Just for fun, this post is a bit different from my usual posts where I talk about photo editing. This post is about a day trip in the country where I am currently living, England. Somewhat ironically, July 4th was a day off and therefore an ideal day for a short road trip. So this is how I spent July 4th in England.
I have a lot of favorite things about England, but one of them is English Heritage, which cares for more than 400 sites of historic significance. You can visit and pay for site visits individually, but for a history nerd enthusiast, really a membership is the way to go. We have about one year before our next country move, and our English Heritage membership will run out in the Spring, so the clock is ticking…
Our first stop of the day was to the Eleanor Cross in Geddingon.
It’s in the middle of the road in the middle of town, so hard to miss, but pay attention if you are trying to take photos! This cross is a memorial to Eleanor of Castile, wife of Edward I, who died in 1290.
Also nearby:
This is a George V postbox. Not part of English Heritage, but if I am out and about and there is a postbox, I’m taking a photo.
From there we were on to Kirby Hall:
Originally built during the reign of Elizabeth I, a visit here includes an interesting audio guide about the history and architecture of the house. Also on site:
You won’t be able to miss these guys and girls, particularly if you are having a picnic lunch. While they would love for you to feed them, staff on site would ask that you not do that.
From there it was on to Lyddington Bede House:
This shot from the interior eludes to the religious history of the site. The house has had several functions over the years, and signs around the property fill in the story for visitors. Here is a shot from the front of the house:
The church in the background is St. Andrew’s Church and here is a shot of the graveyard:
The church is not English Heritage, it is an operational, and very lovely, Church of England Church. Like postboxes, if there is a churchyard nearby, I am there taking a photo.
Our last stop of the day was to Rushton Triangular Lodge:
A really interesting folly built in 1593. It has its own blog post here.
I hope you have enjoyed this little detour road trip style post. My cameras for this outing were my Canon 80D and my iPhone. All the photos have had at least minor edits feel free to leave a comment or any questions below.
Photos of my travels are likely to turn up in my Instagram feed, as that peacock did, so feel free to follow me there:
Cheers!
Written in response to Lens-Artists Challenge, A Country that is Special to You.
Nice road-trip 🙂 always fine to discover something new and unknown whereever 🚴♀️
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I agree, there’s nothing like exploring a new place.
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These are great photos! I am not much of a history enthusiast – my poor grades in history can attest to that, but I do appreciate culture and history.
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Yes, and there is a big difference between learning about something in school and being able to see it in person in my opinion.
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I’ve been there! and There!! and There!!!
A very interesting post, it sounds like a great trip. I’m glad to hear you’ve enjoying living on our little island and I fully agree with the EH membership – it’s a great idea if you get out a lot. We’ve been members for years. The NT is also good, but has gone downhill a lot since I joined in about 2002.
Great photos!
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Thanks, and we really are enjoying our time here. We also have a National Trust membership, we technically are Royal Oak members, which is the American branch (lol) of the National Trust. I think that the two compliment each other.
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Ah okay, they do that a lot with other heritage organisations in other countries – it’s always a useful thing to have.
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I really enjoyed this post, Amy. Definitely different from what you usually do but it was a fun walk along in the country with you 🙂 A membership is always great because it’ll allow you to revisit a place more than once if you want to. You and your postboxes…it is an interesting subject to photograph and so amazing how there’s a place for postal in this digital world. Were the peacocks the same peacock?
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Yes, and this will probably make you laugh, it turns out that you can purchase decommissioned postboxes! Guess who is probably going to just that lol.
Those are two different peacocks, there were several on the property.
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Wow, purchasing decommisioned postboxes is a thing! Never heard of it but I am guessing an original one could fetch a bit of a price. You can put yours in your yard 😀
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Yes, the price variance on them is a lot depending on the type and monarch. And yes, I would find a spot for it 🙂
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I love these, what a great day trip
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Yes, we had fun 🙂
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A lovely day Amy-lucky you. LOL for your last shot. Where are you heading after your year in England ???
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We will be back in the United States for at least a few years. Our plans are always subject to change, but it will be the US.
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Yes, I enjoyed the outing, thanks! I’ve not been to any of these places, Amy. 🙂 🙂
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Thanks, all worth visiting of course, but places you might not get too unless you were here for awhile.
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Love this – and as you say, not your ordinary post! So you are a history woman, just like Patti! My favorites here are the religious room, where you have really caught the serene feeling, and the very special triangular house – Thank you for always being supportive!
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And thank you very much for being a host of this challenge. I know I’m not an every week contributor, but I do really enjoy following along.
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Amy – we are so glad whenever you find the time to contribute! It is the fun and enjoying that counts most!
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So fun, Amy! I really enjoyed “walking along with you” on this day’s journey. Your ability to capture a mood came across especially in the Lyddington Bede House shot. And that Eleanor Cross – such a contrast between the monument and the road right next to it. (grin) I liked your notes that you will always take a photo of a postbox and of a cemetery/graveyard. Cute!
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I guess there is one thing to know about me, there are certain things that I don’t walk right past without taking a second look and those include postboxes and cemeteries. 🙂
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fun!
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Thank you so much for the lovely tour. Enjoyed seeing this historical place via your beautiful photos. Thank you, Amy!
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Thanks very much, Amy, I have really enjoyed this photo challenge over the past year, so thank you for being a host.
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Thank you for showing us your editing techniques!
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🙂
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Very nice pictures! How did the peacock take it when you didn’t share your lunch??? 🙂
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They were really persistent! My guess would be that if you accidentally dropped something, they would get to it first. They were that close!
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Nice! I know at some of the zoos here in the US they let the Peacocks walk around. I got really lucky one time and saw one with its feathers open, and managed to snap a picture too! I should really get that on my photo page 🙂
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I’ve seen that in real life as well, and it’s quite a display that they put on. Unfortunately, it was not to be this time around.
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Excellent!
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Thanks very much.
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There seems to be history everywhere you turn in the “old country”, and you are so adept at depicting it beautifully!
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You are right, it is everywhere. That’s is something we have really enjoyed.
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Thank you so much for the tour! I really enjoyed tagging along… and that peacock!
I’ve been enjoying the gorgeous weather so I missed some of your posts… I just got caught up with you!
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Happy to see you back, but glad that you’ve had some nice weather and have been out and about 🙂
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Eleanor Cross and the Triangular House were absolutely fantastic.
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Thank you very much 🙂
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some great shots!
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Thanks very much!
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