioration it was painted over with a mural of Charles Darwin (who lived near Bromley for many years) although a small image of Wells was included on it.   You can see the original mural here.

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Guildford – Friday 29th March 2024

Guildford is the county town of Surrey and sits on the river Wey.  It’s known for its historic cobbled High Street and its famous 17th century Guildhall clock.  The town also boasts a Norman castle with panoramic views of the area. The grounds at Guildford Castle opened as public gardens in 1888 to mark Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887 and are free to visit – there is a modest charge to go inside the castle.  On the outskirts of Guildford is a modern cathedral which dominates the town’s skyline.  The Waterstones is located in the main High Street, and was formerly a Dillon’s bookshop before the entire Dillon’s brand was renamed Waterstones after being taken over by the then owner of Waterstones, HMV in 1998.

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Guildford map

Lewis Carroll’s and Guildford

Charles Dodgson, who as Lewis Carroll created the ‘Alice’ books, was a frequent visitor to the town where his sisters lived, and the park located near the former family home, The Chestnuts, is the site of a statue of Alice Through the Looking Glass which is by the sculptor Jeanne Argent and was unveiled in 1990. At the bottom of the town is a second Alice statue. This one is from 1984 is called Alice and the White Rabbit, and is by local sculptor Edwin Russell.  It is based on the opening scene from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland when Alice spies the White Rabbit.  Lewis Carroll died in January 1898 whilst visiting his sisters and is buried at Mount Cemetery in the town. 

Guildford Castle

The Guildford Clock

Various photos from Guildford

Currently reading: One Day by David Nicholls

Canterbury – Wednesday 6th December 2023

Canterbury is an historic city in Kent, famous for its Cathedral and for being a UNESCO World Heritage site.  It has been the centre of Christian worship for over 1400 years.  During the Middle Ages it became a place of pilgrimage following the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket, in 1170.  It is known for its historical buildings and pretty medieval streets.  Although we were staying in the city, we didn’t really spend a lot of time here, preferring to visit areas we didn’t know so well, because we’ve visited Canterbury many times over the years, but I’m sure we’ll be back.  The Waterstones is located in a modern building in the city centre. It used to be an Ottakar’s bookshop, as can be seen from the King Ottakar mural on the wall by the escalator, and Captain Haddock, both of whom come from Hergé’s Tintin books. 

Canterbury map

Canterbury Cathedral

St George’s Tower

St George’s Tower is thought to be Norman. It was part of a church which was bombed during WW2, and the tower was all that survived.

Hastings – Wednesday 6th December 2023

Hastings is a seaside town in East Sussex, probably best known for the famous battle of 1066, although that actually took place about seven miles away.  There are several distinct parts to the town including the beach area, the historic Old Town to the east, and a more modern area to the west.  This is where the Waterstones is located, in a modern shopping centre and set over two floors.

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Hastings map

Just outside Waterstones is this statue. 

The plaque by it reads:

THE SPIRIT OF CRICKET
Unveiled by HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN to celebrate the
opening of the Priory Meadows Shopping
Priory Meadow Shopping Centre is built
on the site of the former Central Cricket and Recreation Ground
on which the game was enjoyed for over 130 years.
Commissioned by Boots Properties PLC.
Sculptor – Allan Sly FRBS                                                  6th June 1997

Historic Hastings

This area is very quaint and picturesque with lots of restaurants and independent shops.  The statues below are by artist Leigh Dyer.

Clockwise from top left – 1. Pelham Arcade, built in 1825 and Grade II* listed.  2 and 3. Wellington Square, where Lewis Carroll, author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, was a frequent visitor to the home of his aunts.  4. Hastings Town Hall, built in 1881.

The Rye Bookshop – Wednesday 6th December 2023

Rye is an historic town located near the coast in East Sussex, known for its pretty medieval streets and historic buildings.  It was an important trading port during the Middle Ages.  A wall was built around the town in the 1300s with four gates, Landgate, Strand Gate, Postern Gate and Baddings Gate. Of these, only Landgate remains today. Rye has many literary connections – the authors Henry James, E F Benson and Rumer Godden lived in the town (in Lamb House – see below), as did author Radclyffe Hall, best known for the novel The Well of Loneliness.  Like Deal, Waterstones is called The Rye Bookshop. It’s located in the High Street in the main shopping area of the town in a Grade II listed building.  As you can see, it had scaffolding up when we visited.

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Rye map

Lamb House (National Trust)

The American author Henry James lived in Lamb House from 1897 to 1914, and E F Benson, who became the town’s Mayor, lived there from 1919 until his death in 1940.   I forgot to take a photograph of the front of Lamb House on this occasion, so some of these photos were from a visit we made in 2015 in the summer, as you can see by the difference in the foliage.  This time the house was decorated in the style of a 1970s Christmas in honour of Rumer Godden who lived there from 1967 until 1974.

St Mary’s Church Tower

After leaving Lamb House, we went for a wander around the town, and spotted some people on top of the church, so we went in and paid to climb the tower.   The climb was… interesting, as there were some skinny, low-ceiling passages to negotiate, and some steep ladders, which made my legs a little wobbly, but it was worth it for the amazing views of the surrounding area from the top.

Landgate

Rye Castle Museum – Ypres Tower

Picturesque Rye

The Deal Bookshop – Tuesday 5th December 2023

Deal is a medium-sized town on the coast of Kent.  It is claimed that Julius Caesar landed here in 55BCE, although the veracity of this has been disputed. Deal Pier is the last pier to have been commissioned since WW2.  It opened in 1957 and is Grade 2 listed, and is the last fully-surviving pier in Kent.  The town itself has plenty of independent shops as well as national chains.  The Waterstones here is styled as ‘The Deal Bookshop’ rather than the Waterstones branding and is located in the main High Street shopping area. 

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Deal map

L-R.  1/2. The artist Edward Ardizzone, who is one of my favourite book illustrators, lived in Deal and his house has a blue plaque in his honour.  3. Deal Pier.

L-R.  4/5. Statue – Embracing the Sea by Jon Buck. 6. The Town Hall. This attractive Grade 2 listed building was completed in 1804 and is still used by the town council. 

L-R. 7/8. Middle Street – the first conservation area in Kent. 9. Author J B Priestley wrote The Good Companions whist living in the town.  The house he stayed in has a blue commemorative plaque outside.