Lincolnshire to Yorkshire

 Thursday the 20th August, 1981

We broke camp and were on our way by 8:30 a.m.  Took the road into Stamford, and put van into the garage and went for walk.  Beautiful town - the streets are narrow, steep and winding.  The buildings stately cream in Elizabethan style. 

A beautiful old church graces the centre of the town.  We walked along older streets, awed by the atmosphere.  Do the English realise what they have?  We had morning coffee in the most antiquated tearoom - beautiful pictures graced every wall.  Picked up the van and on our way to Burghley Castle.  It is some miles out of town.  The George Inn was built by the Lord Burghley.  Methinks the town must have been the village to the Burghley Manor house. 

Burghley House, Lincolnshire, England

The castle is a magnificent building of 240 rooms, built by the first Marquess of Exeter who was exchequer to Queen Elizabeth.  The 8^th Marquess still lives downstairs with his family.  

The castle is full of historic paintings, artefacts and history.  Very opulent but rewarding - the grounds are magnificent - the private garden protected by two trees one planted by Queen Elizabeth the first and one in 1679.

On to town and lunch in the car park where we met the Fontana's.  Then on we drove to Oakman near Cottesmore RAF base.  Jet planes flew overhead all morning.

We drove through lovely small villages.  We avoid major roads where possible - the aspect has changed again, hedges lined narrow roads and divide plots of land all rich in growth small villages gardens bloom with summer flowers and ancient trees bowed down as if to say hello or welcome.

Southwell - a town rich in history and the beautiful church of Our Lady graces the centre of town.  It has twin towers in a Norman edifice built in 1100.  Ancient trees graced the grounds - across the road stands the "Saracens Head Inn” where Charles the first gave himself up to his ministers in 1646.  He was beheaded in 1649.

James the first and many more monarchs stayed there on their way to London.  After Charles was beheaded they changed the name from "The Kings Arms" to "Saracens Head".  A pleasant afternoon then on to Sherwood Forest.  A walk around the perimeter of the forest.  A photo of a magnificent old oak tree called Major Oak presumed to be 500 years old still producing acorns every three years.  Then on to our nightly camp at Clipstone and a few miles from the forest.  This is Robin Hood country.

Major Oak, Sherwood Forest

 Friday the 21st August, 1981

We were up at 7.30am.  Showered, breakfast and away at 8:45 a.m.  It was a nice camping area - camped next to Australians from Woy Woy.  Washing machine and dryer unavailable so did one load.  We were then off up north towards Scotland.  

At first to Conisbrough Castle - meaning Kings bunks which were Saxon defended sites built by Norman's against the Danes.  Built about 1088AD and owned by William de Warenne, first Earl of Surrey.  Sandra suffered a migraine so stayed in van.  We all trudged up the steep slope to Castle stairs.  Spent half an hour there and then on to Selby through Doncaster a large industrial town.  Modern buildings, little left of times gone by.

We reached Selby in time for lunch.  Crossed an 18th century toll Bridge where we had to pay 4 p to cross the river Ouse.  Selby Abbey, a beautiful old 11th century abbey beautifully preserved stands in the middle of town.  A pleasant hour reading the history of this lovely old abbey.

 On then to Stamford Bridge, another old bridge over the river Ouse where the battle of Stamford Bridge was held in 1066.  The English people still amaze us because of their ignorance of the history surrounding them.  On through small towns to the main highway and on to York.

York, North Yorkshire, England

Beautiful, interesting York where we intend to stay two days to take in this beautiful city, which has a known history from 71 AD.  The ancient historian Ptolemy mentions Eboracum (now York) where the Romans set up camp where two rivers met - the Ouse and the Foss.  

Hadrian used York as a base for his campaigns northwards.  The huge wall still runs almost around the city.  The walls and the gates were built in the 13th century.  A great abbey and Priory were built and York became one of the main religious centres of England.

We found a camping site in the centre of town and walked up to the museum.  We walked up 60 steps to see the Keep then went over to see York Museum.  The museum commenced when a physician donated all his artefacts to the museum.  They were from many of his family's generations.  They now have a museum that can date back to the beginning of York.  All produced authentically, cobbled streets, apothecary and all types of shops and ways of living for generations past.  From the Romans through to 1953.  We came home and showered and fell asleep tired out.

No we didn't go to sleep! - we went out on a ghost walk of the town.

Ring a ring a rosey nursery rhyme originated here thru the Black Plague. Dick Turpin & Guy Fawkes born in York.

York Ghost Walk