Escape Into History — September Newsletter
Welcome to the Escape Into History Newsletter #2.
August was a consolidation month for Escape Into History, and nine stories are now showcased under three fairly arbitrary time periods. These will be split as stories crowd in. I’m all about ease of finding what you want to read. On that score…
Prehistory
For its size, these islands on the eastern edge of the Atlantic Ocean have a wealth of visitable sites. The White Horse of Uffington sits on a Neolithic trading route, the Ridgeway, in southern England, but the people there would know of, and maybe visited, the Brú na Bóinne in Ireland and marvelled at the passage tomb we call Newgrange.
The other site in this group is Grimes Graves. These 400 shafts set in 91 acres of chalk grassland have nothing to do with the Norse God ‘Grim’ (Odin), and everything to do with extracting from deep underground the ‘cutting-edge’ tool of the time — flint — all extracted with antler picks.
Saxon/Viking
The 6th century Sutton Hoo Ship Burial mentioned in the inaugural newsletter, as yet stands alone, but it won’t for long. There are plans!
Medieval/Tudor
If your preference is for castellated stone buildings in true chocolate-box form, Leeds Castle and its ‘Five Royal Queens and an American Heiress’ will hit the spot. However, don’t disparage a little more timber and white-washed lathe & plaster. Gainsborough Old Hall, dating from 1460, remains relatively untouched so gives a true perspective of how a medieval hall and apartments looked. Its vast kitchen is worthy of a royal residence, and is the best-preserved in the country.
For a more modest property dating from the later 16th century, the building of Kiplin Hall by the man who accidentally forged a USA state, and the woman who fought to save the hall from 20th century destruction, could entice a dalliance, or two.
Latest
The newest addition to the publication is Oakham Castle’s Great Hall, where embracing a medieval snub, and a decisive battle in 1470, left an ever-expanding array of gilded horseshoes hanging from its walls.
Finally
The annual Heritage Weekend is upon us where local Civic and Historical societies up and down the country lay on events. You may be reading this far from the United Kingdom, but the combined website can offer glimpses of an array of sites. 102 talks, displays or tours can be viewed online from the comfort of an armchair. Enjoy!
There’ll be another newsletter round-up next month. Be sure you’ve signed up for it.
