around the UK | Not Just a Granny

Archive for the ‘around the UK’ Category

Recycling – we are to blame

Posted in around the UK, Interesting articles, lifestyle, news from around the world, plastic pollution, wealth and finance, tagged ban plastic bags, ban plastic bottles, ban single use plastic, CLEAN SEAS campaign, https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/plastic-microplastic-study-pollution-food-drink-water-poo-faeces-a8596836.html, plastic in our poop, plastic in the food we eat, plastic pollution on October 27, 2018| 3 Comments »

Recycling has been the go to opt out for us to assuage our guilt over our wasteful throw-away lifestyle. For years now, we have been fed, and accepted the lie that recycling is the socially acceptable way to dispose of our trash.

In reality our trash has been shipped to other countries like China (until they put a stop to buying it in January 2018) and now apparently its being shipped to Indonesia. This has allowed us in the West to gaily make it ‘someone else’s problem’.

But in reality, unless we are living on a different planet to the Chinese or any other country you care to mention, our oceans are interconnected – Trump hasn’t yet managed to build a wall between the oceans. This means that our trash travels. It may start off in your household recycling box, but from there it travels…across the world (why?) = huge carbon footprint – one negates the other. It gets stripped down and besides polluting the soils and water systems in those countries, it gets dumped into rivers and makes it’s way to the sea….and thus into the world’s oceans.

As we now know, fish are eating this plastic…we’re eating the fish and voila…..now it’s catching up with us. Scientists have discovered plastic in our poop. Nice one.

We in the west have been exceptionally lazy about sorting out our own trash. We are wasteful and have trashed this world even more than the developing countries we love to blame. African countries were only introduced to our plastic production in the last couple of decades. Unlike us, some many African countries (you know, those 3rd world ‘less than’ countries that white people in the West are so disdainful of!?) are way ahead of us in taking action against plastic.

Botswana – https://www.victoriafalls-guide.net/botswana-is-banning-plastic-bags.html

Kenya placed a total ban on the manufacture, sale or use of plastic bags on 28 August 2017. This became law and has been enforced with remarkable effectiveness.

“Plastics are being replaced with natural materials and there has been growth in small-scale bag making, creating jobs”

“More than 40 countries have now joined UNEA’s #CleanSeas campaign, which covers more than half the world’s coastlines. The threat is very real. If nothing is done the oceans will have more plastic than fish by 2050, according to leading environmentalists”.

Rwanda, Mauritania and Morocco all have bans in place and it’s worth noting that there is no such ban enforced in the UK, US or China, all of which have highly developed plastics industries; producing and exporting plastic bags across the globe – ergo we in the developed countries ARE TO BLAME!! It’s all about making money, the bottom line and obscene profits, and the manufacturers have no interest in the fact that it’s killing the planet.

If you’d like to read more, here is the link

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/22/recycling-fuels-consumption-plastic?fbclid=IwAR1R3efRw2UZ6D_I27lyUZjbT8XkmwFH6SZ7bEcfVVOKJ_fUJOigFv66tQc

After watching the Fashions Dirty Secrets documentary last week, my attitude to our wasteful lifestyle has intensified exponentially. I don’t want my grandchild growing up in a world that is polluted by plastic and toxic lakes, rivers, seas and oceans. I’m hoping there will still be fresh water available to this child in the future.

In this child’s name I am now naming and shaming:

TESCO

Iceland

Sainsburys

All of these products are wrapped in totally unnecessary and pointless plastic. These companies are also forcing their customers to buy in bulk; much of which ends up in the trash…”In the UK alone, 8.4m people in the UK struggle to afford a meal, according to the UN’s FAO – despite the UK wasting billions through food waste every year, according to food waste charity WRAP.”

“Unsurprisingly, the proportion of food waste is highest in western countries, while developing countries are more likely to suffer from food loss.”

We have to face up to our waste and make some drastic changes if we are to preserve the sanctity of life on this planet.

Read Full Post »

Palm Oil & pointless plastic packaging

Posted in around the UK, Health, lifestyle, plastic pollution, tagged ban single use plastic, blogging, conflict palm oil, destruction of rainforest in indonesia, http://www.saynotopalmoil.com/Whats_the_issue.php, https://orangutan.org/palmoil/, https://orangutan.org/rainforest/the-effects-of-palm-oil/, https://www.ran.org/issue/palm_oil/, https://www.theguardian.com/orangutans-and-palm-oil/2018/aug/17/orangutans-and-palm-oil-seven-facts-that-explain-the-issues, https://www.unenvironment.org/resources/report/state-plastics-world-environment-day-outlook-2018, killing of orangutans, life, palm oil, pointless packaging, rainforest destruction, say no to palm oil on October 25, 2018| 2 Comments »

I posted a few images on instagram of plastic pollution being caused by the supermarkets like Iceland foods, Sainsbury, Tesco, Co-Op, Morrisons, Waitrose etc a couple of days ago. Why are they STILL wrapping fruit and vegetables in plastic? Haven’t they read the UN Report? Which planet are they on?

Sainsburys

Iceland

About 13 million tonnes of plastic leak into our oceans every year, harming biodiversity, economies and, potentially, our own health.

I also mentioned how I’m making an effort to avoid palm oil. Someone asked in the comments section “what the deal is with palm oil?” Firstly, I’m astounded that there are still people in the western world who are so ignorant of the effects of palm oil plantations on the biodiversity of the countries where its been/being grown. So I compiled some information for her from all the links that I investigated via google. This is not my ‘opinion’, these are not my words, this information is compiled from the various websites that try to educate people on the destruction caused by palm oil…

read on:

Conflict Palm Oil production is now one of the world’s leading causes of rainforest destruction.

Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil in the world, having even surpassed soya in terms of usage. Surging global demand for palm oil has fueled massive forest destruction throughout Indonesia and Malaysia, countries that together account for 85% of the world’s palm oil production. Palm oil is ubiquitous!

Every day 25 orangutans are killed thanks largely to palm oil. The main threat to the survival of orangutan populations in the wild is the massive expansion of palm oil plantations in Borneo and Sumatra. … Increasingly, palm oil is used as a biofuel. Oil palms only grow in the tropics and need much water.
In Indonesia alone, an area the size of a football pitch is lost every 25 secs.

Over 50,000 orangutans on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra have died because of palm oil deforestation.

Orangutans whose habitats have been destroyed often enter villages and oil plantations in search of food where they are captured or killed by farmers who treat them as pests.

Palm oil is the leading cause of orangutan extinction. It’s in 50% of all household and food products sold in the West. It’s an ingredient in shampoo, toothpaste, detergent, frozen microwave dinners, cookies, peanut butter, lotion, makeup and much more!

Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil made from the fruit of the African oil palm tree, which originates in West Africa. However, it can be grown successfully in any humid tropical climate and has taken a strong foothold in Indonesia.

Not only is Palm Oil bad for the environment, and a major cause of climate change, but it is also the leading cause of orangutan extinction.

From ice-cream to shampoo, palm oil is present in a multitude of consumer products.

25 orangutans are lost every day

https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/news/180215-borneo-orangutan-150000-lost-palm-oil-logging-vin-spd

Just check the ingredients label of the food you buy….but bear in mind that often it’s listed under vegetable oils. Just another dishonest way for manufacturers to use it without listing.

Petition your MP, sign as many petitions as you possibly can, stop buying fruit and vegetables wrapped in plastic; look for the unwrapped items. Check the ingredients list of your purchases…look out for palm oil and buy a different brand.

If we as consumers challenge the corporations, they will HAVE to make changes. It’s not about convenience anymore…..it’s about actually saving this planet from total destruction. No matter what you do today, every bit of plastic you and I have bought, used and trashed in our lifetimes, will still be here in 400 years plus. BUT we can make a difference by reducing the amount we use.

The plastic takeout container from your dinner last week is going to be around a lot longer, up to 1,000 years longer, than the rest of your trash.

Read Full Post »

Fashions dirty secrets

Posted in around the UK, Interesting articles, news from around the world, plastic pollution, tagged BBC documentary, clothes are killing the planet, Fashions Dirty secrets, Huffington Post, killing the Aral sea, Stacey Dooley on October 18, 2018| 1 Comment »

If you haven’t seen the documentary on BBC yet, then read this to see how growing cotton for our clothes has dried up a sea and changed the climate of a country its horrendous.
In the UK, 300,000 tonnes of clothes are dumped in landfill each year.

https://m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/fashions-dirty-secrets-stacey-dooley-lessons-learned_uk_5bbb4995e4b0876eda9fea67?fbclid=IwAR36UTy2P2wVKJOeHWVddkR3-v6Gr83mo7ozmIMCFCn8LV6fDL9tQqs1sgk

Read Full Post »

Beautiful Broadstairs

Posted in around the UK, cities and towns of the UK, Health, It's my life, long distance walks - solo, seaside towns of Britain, walk 1000 miles 2018, tagged broadstairs, cliffsend, hugin viking boat, isle of thanet, pegwell bay, places to visit in england, ramsgate royal harbour, travel blogging, travel writing, walks to ramsgate on October 18, 2018| Leave a Comment »

I remember hearing about Broadstairs from one of my clients some years ago. I thought at the time that I would have to visit, so when my daughter announced three years ago that she had found a house here, I looked forward to visiting to see what it was like. I am now totally smitten and truly I must live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

broadstairs kent, seaside towns of britain, east coast of england

fantastic cloud scape lends an eerie glow to the sky and sea; Viking Bay

One of my favourite activities is to take an early morning walk to Ramsgate…just because it is quick; 45 minutes if I don’t faff around, and the scenery is just amazing. On Saturday I woke quite early to watch the sunrise

broadstairs, isle of thanet, walks to ramsgate, ramsgate royal harbour, cliffsend, hugin viking boat, pegwell bay

sunrise over Viking Bay, Broadstairs

and as it was such a beautiful day, decided to take a walk along the beach to Ramsgate (I had to visit the bank anyway) and while I was there, I followed an impulse and carried on walking till I reached Cliffsend.

one of the prettiest village signs I’ve ever seen; Cliffsend

Along the way I stopped for a swing in what has to be the best type of swing ever. One day, if I ever have a house with a garden, I plan to have a swing like this installed.

best swing ever

It is one of my favourite walks and I do so enjoy the scenery along the way. It was terribly windy and standing on the cliff edge was a tad tricky.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Read Full Post »

Climate Change burnout

Posted in around the UK, family and relationships, gratitude, Health, It's my life, news from around the world, plastic pollution, tagged ban balloons, ban plastic bags, ban plastic bottles, ban single use plastic, Becoming Vegan, plastic pollution on October 18, 2018| Leave a Comment »

This is a very timely and useful article. It definitely pertains to me in that climate change and the effect that plastic is having on the oceans has been causing extreme anxiety, especially since I learned that my daughter is expecting a baby…her first child; my first grandchild. Since her and her husband announced the baby’s pending arrival, my stress levels have gone up quite a lot #understatement

I’m doing as much as I can to negate my impact on the climate, but as they say in the article, individually we can only do so much. But if our governments are not taking responsibility or massive action then that in itself will cause more stress, and I can well imagine the scientists must be under extreme stress. Just the very fact that the UK government has allowed fracking to go ahead tells us the story of their interest in their citizens and community. Of course we know that they’re going to make money off it, and not necessarily for the public purse… #justsaying

There are people who will continue to deny it…. “It’s the people who don’t seem bothered by environmental crisis who need therapy the most, to figure out why they are so numb and in denial,’ he tells us.”

The article suggests joining local community based groups who are also environmental activists in order to keep sane. I have already joined a number of community groups on instagram and Facebook and its encouraging to see how much they are doing, it keeps me focused, as well as which I do what I can. But quite honestly, it does keep me awake at night 🌃

Actions I already take

Converting to veganism – an ongoing process and I do fall down occasionally when it comes to dairy products, although I have now finally converted to soya milk in my tea. 🙂

Saying no to plastic straws – I took a pledge nearly 2 years ago to never again use a plastic straw and I haven’t. Someone at a local coffee shop put a plastic straw in an avocado drink I was having and as my daughter said to the waitron “take it away before she goes into meltdown”. LOL

Saying no to plastic water bottles – I stopped this a long time ago. It’s bloody ridiculous to sell us water in plastic bottles that take thousands of litres to produce. We have tap water. We live in a 1st word country. We don’t draw water from an infected well. fck!! This is the one thing above all else that irks me the most.

Saying no to plastic bags – yup. makes sense. It’s seriously ironic that 3rd world countries like Rwanda, Kenya and Botswana as well as others have banned them. As usual the UK and USA and EU are WAY BEHIND.

Buying products in glass where available, even if its more expensive.

Buying products in cardboard where possible.

Not buying for fashion, but rather as I need it. Have you seen Stacey Dooley’s documentaries about the fashion industry?

Conserving water 💦 and being mindful of my usage.

Changes made by others due to my persistent requests:

Our local milkshake bar changed from plastic straws to biodegradable.

Our local chip shop changed from polystyrene boxes to compostable.

As individuals there is so much we can do, without experiencing overwhelm. I love the #2minutecleanup campaign on instagram

I share the devastating images of dead seabirds and other sea creatures from @balloonsblow in facebook

I am constantly alert as to what more I can do to make a difference and reduce my carbon footprint, and mindful of what I buy and why I buy it.

I try and set an example by modifying my behaviour

I try to share information for others to be aware of the catastrophic effects our throw-away plastic lifestyle is having on the planet.

I realise that we can’t live a life completely without plastic in the immediate future, but we can drastically reduce our consumption of the product by avoiding it wherever possible. – I used the word consumption, because as you know, microscopic plastic fibres are now in our water supply and our food chain….even in salt.

Regards going vegan, I get mocked by family members who feel comfortable with sending me what they see as humorous images of what is tantamount to cruelty to animals. Friends come up with the old bullshit of vegetables having feelings too and how they feel pain. That is throwback to when people who were going vegan were regarded as nutters or veganism was considered a fad. Its not. Try watching ‘What The Health’ on Netflix then come talk to me again.

The biggest impact you can have on saving this planet for future generations is to cut back on plastic, stop buying bottled water and if you can’t become vegan, at least try being vegetarian or flexitarian.

Read Full Post »

Be like Andy

Posted in around the UK, gratitude, Health, Inspiration, news from around the world, places to eat, plastic pollution, tagged #plasticpollution, ban single use plastic, be the change, beaplanethero, BeLikeAndy, no more plastic, no more single use plastic, save our oceans, save our planet, save our wildlife on October 16, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Our local coffee machine at the station; Andy of the Red Bean Machine has gone ‘green’ 👏👏👏👏💚💚♻️♻️♻️♻️♻️ He’s now using fully biodegradable cups and lids made from starch, making them compostable. I’m well impressed at these small independent coffee shops/vans making a difference NOW and not PHASING it out by whatever date the large corporations and our governments come up with as a pathetic excuse to try impress us. THIS is impressive, time ⌚ for the big coffee chains to step up and BE THE CHANGE we want to see. There is no longer any excuse, alternatives to PLASTIC are available @starbucks @costacoffee @caffenero @pretamangeruk etc etc #bansingleuseplastic #nomoresingleuseplastic #nomoreplastic #bethechange #saveourplanet 🌏🌎🌍 #saveouroceans🌊 #saveourwildlife #stepup #BeLikeAndy #beaplanethero

Read Full Post »

Higham

Posted in around the UK, Domesday Villages of England, Fun Stuff, Historical, It's my life, my Canterbury Tales, Travel on October 11, 2018| Leave a Comment »

After 9 days in the area my assignment ends tomorrow so this morning I took the poopster for one last ‘wander where you want to’ walk…the last till when I return in December.

We passed the church along the way so I quickly popped in for a look. Charles Dickens lived at Gads Hill Place in Higham, so its imminently possible he worshipped at this church in his day. The marshlands around the area lent itself to the opening of Great Expectations.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

St John’s Church is Victorian, but a church would have existed here in Saxon times. Higham is also listed in the 1086 Domesday Book as having a 56 households: 24 villagers, 12 smallholdings, 20 slaves. Tenant-in-chief in 1086: Bishop Odo of Bayeux.

I remember visiting this church on my Canterbury Tales walk last year from Southwark to Canterbury. I do love exploring this country 🙂

Read Full Post »

17th anniversary of a new life

Posted in around the UK, Domesday Villages of England, family and relationships, gratitude, It's my life, me and Peanut, memories of days gone by, my Canterbury Tales, tagged its my life, relocating to the uk, solo travel for women, travel writing on October 9, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Leaving on a jet plane and I don’t know when I’ll be back again……as it turns out…I never did return – not permanently anyway.

relocating to the uk, travel over 40, arriving in the uk, solo travel for women

taken on the day I landed after my Spitfire flight on 26 April this year – seems apt for my journey

Today marks the 17th anniversary of my arrival in the Northern Hemisphere and the UK then Ireland for the first time.

All three happened on the same day in the space of a few hours.

I left South Africa on the 8th October 2001 bouncing with excitement and joy. At age 46, although I had travelled extensively throughout RSA and lived in any number of places, I had never left the borders of South Africa except for a brief weekend sojourn to Swaziland in my misspent youth.

I flew from South Africa on the evening of the 8th October landing in Zurich on the 9th. After an hour or so at Zurich airport where I had my first European pastry and hot chocolate and searched for the ‘red’ post box which turned out to be green LOL (a learning curve for sure), from there it was an emotional flight across Europe and the skies in which WW2 was fought. I am fascinated by the history of the 2nd WW and it gave me both the chills and a thrill that I was flying through the same airspace that our pilots flew all those decades ago…as a result I spent nearly the whole flight just crying….I couldn’t believe I was actually in the same airspace.

Soon, as we came in to land at London Airport I had my first view of the city I was to come to love so much; suddenly I was on UK soil. I could hardly believe it.

Lovely London – my soul city

A short nerve-wracking bus-ride later I took my first ever tube ride – first on the Jubilee line and then the Piccadilly line to Heathrow. I remember how terrified I was of getting lost, of not finding my way to the airport, and a total wreck with all the stories I had heard of how big Heathrow airport was….wasn’t. It was easy to navigate.

I remember as if it happened yesterday; as we exited the underground near Hounslow I looked out the window and fell in love…..with the chimney pots on the houses around the green. I am a huge fan of the film Mary Poppins and it looked to me just like a scene from the film….the trees and the green surrounded by 3-storey brick houses, their roofs adorned with chimney pots.

“I could live here!” I thought…..

And now I am….I first spent 6 months in Ireland with my darling sister and her husband (her 30th birthday was the reason for my visit),

and then after my visa expired 6 months later I came over to the UK to collate the paperwork I would need in order to apply for and obtain my ancestral visa (my grandfather had the good sense to be born in London (Battersea). After securing letters from agencies to say they could employ me, I flew back to South Africa in March 2002 and by 22nd April 2002 I was back in Ireland; ancestral visa in hand. After a few months of gallivanting in Ireland, I once again flew back to the UK and started working and living first as a resident and then a citizen of the country.

I have never looked back, never had even one second of home-sickness and never longed for the country or yearned to ‘go back’ with all that that signifies. If I have missed anything it would be certain foods like OUMA rusks, or peppermint crisp chocloate LOL

I have grown to love the UK so much, albeit not the politics (or some of the parties), and I have had so many amazing adventures, learned so much, written a couple of books and immersed myself into the very fabric of this country. The history is phenomenal and it’s like peeling back an onion…one layer reveals another.

I used my ancestral visa/SA passport to good effect and and travelled to a number of European countries and a few states in the USA over the next 15 years (and back to Ireland 9 times).

Sphere Within Sphere is a bronze sculpture by Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro, located at Trinity College, Dublin

I also travelled far and wide throughout the UK and have probably visited more places than many British-born people….certainly I’m sure more Domesday Book places.

I then applied for and obtained my British Citizenship.

it’s my 17th anniversary!!! this is from the day I got my new passport as a UK citizen 2 years ago

My daughter followed me in 2003 and she too is now a British citizen and married to an amazing man with a baby on the way…..the first baby in our family to be born in the UK since my Grandfather was born in Battersea in 1890. Our little Peanut aka my first grandchild. I’m so in love with this baby already…my heart swells when I see this. 🙂

peanut is on the way, first grandchild, 3d scan of baby in the womb, granny in waiting

my beautiful grandchild. a 3D scan taken yesterday…

It seems perfectly apt, albeit coincidentally, that we got this scan photo on the same date 08/10, as what I left SA 17 years ago. Never did I think on that day back in 2001 that I would be a granny-in-waiting at this time 17 years later.

The UK has always felt like ‘home’ to me and I have felt more at ‘home’ here than I ever did anywhere in RSA….except possibly Cape Town which I’ve always said was my heart city. Well London is my soul city, and my heart has followed me to the UK.

I’ve had an extraordinary journey since arriving here in 2001 and although it hasn’t always been easy, that’s mostly been due to my own bad decisions on various life aspects. But I have never regretted my decision to return and to stay…..

So today is my 17th anniversary and I am still ‘home’.

And Ireland is still my 2nd favourite country in the world.

If you are interested here is a link to some of the place I have visited since my arrival. My goal is to still travel even more extensively and visit as many places as I possibly can – Project 101

Read Full Post »

Exploring Southampton

Posted in around the UK, Castles of UK and Ireland, cities and towns of the UK, Domesday Villages of England, historical houses of the uk, project 101, Travel, tagged blogging, english history, explore southampton, finding jane austen in southampton, kings and queens of england, the pilgrims way england, Travel, travel blogging, travel writing, tudor house southampton, visit southampton, walk the walls of southampton, walking the Pilgrim's Way, walled cities in the uk, writing on October 6, 2018| 5 Comments »

I’d never been to Southampton and as it’s on my Project 101 list, I thought that since I’d be close enough by train I may as well stay there for a couple of days and explore the city. Besides which…it was also a whole lot cheaper than staying in Winchester LOL (I actually told one lady that I didn’t want to buy the house, just stay there for one night! – she wasn’t impressed hahahaha).

seaside square in southampton, southampton england, explore southampton, visit southampton (1)

tired after a day of exploring…take a seat why don’t you.

I had initially planned to explore Southampton on the 19th but instead decided to head over to Winchester instead. Most places appeared to be closed in Southampton on a Sunday, and since I was wanting to do the King Alfred walk in Winchester and the weather was going to be cloudy both days anyway, I decided to change plans. Benefit of being a solo traveller.

So, the day before I was due to start my walk along the Pilgrim’s Way, I had a super day exploring Southampton Old Town. I walked along sections of the old city walls; quite a thrill. I was delighted to find that there were still whole sections that you could walk along and I made the most of the opportunity.

spanish civil war, southampton england, explore southampton, visit southampton (2)

wonderful history of the UK…welcoming refugees

A little bit of history to tickle your fancy:

Southampton; located on a major estuary on the English Channel has been settled since the Stone Age.
Known as Clausentum in Roman times, Southampton was an important trading port, but abandoned circa 410 when the Romans up and left.
The settlement was known as Hamwic and or Hamtum during the Anglo-Saxon period
After defeating the Anglo-Saxon King Ethelred the Unready in 1014, the Viking King, Canute the Great, was crowned in Southampton.
Southampton became a major port of transit between Winchester (capital of England until early 12th C) and Normandy following the Norman Conquest in 1066.
The 1086 Domesday Book indicates that Southampton already had distinct French and English quarters at the time of the Norman Conquest.
The foundation of St. Michael’s Church has been dated at 1070.
Mary Magdalen Leperosy Hospital was established to the north of the town by 1173.
St Julians Hospital, also known as God’s House Hospital, was founded around 1196 by Gervase ‘le Riche’. A Franciscan friary was later built alongside God’s House hospital.
The Medieval Wool House was built in the 14th century to serve the wool trade and store wool for export to Italy. It’s been through various changes since then and served as a prison during the Napoleonic wars to house French prisoners of war “some of whose names may be seen carved on the beams of the roof”, the Maritime Museum circa 1966, a workshop; The Moonbeam Engineering Company Limited who built motor launches, Element Arts; a pop-up arts organisation – who used the space as a gallery and community arts venue featuring exhibitions and live events – music, dance, poetry, theatre, and now the Dancing Man Brewery a brewpub/restaurant.
Southampton was awarded City status by The Queen in 1964.

On my way towards the Old Town I passed the area of Holy Rood; a series of metal sculptures were erected around the estate in tribute to the area’s role in the Merchant Navy’s history of Southampton.
Holyrood Church, which was damaged in World War II, now serves as a memorial to the Merchant Navy.

holyrood southampton england, explore southampton, visit southampton (3)

The Sailor’s Angel, Holy Rood, Southampton

southampton england, explore southampton, visit southampton (138)

I started off at the edge of the city walls, once the boundary of a Franciscan friary (settled in 1224). By the end of the 14th century, the town of Southampton was entirely enclosed by stone walls.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

then walked past the remains of God’s House Tower (protected the medieval town from attack),

God’s Hospital Southampton

southampton england, explore southampton, visit southampton (23)

from there I followed the perimeter of the old city walls, I discovered a link with Jane Austen 🙂 – Watergate & Quay – “Jane’s niece, 14 year old Fanny Knight, records in her diary of Tuesday 15 September 1807, that Jane and the rest of the family embarked from here to visit friends in Hythe for Afternoon Tea. Fanny writes; “Mama to everyone’s astonishment was of the party and not at all sick”.

jane austen in southampton england, explore southampton, visit southampton

links with Jane Austen

the rear view of the Watergate ruins

the watergate ruins southampton england, explore southampton, visit southampton

The Watergate was built by 1377, after the French Raid of 1338, to strengthen Southampton’s southern defences. It was equivalent to the Bargate.

the 12th century Duke of Wellington Pub

A short distance later I discovered the Wool House and popped in for a quick look (I didn’t see the prisoner’s inscriptions though) – The Medieval Wool House was built in the 14th century to serve the wool trade and store wool for export to Italy, and served as a prison during the Napoleonic wars to house French prisoners of war “some of whose names may be seen carved on the beams of the roof”

the wool house southampton england, explore southampton, visit southampton

The Wool House, erected in the 14th century

southampton england, explore southampton, visit southampton (30)

after which a short diversion took me along Bugle Street

first I passed the fabulous 12th century Duke of Wellington pub

The Duke of Wellington Pub, Southampton

the duke of wellington southampton england, explore southampton, visit southampton (33)

the duke of wellington pub

the duke of wellington southampton england, explore southampton, visit southampton

the duke of wellington oub southampton

strolling on along Bugle Street I discovered the amazing Tudor House – Restored 14th-c. Tudor house & remains of a 12th-c. Norman home, with 16th-century gardens & a cafe…where I enjoyed a superb lunch… Wow, what an extraordinary place.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I spent ages exploring this fabulous house; a time capsule with some incredible artefacts. A visit to the cellar is a must – used as a WW2 shelter by the family who lived there at the time, there is a fantastic and spine-tingling audio that takes you right back to an air-raid.

Exploring the premises behind the house (where you find the café) I saw a canon made for Henry VIII, and the awesome ruins of King John’s Castle.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Across the garden are some glass doors, step through…. there you will find a delightful exhibition worth having a look at

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

After strolling back along Bugle Street I noticed another section of the city walls down an alley, so I climbed the steps and strolled along another section of the city walls and onto Cuckoo Lane…passing the Westgate Hall aka Tudor Merchants Hall on my way.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Heading back to the Tudor House, I walked past and turned left down along Blue Anchor Lane towards the previous town quay…now a road. blue anchor lane southampton england, explore southampton, visit southampton The Pilgrim Fathers embarked here from the West Quay on the Mayflower in August 15 1620. Passing through the Westgate (through the archway marched some of the some of the army of Henry V on their way to Agincourt in 1415) – stupendous. It gave me goosebumps walking through the arch.

walking through history southampton england, explore southampton, visit southampton (101)

walking through history; through this archway marched some of the some of the army of Henry V on their way to Agincourt in 1415 – awesome

I strolled alongside the ancient walls, known as The Arcades, and found another section that could be walked (yes, I’m addicted to walking along old city walls LOL- also part of Project 101) I reached ‘Catchcold’ Tower (fortunately I didn’t catch a cold) – purpose built in the early 15th century to carry ordnance (cannon). Brilliant views of the old quay. During WW2 an anti-aircraft machine-gun was mounted on the tower.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

From there I walked along to Arundel Tower – said to be named after the magical horse of Sir Bevois, one of the founders of Southampton. Legend has it that Arundel was so fast he could out-fly swallows. When Sir Bevios died, the horse threw himself from the tower in sorrow.

Arundel Tower Southampton

Arundel Tower, Southampton

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Leaving the ramparts I descended to ground level and walked across to the Bargate. Wow, just stunning. By walking through the Bargate’s grand entrance, you travel in the footsteps of generations of townspeople, visitors and kings and queens. A pair of lions has guarded the gate since the 1600s. The Jane Austen heritage trail starts at the Bargate.

bargate southampton england, explore southampton, visit southampton

the fantastic Bargate in Southampton – front

the fantastic Bargate in Southampton – front – guarded by lions

bargate southampton england, explore southampton, visit southampton (119)

the fantastic Bargate in Southampton – rear

Walking further I took a random turn and saw a beautiful pub and another link to Jane Austen ; Jane’s homes from 1807 to 1809 was sited here in Castle Square.

jane austen southampton england, explore southampton, visit southampton (124)

finding Jane Austen in Southampton

Then back past the fabulous Tudor House, opposite which was St Michael’s Square; once a busy fish market selling freshly caught eels, mackerel, whiting and oysters. Built in the 1070s, St Michael’s is the only surviving parish church in Southampton.

st michaels southampton england, explore southampton, visit southampton

St Michael’s Church and square

St Michael’s church and square

I then continued my walk along Castle Way where I passed the fantastic medieval Merchant’s timber house (sadly closed during the week) – what was that I said about places being closed yesterday….hmmm. .

the medieval timber house southampton england, explore southampton, visit southampton

The medieval Timber House, Castle Way, Southampton

The weather was brilliant and I even squeezed in a quick visit to the harbour. I noticed there was a ferry to the Isle of Wight and the temptation to just hop on and visit Cowes again was very strong LOL. But I resisted….I was due to start my walk the next day and it would have been awful if I hadn’t been able to get back to Southampton for some reason.

Southampton England

After a brilliant few hours of exploring I meandered through Queen’s Park then back along Queensway and through West (Watts) Park where I saw the plaque for the Mary Magdalen Leprosy Hospital which stood near this spot in medieval times.

mary magdalen hospital, southampton england, explore southampton, visit southampton british history

the Mary Magdalen Leprosy Hospital stood near this spot medieval times

Then back to the AirBnb to rest and prepare myself and Pepe for the start of The Pilgrim’s Way.

In all, a very satisfactory day full of history, surprises and delights. Visit Southampton and be sure to explore the Old Town, and prepare to be delighted at the Tudor House.