England Self Catering

The history of Canterbury cathedral is rich and famous around the world. Not only is this cathedral haunted by ghosts, but it has been home to many great events of history. It is famously known as the site where Thomas Becket was killed by knights sent by Henry II in 1170. It is still possible to see the very spot of his murder.

However, the ghosts that haunt Canterbury cathedral are unrelated to Becket’s bloody murder. The ghost of another Archbishop, Simon Sudbury, is said to roam the Cathedral. He too was murdered in 1381, and his body and head were buried separately though his ghost has both a head and body.

One of the most well-known ghosts of the cathedral is Nell Cook, who was once a servant there. She poisoned her employer upon discovery that he was having an affair, which killed both the man and his lover. This act led to Nell being buried alive under the passage known as the Dark Entry.

It is now thought that Nell’s ghost haunts that passageway, and she is often spotted after darkness on Friday evenings. Those who are unfortunate enough to spot the ghost are said to perish not long after.

Blackpool Illuminations is an annual festival founded in 1879 which is held each autumn in the town.

The festival runs annually for sixty six days, spanning from late August until early November The amazing array of lights run for six miles and are believed to use over one million light bulbs. The display stretches along the Promenade from Starr Gate at the southern end of the town to Bispham.

Originally described as Artificial sunshine the first display consisted of just twelve Arc lamps which gleemed along the Promenade. The first display which showed any resemblece to todays was held in May 1912 to mark the first British Royal family visit to Blackpool when Princess Louise opened a new section of the Promenade, know today as Princess Parade. The Promenade was decorated with what was said be described as festoons of garland lamps using about 10,000 light bulbs.

The event was such a success, that in 1913 the council asked to stage the Illuminations as an end of season event.

In more recent years, BBC Radio 2 have hosted the event with a pre-switch on concert featuring bands, singers and comedians.

Source: Blackpool.

Beach huts of the future will be displayed in an exhibition at a Norfolk resort next month.

The exhibition of futuristic designs came about after a worldwide competition for architects to imagine beach huts in the 21st Century.

More than 240 entries were sent in by architects from 15 different countries across four continents.

The Bathing Beauties exhibition is to be mounted at The Henry Blogg Museum in Cromer from Saturday 4 October.

Jim Bond, the architect who designed the North Norfolk District Council offices, has brought the exhibition to Cromer and his own Top Shed will be one of the 50 or so models on show.

Jim said: “It has special significance as the town lost so many of its beach huts in the November storms – it shows they can be so much more than a painted shed.”

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/7637106.stm

Echo Beach, first broadcast in the UK in 2008, was a brand new idea. Although it was a soap, the show was there to link up with a comedy series called Moving Wallpaper. The show preceded Echo Beach, following the “story writers” deciding on the story lines for that weeks filming. The programmes were cleverly linked with items and plots discussed in Moving Wallpaper appearing in the Echo Beach episode that followed. The Cornish town of Polperro provided the backdrop of the fictional town of Polnarren, with many locations used around the local area.

Read more on the Polperro Guide website: Echo Beach and Polperro.

Evidence of settlement have been found dating as far back as the Iron Age. There are no real records until after the Roman Conquest when Shropshire was colonised. The settlement we know as Wem was founded by the Saxons and called Wamm. This name came from the marshes that are found around the River Roden which runs through the town. Over the centuries the name has been corrupted, finally settling on Wem.

In 1202 Wem was granted a Market Charter by King John. Until 1351 the market was held on a Sunday, when it moved to a Tuesday. The market is still held on a Tuesday in the town today.

The Shaldon Bridge crosses the River Teign; this bridge has had many ghost sightings and reports are extremely recent – only going back to the mid 90s. Apparently, a young boys clothing was found on the bridge – no one ever owned up to owning the clothes and nobody has ever been found. Another person reported seeing a tall, cloaked figure in the middle of the bridge. Seconds later, he had disappeared as quickly as he showed up…

Read more about the ghosts and legends of Devon at Teignmouth Online.

If action is your thing, Padstow and the areas around here serve up a simply stunning amount of water-sports activities, from surfing to sailing to water skiing, you name it, it all within very easy reach from this highly popular location, or for the less adventurous, how about a relaxing boat trip either up the River Camel or across to the other side of the river to the village of Rock, nick named by locals Chelsea on the Sea, for it’s very expensive homes and residences. Again from here the choice of activities and beaches is truly bewildering. Padstow really does have something for everyone! (more…)

Bamburgh lies on the North East Coast of England, but this wasn’t always the case. In Neolithic times, it is thought that the sea level was much lower than it is today and the current coastline was well inland.

Evidence of neolithic nomads has been found in the area of Bamburgh in the shape of tools. It is thought that people soon settled to farm the fertile lands of the area including a period of deforestation during the Bronze Age. (more…)

One of the most famous legends associated with Cornwall, particularly Tintagel, is that of King Arthur. What is fiction and what is fact with regards to King Arthur is somewhat blurred, although the story remains as compelling as ever. (more…)

The White Cliffs of Dover are not only a National Treasure but an important historical site overlooking the English Channel, facing the Strait of Dover and France.

The cliff face reaches up to 350 feet high and is a brilliant white colour due to it’s composition of chalk with thin streaks of black flint.

Facing towards Europe across the narrowest part of the English Channel, the cliffs have been host to many historical invasions. They have also become a symbol of ‘returning home’ to many travellers, particularly prior to air travel.