Towns & Small Cities of England & Wales

Filandon said:

I should spend more time surfing for not missing wonderful threads like this one. I only have time on week ends and its really enjoyable looking at so much harmony and the special historic atmosphere. Getting lost in the small British country roads is amazing, I've done it three times. Costwolds, Cornwall and Lake district and I have to say that with a big difference those were my favourite excurssions I've had in the UK, much more than visiting the cities. Hope to see much more and thank you for the great work!

Click to expand...

That's fair enough. I can imagine how nice that would have been, winding through the hills of the Cotswolds and Cornwall, then the mountains of the Lake District. It's good that you went north as most foreigners think all the scenery is the same in Britain because they travel around only in the south. The real differences come from north-south. Thanks for visiting mate.

Diggerdog said:

Just mind boggling, the history, the...depth, and just perfect villages and towns...they were built this way for a reason, a purpose, and really so beautiful.
And of course, the pubs

Click to expand...

Many thanks! You're right, and of course the pubs are ever so important - the once most social place in a village besides a church or village hall.

Mr Bricks said:

Beautiful photos.

Click to expand...

Many thanks!

Jaguar said:

It's amazing how lovely looks these towns. I want to travel to Europe NOW!

Click to expand...

Thanks, glad you like. You won't short of these sorts of places all over Europe.

Buckfast Abbey
DEVON

On Thursday 29th August 2013, I visited Buckfast Abbey, which forms part of an active Benedictine monastery at Buckfast, near Buckfastleigh in Devon. Dedicated to Saint Mary, it was founded in 1018 and run by the Cistercian order from 1147 until it was destroyed under the Dissolution of the Monasteries. In 1882 monks began living there again, and today it is a Benedictine foundation.

Buckfast Abbey was founded by Earl Aylward in the reign of King Cnut in 1018. In 1147 it became a Cistercian abbey and was rebuilt in stone. In medieval times, the abbey became rich through fishing and trading in sheep wool, although the Black Death killed two abbots and many monks — by 1377 there were only fourteen monks at Buckfast. On 25th February 1539, William Petre arrived at Buckfast and declared the abbey to be dissolved by order of King Henry VIII. The monks were compelled to leave and the buildings were looted and destroyed. The abbey then stood in ruins for over two hundred years.

A great deal of reconstruction occurred during the 19th and early 20th century (renovation still happens today) but the Abbey was consecrated on 25th August 1932, and the building was finally finished with the laying of the last stone in late 1937.

The Abbey grounds also host gardens and a farm that manufactures Buckfast tonic wine as well as bee keeping taking place.

cardiff said:

Beautiful!

Click to expand...

Thanks mate!

Benonie said:

British gotic architecture is just gorgeous. Nice pics!

Click to expand...

Glad you like it, Buckfast Abbey really looks great after all the restoration work put into it. By the way, I just gave you your 1000th like haha.

yubnub said:

Cool updates, I visited Buckfast Abbey a few years back and it is indeed a very nice place

Click to expand...

Thanks! It's a lovely place, somewhere I had little knowledge about until being told about it.

paul62 said:

Beautiful shots. You are getting around some real nice places.

Click to expand...

Thanks mate! I try my best.

Comfortably Numb said:

Lovely photos Mike. I often hop on here to look at your thread + Jane and Paul's threads as they remind me of home far better than looking at images on Google Street View, because you put thought, skill and creativity into your photography, so that the viewer can actually feel like they're there.

As for this thread, I don't know if you take requests, but living in the midlands, I used to visit lots of beautiful small/medium sized towns in Shropshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. Worcester itself is stunning, but I wish I'd spent more time photographing places such as Bridgnorth, Ironbridge, Shrewsbury, Clun, Malvern. That part of England often gets overlooked because it's so far inland, but it's very unspoiled.

Keep up the good work!

Click to expand...

Thanks for commenting! I'm glad I can provide you with reminders of the UK. I'm also a frequent follower of Jane and Paul's threads. It's great to see the different photographic perspectives and attention to detail from different people.

That's a lovely part of the world. I went to Worcester on a school trip years ago about the prevalence of flooding, remembering the wall by the river where the dated plaques register the height to which the Severn rose each time. Ironbridge was also a very pleasant stop on the way back from a trip to North Wales. I will surely have to visit these other places though. Would help if I had a car of my own. In my view, it's nice to doesn't get descended on by tourists, a well-kept secret if you like.

Many thanks again.

paul62 said:

Beautiful.

Click to expand...

Thanks mate!

Amrafel said:

Really beautiful pictures. I hope I will find time (and money ) to visit some of these towns. But for now, I want to see more pictures! :cheers:

Click to expand...

Thank you! More pictures coming up.

openlyJane said:

The abbey provides such a striking sight!

I love coming across these sorts of views - particularly in the west country.

There is a magical place called 'Owlpen' in Gloucestershire: you descend and descend down a winding approach road, and there before you is the most enchanting scene of Owlpen manor and church.

Click to expand...

Thanks Jane! Yes, the view from further up the hill down is a beautiful one, could have just done with a bit more sunshine.

I've just google searched Owlpen and it does indeed look idyllic, especially in the autumn colours. Perhaps a visit is in order!

Tyntesfield
NORTH SOMERSET

Tyntesfield is a Victorian Gothic Revival house and estate near Wraxall, North Somerset, just southwest of Bristol. I visited the Grade I listed building on Saturday 21st September 2013.

The house is named after the Tynte baronets, who had owned estates in the area since about 1500. The location was formerly that of a 16th-century hunting lodge, which was used as a farmhouse until the early 19th century. In the 1830s a Georgian mansion was built on the site, and this was bought by English businessman William Gibbs. In the 1860s, Gibbs had the house significantly expanded and remodelled; later, a chapel being added in the 1870s. The Gibbs family owned the house until the death of Richard Gibbs in 2001.

The grounds not only comprise the house itself but also a very pleasant garden with extensive open grass space and woodland, with an orangery further down the main drive. Access is from above, providing a downhill walk to the house, views looking south towards the Mendip Hills.

For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyntesfield

paul62 said:

Beautiful place.
Good update.

Click to expand...

christos-greece said:

^^ Amazing, very nice updates Mike

Click to expand...

Many thanks both!