The original county town of Buckinghamshire, Buckingham was replaced by Aylesbury during the 16th century. A settlement since Saxon times it was founded by the Saxon chieftain Bucca close to the River Great Ouse. The town was controlled at various times by both Danes and Saxons as the two rivals battled with each other. A market town since ancient times, Buckingham still holds 2 weekly markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays and also holds a monthly Farmers Market. Buckingham these days has a population of 11,572 though is an expanding town so this will no doubt grow over the coming years. Its historic centre and market place is mostly unspoilt and boasts a number of fine 18th century buildings. The University of Buckingham is situated roughly where the original Saxon settlement was located in a loop of the Great Ouse, attracting academics and students to Buckingham from Buckinghamshire, Oxford and the rest of the UK.
December 6, 2010
November 24, 2010
Carlisle Cumbria
Its position just south of Hadrian’s Wall has meant that Carlisle has always over the centuries, been continually contested by the English and the Scots, as the two battled for possession of the town. Carlisle Castle was built in 1092 by William Rufus, and many of its original features can still be seen today, including the keep and the main gate. If you are visiting Carlisle, be sure to take a peek at Carlisle cathedral, with its fine vaulted ceiling, and some original Norman sections. Also worth a look is the Jacobean Tullie House, which now hosts an art galley and museum. The city is situated at the confluence of 3 rivers, and when the weather is fine thare can be no better way to spend a couple of hours than to take a stroll along the River Eden. Carlisle is in the county of Cumbria and can be reached by road using the M6, it is a 126 mile drive from Liverpool.
November 11, 2010
Hertford Hertfordshire
A town and parish located in the county of Hertfordshire, England, Hertford has a population of around 24,000 and a history going back to Anglo-Saxon times, when it acquired its name which no doubt refers to its position on a ford over the River Lea, where harts (or stags) would have crossed. First recorded as a town in 673, Hertford was a significant town by the time of the Norman conquest, having mills, churches and markets already established. The Normans built a castle in the town and there was also a priory erected, which remained until the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century. Hertford grew prosperous over the centuries and especially after the arrival of a canal in 1767 and the railway in the mid-nineteenth century. Hertford has been the county town of Hertfordshire since Saxon times, and has retained its importance in the affairs of the county. Major landmarks in the town include Hertford Castle, with some original sections, the Robert Adam designed Shire Hall (1779), Wallace House, the Corn Exchange and the Hertford Museum. Hertford lies at the confluence of four rivers, them main one being the River Lea, and when the weather is fine there can be no better way to spend a few hours than to take a stroll along the river, or even hire a boat and cruise along the river itself.
October 25, 2010
Puerto de la Cruz Tenerife
The biggest and most popular tourist resort on the north coast of Tenerife, Puerto de la Cruz has a population of just under 32,000, and a history going back to the 17th century, when it was founded as Puerto de la Orotava, a port serving the town of La Orotava, and for a time significant for the export of wines produced in the area. The decline of the port due both to a drop in wine production and to the severe weather conditions experienced along this stretch of Tenerife’s coast, meant much of its activity was moved to santa Cruz de Tenerife. Renamed Puerto de la Cruz in 1831, the town began to attract tourists by the end of the 19th century, and towards the end of the 20th century, saw something of a tourist boom, as thousands visited Tenerife, to enjoy some winter sunshine and escape the dreary weather of their native countries. Having the disadvantage of rough seas and less than perfect beaches, Puerto de la Cruz, saw the construction of man made beaches, lidos and seawater pools to enable holidaymakers to get the most from their visit.
Alcaniz Aragon
The capital of the Bajo Aragon district of eastern Aragon, the town of Alcaniz stands on the banks of the Guadalope river, some 430 kilometres from the countries capital Madrid. Overlooked by its castle which was formerly the HQ of the Order of Calatrava, Alcaniz has a population of 16,392, and a history going back to the Moorish occupation. It suffered various conflicts before finally being taken from muslim control in 1179, by Alfonso II of Aragon. Places to visit in Alcaniz include the Santa Maria la Mayor church, the town hall, the Lonja and the castle which has now been turned into a parador (hotel). Alcaniz can be reached from the N-232, between Hijar and Monroyo, 120 km from Zaragoza, the regional capital.
October 22, 2010
Tarazona Aragon
Situated in the valley of the River Queiles at a distance of 86 kilometres from the city of Zaragoza, the town of Tarazona lies in the foothills of the Moncayo, at a crossroads between the Spanish regions of Aragon, Navarre, Castilla and La Rioja. Accessible only by road, as it has no railway connections, Tarazona has a population of about 11,000 and a history going back to before the Roman invasion of Spain. The earliest remains date from the 1st century BC, and the Romans called the town Turiaso, at which time it was a thriving city. Later controlled by the Moors it was reconquered for the Christians by Alfonso I in 1119. An interesting place to visit, especially if you are interested in Mudejar architecture, Tarazona now relies a great deal on tourism for its survival though it has been important for textiles and matches. Tarazona is to the north-west of Zaragoza.