English Heritage

Stokesay Castle

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Attraction | "When is a Castle not a Castle?"

Stokesay Castle Photo - Stokesay Castle, Shropshire, England

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Stokesay Castle technically isn’t actually a castle. It is a fortified medieval manor house, so it has a turret, but was more the home of a wealthy, aspirational merchant than the site of battles (other than the domestic variety perhaps). The house is now owned and managed by English Heritage. It is located near the Shropshire village of Craven Arms close to the Welsh borders, and you access it through the grounds of the nearby church.As the Anglo-Welsh wars came to a close, towards to end of the 13th Century, local wool merchant Laurence of Ludlow bought the property and built on it, (there had been a property on this site since the Norman Conquest) and according to extensive tree-ring...Read More

Stokesay Castle technically isn’t actually a castle. It is a fortified medieval manor house, so it has a turret, but was more the home of a wealthy, aspirational merchant than the site of battles (other than the domestic variety perhaps). The house is now owned and managed by English Heritage. It is located near the Shropshire village of Craven Arms close to the Welsh borders, and you access it through the grounds of the nearby church.

As the Anglo-Welsh wars came to a close, towards to end of the 13th Century, local wool merchant Laurence of Ludlow bought the property and built on it, (there had been a property on this site since the Norman Conquest) and according to extensive tree-ring dating, a lot of his original building still remains. As you arrive you walk through an impressive 17th century gatehouse. This is large and imposing, but at the time of my visit was sadly covered in scaffolding and net due to essential renovations so we were unable to explore it. Looking at the pictures on the postcards and guide books it shows that it is a lovely building, and hopefully the work will be completed soon. Once through the gatehouse the audio tour (included in your admission) starts, and you press the first number on the keypad of your handset. One of the first parts you come to is the Great Hall, there would have been a large fireplace in the centre of the hall, smoke rising within it (it is two stories high), the windows had shutters and there is an impressive timber roof, all showing what a successful man Laurence of Ludlow was. There are many annexes to the house, and in some you will see furniture and artifacts representative of the era, and one contained Laurence of Ludlow’s extended family tree which I found quite interesting. The Solar Block (private apartments) also contains some 17th century renovations, including lots of wood paneling and carving and a slit in the wall to spy on the goings on in the great hall below.

The South Tower, was defensive in name only (the residents surrendered without fighting at the only know incidence of a military attack during the civil war in 1645), but you can climb up it for some lovely panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. There are slits at the top for firing bows and arrows, so possibly the owners expected a form of attack at some point.

I visited in winter and I don’t think you get the best of the building and its surrounds at that time, there are gardens and an empty moat (presumably for decorative purposes as the house is on a slight slope) and I think when the gardens are in full bloom they would be much nicer, I also would have loved to see the gatehouse in all its glory, so I recommend checking the English Heritage website to check if the work is still going on. Obviously a medieval house doesn’t have central heating or electric lights, so if visiting in the winter it will be cold and quite dark. The staircases are narrow and steep and this is a consideration for people with limited mobility or with pushchairs or wheelchairs.

There is a free car park just the other side of the church and access is mainly cobbled, and you walk through the church grounds to get to the castle. There was a service going on when we went, so we couldn’t visit the church, but I understand it is quite nice inside. As always, the staff at these places are very friendly and enthusiastic. Admission is £5.50 for adults (from April 2010) but free if you are an English Heritage member. This includes a free audio tour. The tour lasts 30-40 minutes and is narrated by an actress playing the part of one of the ladies of the house. It is quite interesting and informative, with the appropriate household sound effects in the background. It does occur to me that younger visitors might not enjoy it so much. There is a gift shop which sells relevant and tasteful gifts from medieval themed books to cute, cuddly toy sheep. The gifts are reasonably priced and I bought a postcard of the gatehouse for 35p. Guidebooks were available for £2.99. Apparently in summer months there is also a tea shop within the castle. There are also toilets on site, but we didn’t visit them. The castle is open everyday from spring to autumn, but only four days a week in the winter. The castle is available to hire for functions, so may close early on these days, so this is worth checking if you are planning to visit later in the day.

I do recommend a visit if you are in the area, although it is one of the pricier places. I do think that weather needs to be a factor though and if you can schedule your visit for the warmer months when the garden will be in bloom, I think this will be an advantage.
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on February 22, 2010

Stokesay Castle
Stokesay
Shropshire, England

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Wroxeter Roman City

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Attraction | "Go Roamin' with the Romans"

Wroxeter Roman City Photo - Wroxeter Roman City, Wroxeter, England

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The Roman City of Wroxeter was discovered 150 years ago and was a popular visitor attraction for the Victorians, including Charles Dickens. Going by its Roman name of Viroconium, the site was the fourth largest Roman town in Britain. Originally a Roman fortress, after it was abandoned it became a civilian town and popular retirement home for former Roman soldiers. Obviously not very much remains some 1800-2000 years in the future, but it is still very interesting nonetheless.After you park in the free car park, you walk into the entrance which doubles as a gift shop, and where there are clean, well-stocked but fairly uninspiring toilets available. The staff were welcoming and friendly...Read More

The Roman City of Wroxeter was discovered 150 years ago and was a popular visitor attraction for the Victorians, including Charles Dickens. Going by its Roman name of Viroconium, the site was the fourth largest Roman town in Britain. Originally a Roman fortress, after it was abandoned it became a civilian town and popular retirement home for former Roman soldiers. Obviously not very much remains some 1800-2000 years in the future, but it is still very interesting nonetheless.

After you park in the free car park, you walk into the entrance which doubles as a gift shop, and where there are clean, well-stocked but fairly uninspiring toilets available. The staff were welcoming and friendly, and after checking our membership card, handed over our free audio tour handsets. Before starting the tour we had a walk around the museum. It is only a small museum, but well laid out and informative. The descriptions were clear, and I felt I got a better understanding of the site, its origins and how it was used. There are also artefacts found at the site. After this we went outside and started the audio tour. I estimate it took about 40 minutes but it was very cold, as it is an open site in the middle of a field with no shelter. The audio tour takes you around the site, and you stop at a numbered plaque and press the corresponding number on the handset's keypad. There is often a little bit of info on the plaques showing an artist's impression of what the site looked like when it was being used. Usually you are looking at a few brick remains, sometimes they have been marked out with more modern bricks to show a clearer explanation of how it was supposed to look. Whilst most of the site is at quite a low level the dividing North wall of the baths is still there.

Originally, the public baths were outside, but I am guessing that the Romans hadn't factored in a West Midlands winter! Subsequently large covered baths were built, but these would still have limited use in the winter, as they would be reliant on the natural light. As well as exploring all parts of the baths, and how they operated we also 'see' the market area and our narrator on the audio tour, a former Roman soldier, really brings the town to life, complete with sound effects of markets and Roman baths in the background. Not all the site has been excavated, but it really is impressive how much they have discovered and managed to piece together from such a small area. This is far from being the most comprehensive Roman site in Britain, but they have done a good job with what they have.

If you enjoy Roman history, or indeed history in general than I think this is well worth a visit, the admission for adults is £4.40 (from April 2010) and this includes the audio tour. It is free to members of English Heritage who manage the property. You will learn about the archaeological practices as well as the lives of the residents of this city during its heyday. I found the staff in the ticket office/shop helpful, there are drinks and snack available to purchase as Roman themed gifts, guide books and postcards. There is access to most of the site for wheelchair users, but some grassy slopes and cobbles which will be difficult. The site is open every day until 5pm from March until 1st November, although it is open during winter months, it shuts earlier and is open only Wednesday to Sunday. As I have already mentioned, it is an open air site (although the museum is inside), so weather is a consideration if you visit. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on February 21, 2010

Wroxeter Roman City
Wroxeter
Shrewsbury, England
01743 761888

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Wenlock Priory

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Attraction | "Much Ado About Something"

Wenlock Priory Photo - Wenlock Priory, Much Wenlock, England

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Wenlock Priory is a medieval priory on the outskirts of the small Shropshire town of Much Wenlock. It is an English Heritage property. Some of the property is now a private residence since the priory (which was actually an abbey) fell into disuse after Henry VIII's dissolution. Much of the remaining ruins are available to tour. Included in your reasonable admission price is an audio tour. This lasted probably about 35 minutes (which was more than enough as it was early January!) and was 'narrated' by an actor playing the part of one of the monks that formerly lived there. The audio tour was very professional with sound effects and choral music in the background and they did their bes...Read More

Wenlock Priory is a medieval priory on the outskirts of the small Shropshire town of Much Wenlock. It is an English Heritage property. Some of the property is now a private residence since the priory (which was actually an abbey) fell into disuse after Henry VIII's dissolution. Much of the remaining ruins are available to tour.

Included in your reasonable admission price is an audio tour. This lasted probably about 35 minutes (which was more than enough as it was early January!) and was 'narrated' by an actor playing the part of one of the monks that formerly lived there. The audio tour was very professional with sound effects and choral music in the background and they did their best to recreate the priory's heydey on a snowy January, over 500 year in the future. The tour isn't just about the history of the priory but about the surrounds and the topiary garden featuring large topiary pigs and squirrels amongst other creatures. I found the tour very informative but I have to admit I was glad when it finished as it was so cold. As the priory is in ruins there is no shelter from the elements, and I was grateful when the tour took me to stand in a spot in the sun, rather than the shade. There are very few footpaths, just the one leading into the grounds and through the topiaries to the Cloisters area, after this point you are wandering through the grounds at will, so cutting across the grass. The grounds are beautifully kept but if it rains you could could get your shoes muddy. I think the weather needs to be a consideration in planning a visit, so you can ensure you are warm and dry. Fortunately it was dry when we were there, just very cold.

The priory has been a religious site for over 1300 years, but it was only at the start of the previous millennium that monks moved in and the priory took form, it was the Cluniac order, who started in, and were led by monks in Cluny, France. All major decisions had to be referred to the abbot in Cluny. This, of course, caused conflict, plus the priory was quite wealthy which angered King Henry VIII. Much of the site dates from the 12th and 13th Century. Points of note for me include the lavabo, where the monks washed; the high, decorated walls of the chapter house and the topiary. There was a lot of emphasis in the audio tour of the actual church itself, which was apparently rather magnificent 800 years ago. However, now there are just a few stones where the columns used to be, so you may need some imagination at this point.

There are toilets at the site, but I didn't use them so cannot comment on their conditions, and the paths and level grass make it suitable for wheelchair access in the appropriate weather. There is a free car park just opposite the entrance. You can buy snacks and drinks in the shop as well as medieval themed gifts, postcards and a guidebook. Apparently there is a lot more info in the guide book than in the audio tour. The book cost £2.99 which I think is quite good value. I found the staff member that served us very helpful. We didn't visit the town of Much Wenlock itself, but I noticed that there were a number of pubs serving food if you wanted to stop.

I do recommend visiting the site of you are in the area. Admission is £3.80 (2010 prices) for adults and includes an audio tour. Admission is free if you are an English Heritage member. The handsets for the audio tour are the size of a mobile phone, a bit fatter, but quite light. It has numerical buttons that you push to correspond with the numbers marked on posts around the site, along with play/stop and volume controls etc. They are simple to use and the assistant will help you if you think you are unsure, plus they give you instructions on the handset also. I did see a few people walking without the handsets but as there is no other information or signage within the priory ruins, you really won't get much out of it. I would take the weather into consideration, I imagine the site is much prettier in the Spring, when the flowers start to bloom.
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on February 20, 2010

Wenlock Priory
5 Sheinton Street
Much Wenlock, Shropshire TF13 6HS

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English Heritage Membership

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Wenlock Priory Photo - Much Wenlock, England

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After a recent weekend away in Suffolk my partner and I discovered a number of English Heritage sites in the area. We tried to visit one but we were too late in the afternoon. After a perusal on the web I realised that there were loads of sites all around England that are of interest to people with an enthusiasm for historic sites and we decided that we would like to join for a year and see how we go. English Heritage is a government founded and supported organisation coming under the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It is partly funded by the government, and partly from admission incomes and site/venue hire. Not all their sites charge an admission, a lot are free. They are current...Read More

After a recent weekend away in Suffolk my partner and I discovered a number of English Heritage sites in the area. We tried to visit one but we were too late in the afternoon. After a perusal on the web I realised that there were loads of sites all around England that are of interest to people with an enthusiasm for historic sites and we decided that we would like to join for a year and see how we go.

English Heritage is a government founded and supported organisation coming under the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It is partly funded by the government, and partly from admission incomes and site/venue hire. Not all their sites charge an admission, a lot are free. They are currently responsible for over 400 sites in England including Stonehenge, and a variety of palaces, castles and stately homes amongst other buildings, some of which are little more than ruins now. They also are responsible for the blue plaques in London (stating connections between various buildings and famous historical figures). Membership appealed to us as not only do we get free admission to any charging sites in England we also get discounts off of visits to sites in Wales and Scotland run buy EH's sister organisations and by some other associated organisations. There is also the opportunity to attend special events and lectures (for a fee) which are exclusive to members. Membership also includes a handbook and a quarterly magazine. Any children in you family group also come in free. Membership cost us £75 as a couple for a year's membership. Individual membership is £43. It is slightly less for renewals and there are cheaper rates for senior citizens and students. Prices are held until end March 2010, after that then you will need to check the website.

You can join online or over the telephone, but we decided to join whilst we were out at one of their sites - Wenlock Priory in Shropshire. The assistant was very helpful and informative, telling us what attractions were available locally, and what we can expect. She gave us a form to fill out and we paid by credit card (other options, including direct debit were also available). Once paid up we were given our handbook, the latest magazine, map of the sites and a temporary membership card.

The handbook, which is about A5 sized, is compact enough to keep in the glove compartment or pocket in a car door. It is divided up by region and each one highlights the main, admission paying sites plus smaller mentions of the free sites. Associated sites within England (such as Warwick Castle) are included also. It lists facilities at each site by symbol (parking, diabled access etc), address and directions, details of what is there and why you may wish to visit opening times and prices (although members do not pay). The magazine is of the usual size, and not particularly thick but is colourful and features articles on special events and exhibitions that support the existing sites and general news about the organisation and its work.

As I mentioned above, English Heritage runs free sites also, and here you will find limited facilities, such as boards telling you about the history of the site and how it would have been in its day. At these sites there are no toilets or shop or even a person to speak to so you are on your own. Sometimes postcards etc are sold at other nearby sites. Some sites are seasonal, and don't open in winter months so that is worth checking, plus most sites will have reduced hours in winter due light conditions, details of all of this is listed in your handbook. Overall the sites I have visited have been well maintained and cared for. You won't find modern lighting and concrete paths around some of the ruined properties (for example), so you may get muddy if you come during poor weather. It mentions in the handbook if the site is potentially hazardous.

At the admission charging sites we have found the staff to be helpful and friendly. I cannot praise the service I have received, so far, high enough. EH's guide books sell for about £3.99 (although there are sometimes cheaper ones available depending on the site), postcards are reasonably priced at 35p, and the selection of gifts and souvenirs are relevant, tasteful and reasonably priced. For example the shop at Wenlock Priory sells Tudor books (for both kids and adults), gothic jewellery and other things along that theme, whilst at Wroxeter Roman City, everything is Roman themed. The shops aren't big but have an interesting array of general as well as topical gifts - I bought an EH Calendar reduced in the sale on 2nd January. You can also pick up a hot drink from a machine and perhaps some crisps or chocolate and a bottle of water. Most admission sites also have toilets, these are clean but fairly basic - don't expect any fancy touches.

I have really enjoyed the three admission charging and one free site that I have visited for free since I joined EH. Each charging site had an included optional audio tour (which would also be included in your admission price if you were a non member), but I don't think this is not available at every site but I found it interesting and very informative. I understand that the guide books are even more informative. We estimate that we have already saved £25 out of our £75 annual joining fee in the first month, so consider this money well spent, hopefully in the spring we can start exploring again and see some of the houses with gardens. I thoroughly recommend English Heritage for those who are interested in history, plus if you like to take weekend breaks or holidays in England there is a wealth of sites that you can visit for free, some of which you don't need to be a member for.

There is also an Overseas Visitors Pass for tourists visiting the UK for up to two weeks. Read Less

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Stonehenge

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Attraction | "Stoned"

Stonehenge Photo - Stonehenge, Salisbury, England

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We arrived at Stonehenge one Saturday afternoon, not long after lunch. You can see it as you approach by road and if you are travelling to the South West on a Bank Holiday weekend this is a popular rubber-necking spot as everyone has a good look as they drive by. Not for us, as we planned a little trip here on our way to Bath so we turned off (to the A344 just off the A303 coming from London) and parked up in the designated parking area opposite the site. Parking was free but I understand that there is a charge during the peak season which is refundable on admission. This is to avoid people parking up and walking across the road to look at the site through the fence for free. Standard adult admis...Read More

We arrived at Stonehenge one Saturday afternoon, not long after lunch. You can see it as you approach by road and if you are travelling to the South West on a Bank Holiday weekend this is a popular rubber-necking spot as everyone has a good look as they drive by. Not for us, as we planned a little trip here on our way to Bath so we turned off (to the A344 just off the A303 coming from London) and parked up in the designated parking area opposite the site. Parking was free but I understand that there is a charge during the peak season which is refundable on admission. This is to avoid people parking up and walking across the road to look at the site through the fence for free. Standard adult admission is £6.60 (£6.90 from 1st April) but as we are members of English Heritage (who manage the site) it was free for us. I believe National Trust members also get in free.

Your admission includes a free audio guide which is available in ten languages. There are seven numbered spots around the site and you can just push the corresponding button on your handset to listen to the commentary. The narrator will also give you some optional numbers to press to hear additional commentary on such things as the myths surrounding the site and the surrounding area and landscape.

Stonehenge is certainly one of the most famous ancient sites in Britain. Built between 3000 and 1600 BC, no one seems particularly sure what its original purpose was. Due to the positioning of the stones in relation to the sun at certain times of each month makes me believe that it was some sort of calendar or has an astronomical purpose. The society that built Stonehenge was obviously very organised as some of the stones came over one hundred miles, they would have been heavy and would have had to be cut and shaped with fairly basic tools. The stones are also sunk into a pre-dug ditch.

After we had picked up our audio guide we walk past the gift shop and through the tunnel which goes under the road to the site. If you are here at weekends expect the site to be busy, we were here on a windy March Saturday and were grateful to dodge the rain showers, but it was still fairly busy. I think your first impressions are that they are quite small, but you don't actually get that close to them. You walk round the fence, partly on a path and party on grass. If it is wet it will certainly be muddy due to the amount of people who come here. This part wouldn't be ideal for wheelchairs if the weather is bad either, although part of it is paved so there is access to the majority of the site – wheelchair users won't be able to do the full circle unless its dry. The audio guide fills you in on what you need to know from here. The situation is amazing – there is nothing but fields and sheep all around you apart from the neighbouring roads, but if you take a 360 degree look around you, you can see countryside for miles, it is nice to see an ancient landmark without encroaching civilisation.

When you have finished looking at the site (or been sufficiently windswept – there is a disadvantage to all the open countryside) you go back the way you came through the tunnel, and return your headsets. There is a large gift shop with an assortment of Stonehenge themed gifts such as 'Stonehenge Rocks!' T-shirts and teddies wearing said T-shirt. Models of the site that are ready made or ones you can make yourself, books including pop-up picture books and novels of the Bronze Age era. Postcards start at 50p, and there are an impressive range of photographic prints. The official guide book (in five languages) is £4.99. There is a small coffee stall selling drinks and snacks, but only a few tables to sit at. The toilets on site are port-a-loos – I guess this is how they cope with peak season visitors, I didn't use them. The site is open all year round apart from Christmas and usually opens at 9.30am and closes at 6pm except during the winter months when it closes at 4.30. Through June to the end of August it is open 9am to 7pm.

If you are in the area I think this is a must see attraction and is worth going out of your way to visit. You will need a car to get there but I did see tours advertised from Bath (just under an hour away) for £15. I expect other towns in the area offer something similar.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 30, 2010

Stonehenge
2 miles west of Amesbury
Salisbury, England
01980 624 715

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Marble Hill House

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Home on the Hill"

Marble Hill House Photo - Marble Hill House, Twickenham, England

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Marble Hill House is a Georgian Palladian style house near Richmond, South West of London. It is currently managed by English Heritage. It was built for Henrietta Howard, Countess of Suffolk. In a loveless marriage, Henrietta became mistress to King George II. She separated from her husband and upon leaving the services of the King she received a handsome financial settlement which she used to purchase land by the Thames and had the house built in the late 1720s. It was designed by Roger Morris in the new Italian influenced Palladian style. By all accounts Henrietta (who remarried after her husband died, the son of the Earl of Berkeley) was a popular hostess who entertained her many friends here...Read More

Marble Hill House is a Georgian Palladian style house near Richmond, South West of London. It is currently managed by English Heritage. It was built for Henrietta Howard, Countess of Suffolk. In a loveless marriage, Henrietta became mistress to King George II. She separated from her husband and upon leaving the services of the King she received a handsome financial settlement which she used to purchase land by the Thames and had the house built in the late 1720s. It was designed by Roger Morris in the new Italian influenced Palladian style. By all accounts Henrietta (who remarried after her husband died, the son of the Earl of Berkeley) was a popular hostess who entertained her many friends here including Jonathan Swift (author of Gulliver's Travels), the poet Alexander Pope and many Earls and other titled guests.

The house is situated in Marble Hill Park between Richmond and Twickenham and can be a long, slow drive down the High Street if there is a rugby match on at Twickenham. There is a car park which costs £1 (this is refundable if you visit the house), and if the weather is nice there are plenty of grounds, a children's play area and a café to visit. The house is a few minutes walk from the car park, it is flat but not tarmacked. You enter via the gift shop and admission for adults is £5. If you are an English Heritage member then it is free. You can purchase a guide book but this is not necessary I think, unless you have a particular passion for this period or style of house. Within the house, on each floor, there are free (returnable) printout that you can pick up and walk around with, which list the background to the furniture and art. There is also a short (no more than 10 minutes maximum) video showing the story of Henrietta and the house, which is quite interesting and worth a watch for the background information.

Expect to see lots of paintings, some have been tracked down to have been owned by Henrietta such as original Roman landscapes by Pannini and many items of Chinese pottery and a Chinese screen. Some items cannot be tracked down from the inventory of the house made upon Henrietta's death in 1767, but are true to the period or considered similar. There are a lot of portraits, some featuring Henrietta, others just typical of the era. The printouts are clear as to the origin of each item. The Ground Floor is disabled friendly, but you need to climb the wide staircase to the First Floor, after this a staff member will open the access the Second Floor staircase for you. It is a narrow, windy one and I assume this is for health and safely reasons as it would be difficult to pass someone on them. At the end you can just walk down the smaller staircase to the Ground Floor where there are toilets (including disabled) and the Gift Shop and exit. I used the Ladies' lavatories and found them satisfactory, with adequate soap and toilet paper etc,

I have always found the staff helpful at English Heritage properties, as well as in the gift shop/ticket desk, you will find a staff member on every floor should you have any questions. Photography is not allowed inside unfortunately. The Gift Shop sells a number of books on the Georgian period, as well as other similarly themed gifts and guide books to other nearby properties as well as generic gifts, plants and luxury food gifts. I do recommend visiting if you are in the area, particularly if you have an interest in Georgian history or art, or just heritage properties generally. Allow 45 minutes to an hour. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on June 25, 2010

Marble Hill House
Richmond Road
Twickenham TW1 2NL
+44 20 8893 5115

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