Basildon Essex – Basildon is a new town in Essex, created in 1949 after the Second World War, it was intended to house those who suffered due to the bombing in London and the destruction of many of its neighbourhoods. Part of its population comes from East London, near the docks. Basildon was created from four small villages, Pitsea, Basildon, Laindon and Vange. The first reference to Basildon in historical annals is in the Domesday Book, (records of 1086) being referred to as “Belesduna”. Basildon’s name means “the hill” and the words come from Anglo-Saxon, “Beorhtel” and “dun.” Throughout the centuries and in different historical documents, Basildon will be called in different names such as: Berdlesdon, Batlesdon and Belesduna. Within the district of Billericay, we can see a house dating from 1620 where the Pilgrim Fathers met, before emigrating to America on the Mayflower. Basildon today has a population of 185,000, it is situated to the south-east of Brentwood, to the south-east of Billericay and to the north-west of Southend-on-Sea, South Benfleet and Canvey Island.
April 11, 2012
May 22, 2013
Isla Cristina Andalucia Spain
Isla Cristina Andalucia Spain – Located in the not so touristy Costa de la Luz region of Andalucia, the resort of Isla Cristina will not be know to most British holidaymakers, but should not be ignores as a possible destination for your holiday this year. With fabulous unspoilt beaches, a charming fishing port and excellent weather conditions, Isla Cristina might be just what you are looking for in a peaceful vacation. It might be a good idea to avoid late July and August in Isla Cristina, as thousands head here from Seville, but any other time you can expect an enjoyable stay. Isla Cristina can be reached from either Seville airport or Faro airport in nearby Portugal.
May 21, 2013
Alcudia Majorca A Brief History
A Brief History of Alcudia Majorca – We have heard that the human occupation of Alcudia occurred in PreTalayotic period (2000-1200 BC). The talayots megalithic constructions that give name to the culture talayotic (1200 -123 BC) are found in the area. Of that still today we highlight the village of Son Simon. The Roman consul Quintus Caecilius Metellus joined Mallorca to the Roman Republic in 123 BC and founded the cities of Palma and Pollentia. The archaeological remains of the city of Pollentia, located a few meters from the centre of Alcudia, demonstrate the growing economic prosperity that the city enjoyed, stately houses, a theatre, shops and other public and private buildings are good examples. The barbarian invasions in the fifth century took Pollentia into a process of decay and destruction. The Vandals sacked the city between 425 and 455, suggested by evidence found in archaeological excavations. In 902, the Arabs conquered Mallorca and it was incorporated in the Emirate of Cordoba. In 1015 it became part of the Taifa of Denia. During Muslim rule (902-1229) Alcudia was called El Alqueria, which means the hill, and some names like Guinyent, Biniatria, or Gatamoix Alcanada are faithful witnesses of Muslim domination. After the addition of Mallorca in the Crown of Aragon in 1229, King James I divided the island into 8 parts, four were left to the monarch himself and the other four were for nobles who had helped in the conquest of the island. From 1298 construction of the first city walls began, which ended in 1362. The walls served to protect not only the town but also the north of the island. The town of Alcudia has a layout of medieval enclosures, conditioned by two walls that surround it. The streets are narrow and irregular, some buildings still have characteristic elements of the heyday of the city and are of great architectural value. Alcudia today is a popular tourist destination, in particular the port area, where visitors enjoy the sunny weather and the fine beaches.
Calella de la Costa
Calella is a seaside town on the Costa Maresme (Catalonia), it has over 18,000 inhabitants, it is properly called Calella de la Costa, so as not to confuse it with another town called Calella de la Palafrugell. In the 1970s and until the mid- 1990s, Calella was an important tourist destination for European tourists (especially German, English, Dutch, French and Danish), being known popularly as “the Germans Calella”, reaching triple its population during the peak tourist season (which coincides with the end of spring, summer and early autumn) when the weather is at its best. Though not quite so popular these days, Calella today welcomes visitors from all over Europe.
April 17, 2013
Stone Buckinghamshire
Stone Buckinghamshire – A pretty little village situated near to the town of Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire (Bucks), Stone has a population of about 2,500 and has been in existence since Saxon times (being called Stanes in the Doomsday Book). Stone lies on the A418 road between Aylesbury and Thame (Oxfordshire) and is one of the many villages which surround the town of Aylesbury, other include Stoke Mandeville, Bierton, West Turville and Aston Clinton. Stone was formerly the location of an asylum called St John’s Hospital, this was closed down in the early 1990’s, and the land developed for new housing.
January 21, 2013
Silsden West Yorkshire
Silsden West Yorkshire – A small town of approximately 8,000 inhabitants, Silsden in West Yorkshire lies in the Aire River Valley to the south-east of Skipton. A historic town, Silsden was listed in the Domesday Book and was considered the most significant village in the Craven district at this time (1086). Originally agricultural Silsden became involved in industry with the arrival of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the emergence of the Indistrial Revolution. Some of the old mills that were built during this time still remain as a testament of its former glory. Silsden is about 8.4 miles from Skipton.
January 18, 2013
Municipality and Town of Andratx
The municipality of Andratx is located in the south-west of the island of Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands. It is one of the most attractive destinations on the island, thanks to its location within the island of Majorca, in the south-west of the Sierra de Tramuntana.
Andratx offers a wide variety of landscapes, from breathtaking mountain scenery inland valleys and spectacular coastline, with small coves and sandy beaches that invite a refreshing swim in crystal blue waters.
In Andratx there are many things to see. There are many possibilities for enjoying nature and sport. You can discover places of great beauty through interesting hiking and cycling routes, taking advantage of modern sports and family fun, or enjoy a day of golf, practice all kinds of water sports or swimming.
There are also many cultural events that animate the town and its surroundings. Festivals, exhibitions, theatre and concerts fill the cultural agenda for the twelve months of the year.
The cultural, natural and ethnological elements are also important. There are many testimonies of these around the town, churches and chapels, stately homes and possessions, the defense and surveillance towers, lighthouses. But, the Parque Natural de sa Dragonera and Trapa Nature Reserve are the main attractions of the municipality of Andratx region
The hotels and restaurants in Andratx are of high quality, and one among the best on the island. Hotels and agritourism are the different options you can choose in Andratx for a pleasant stay. There are also many restaurants on the coast and in the interior, where you can taste the most varied national and international cuisine, without forgetting the specialty of the local cuisine, in particular, fish.
All these activities and opportunities available to those who visit Andratx, one of the most beautiful corners of Mallorca.
January 11, 2013
Cheap Spanish Holiday Apartments Costa Blanca
Cheap Spanish Holiday Apartments Costa Blanca – Feel free to use our new website which features a large selection of cheap holiday apartments in Spain. The website currently concentrates on the southern Costa Blanca, but will be expanded to feature the whole of Spain in good time. As usual we have added a feed where you can browse the most recently added pages. Latest pages include Torrevieja, La Mata and the many resorts of the Orihuela Costa.
July 31, 2012
Wokingham Family History Drop In
Wokingham Family History Drop In – Today you can attend an interesting family history drop in, by heading down to Wokingham Library, where you can get expert advice on how to trace your family and ancestors. An ideal activity for you if the weather is not so good, this family history drop in will attract plenty of visitors. There are members of the Berkshire Family History Society on hand to help you with every aspect of building your family tree. If you do not live in Wokingham you can get a train to Wokingham Railway Station, catch a bus or drive to the town which is situated near to the M$ motorway to the south-east of Reading.
July 29, 2012
Holiday Lets in Playa Flamenca Spain
Holiday Lets in Playa Flamenca Spain – Looking for a holiday in Spain? Then you could do little better than the lovely beach resort of Playa Flamenca, located on the Orihuela Costa to the south of Torrevieja on the southern Costa Blanca. Sandwiched between the resorts of Punta Prima and La Zenia, Playa Flamenca has a couple of fine sandy beaches, great facilities and good access to airports, transport routes and places of interest. For those seeking a holiday there is a wide choice of self-catering villas and apartments available for holiday lets in Playa Flamenca, so you should have no problem finding something which suits your needs.
June 9, 2012
Torquay Devon
Torquay is a town on the south coast of England, in the County of Devon and extending along the coast of Torbay. In the nineteenth century was known as the English Riviera for its healthy climate. Among the various origins of its name, the most accepted is the word torr or tower, Old English, and designating the small hills of southwest England. It is present in several names of Devon and Cornwall. Remains found in a rock known as “the face”, located in a cave called Kent, demonstrate that Roman troops arrived in Torquay when Britain belonged to the Roman Empire. The first construction of prominence in Torquay was Torre Abbey, a monastery founded in 1196. The favorable climate of Torquay attracted many visitors, especially to convalesce, and mostly coming from cold northern regions. The population of Torquay grew apace passing 838 inhabitants in 1801 to 11,474 in 1851. There are currently 70,214 people living in Torquay. Nearby resorts and towns include Paignton, Babbacombe and Teignmouth.
June 5, 2012
Blackpool Lancashire
Blackpool is an English coastal town on the Irish Sea. Traditionally, part of the county Lancashire, but was on 1 April 1998 made an independent unitary authority. Blackpool has three piers, Blackpool Tower was built in 1894 and represents a 158 metre high copy of the Eiffel Tower. The outer skin was gold plated, after the building was allowed to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Along the beach promenade of the town run Trams which – have long been the only ones in the British Isles – after the abolition of the regular trams in the 1950s and 1960s. Since the late 20th Century, however, the tram networks in many British cities expanded again. To date, unique in Europe, the double-decker trams in Blackpool. From the 19th Century the town was a special destination for the northern English working class. The amusement park Blackpool Pleasure Beach is one of the largest in Europe. Blackpool is located to the north of Liverpool.
June 4, 2012
Plymouth Devon
Plymouth is a city in the county of Devon, in southwest England. Plymouth has a population of over 250,000 inhabitants. It lies between the River Plym and Tamar River and is part of one of the largest and most spectacular natural harbours in the world. The city has a rich maritime past and was one of the most important foundations of the United Kingdom. Because of this it was a prime target for the Luftwaffe during World War II. The Port of Plymouth Line has a ferry that connects to the city of Santander, in Spain.
St Austell Cornwall
St Austell is a town on the southern coast of the English county of Cornwall, England. In 2001 St Austell had 22,658 inhabitants and is the largest town in Cornwall. After the 18th Century large kaolin deposits had been discovered, creating a significant kaolin industry. By about 1850 the St Austell Clay District employed some 7,000 men, women and children. In the town itself is the St Austell Brewery, producing traditional ale supplies. The brewery has since 1893 been held by the founding family. In 2003, the brewery tried the first whiskey distilling in Cornwall. The first bottles of the relatively small production went on sale in 2011. Near to St Austell are a number of towns and coastal resorts, important for tourism in the area, these include Par, Mevagissey, Polperro and Looe.
May 8, 2012
Darlington County Durham
Darlington County Durham – Darlington is a town in the north-east of England, not far from Durham. In 1974, this town was gathered with other localities to form the borough of Darlington in County Durham. Since 1st April 1997, the Borough of Darlington has the status of unitary authority that made it independent from the county of Durham. Darlington is two hours and forty minutes train ride from London by the East Coast Main Line. Darlington is twinned with Amiens (France). The local newspaper is the daily newspaper The Northern Echo. The town is proud of its railway heritage. The Darlington Borough Council and Morrison Supermarkets commissioned the artist David Mach in 1994 to create a large-scale sculpture entitled “Train”, to be installed on the Darlington site to commemorate the first British railway, the line from Stockton to Darlington. At 40 m long, this is the largest outdoor sculpture ever made in England and was opened on June 24, 1997.
