Off to an early start from Waterloo station. An 80 minute trip landed me in Salisbury where I joined the Stonehenge Tour. On the way out to the plain, we passed Old Sarum – the original town site dating from 500 BC. It was a multi-layered earthwork that started as a secure enclosure, but was added to by Romans, Saxons and Normans with a castle and palace. Because of the lack of water it was abandoned in the 1200’s as the replacement city of Salisbury was built near the rivers. Today only the earthworks remain: they recycled the old town when building Salisbury.
Stonehenge at first sight isn’t as imposing as I had imagined from all the photos and TV programs I had seen. It is just a small cluster of shaped rocks sitting in the midst of the plain ( and now carefully roped off from public damage). But once close up, it is an awe-inspiring sight. Dating back 5000 years, some of the stones were transported here from 240 miles away: a mammoth feat in those days. The purpose of the henge is still debated, as is its astronomical credentials. Lots of theories, not much agreement. Except that the druids had nothing to do with it. The rain and mist and chilling wind all added to the atmosphere of the visit.
Salisbury is a typical medieval town with narrow streets that wander all over the place. The city is dominated by the Cathedral whose spire if the tallest medieval spire in UK. Apparently the German bomber pilots in WWII were under instructions not to destroy the cathedral. They used its spire as a marker to identify where they were, then followed rivers, roads and railways to their targets in the industrial areas. The Avon River runs through the city. BUT there are 9 Avon Rivers around. When the Romans asked the local inhabitants what this place was called, they answered “Avon” which simply means ‘river’: so the Romans gave same name to several unrelated streams.
An hour away by rail motor is the city of Bath. It is noted for its Roman Baths that have been extensively excavated and turned into a very informative tourist attraction. The place has natural hot springs that were used by the Romans for medicinal purposes. A temple to Minerva also graced the site. The spring and main bath have been uncovered and restored: much other excavation is going on under the main city centre. The town is noted of its row after row of Georgian Terrace houses. How anyone would find their way home drunk I cannot say! Captain Arthur Phillip retired here after founding the Sydney settlement. There is a plaque on the house door; and an Australian flag is hung in the Abbey above his memorial stone. Jane Austin lived here and wrote a couple of her novels set in local venues. Mary Shelley stayed here too and wrote Frankenstein while there. A popular place!
A ninety minute ride landed me back at Paddington Station, with nothing but a peak hour tube ride to get me home. Nothing left now but to pack and make it to Heathrow in the morning to catch the Singapore Airlines A380 home.
So the is my Last Post ! It rings down the curtain on what has been a fascinating, thoroughly enjoyable, if somewhat at times tiring, odyssey. Thanks to all for the encouragement to undertake it, and to persevere. I hope the blogs have given you a little flavour of what I have enjoyed.
The last of the photos are here.
1 comment:
Safe home, good friend. Your memories will last. You have deserved this magnificent trip and thanks for your reports. Have thoroughly enjoyed them.
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