June 20, 1968
June 20, 1968
Breakfast - Cereal, bacon, eggs, toast, coffee. Good and on to tour. (all day) to Stratford upon Avon and Shakespeare country. This is one of our last days of trip. Dorchester on Adamas. All towns with chester were started by Romans. Oxford founded 1123. Cambridge 100 miles away. See Pembrook Hall. Remember birds in vines.
Lovely English countryside. Will Shakespeare was born april 23, 1564. Married at 18 Ann Hathaway who was 26. They had a boy and twin girls before he left to seek his fortune in London. 3 years no record of him. Went into acting, then playwriting. Back to Stratford. Bought his house for family and parents. Did this at 52 years old. His father first a farmer then a glover.
Visit charming cottage of Ann Hathaway and then where Shakespeare was born. Lunch at Alveston Manor where first was played "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
Saw land that for 200 years was farmed by Shakespeares and his original manuscripts, etc. in his parents home.
As we travel see stone farms. Cotswolds thatched roofs. We see John Churchill's vast estate. 17 miles long - last see house. The Churchills are dukes of Marlborough - Winston's uncle had the title. Pass the large memorial Sarah had erected for him. See old stone fences. On we go to witches town of Warwickshire.
Here the people of the town can practise witch craft within the law providing they are doing it for good. They do come here for meetings from all over the world. Lots of Raven trees, mountain ash - ward off witches! Glad we've got one at home.
We see Cartwright town. Everything is owned by Cartwrights. Delightful hamlet.
At last, Warwwick Castle. Oh so interesting. Peacocks in yard. Worlds greatest private collection of renoun masters paintings too. Much to remember here. Afterwards pass Guydon. Atomic bombers. The men live here with their families. always four readiness and two flying along coast at all times.
Pass military stronghold Keniton. Edge hill where farmers battle took place 1649. Their civil war. This was the end of Charles I. 65000 men died here. They say their ghosts roam there. A man on bus had something to do with Wraxton - a small hamlet - so we took a side trip (unscheduled) there. Almost like it was 100s of years ago.
Get a lesson on Becket - Bishop of Canterbury.
We stop at Bamburg for a delightful tea watercress tomato sandwiches, biscuits and jam, the farmers Bamburg scones and ice cream cake. First stop of 12 for funeral caravan of King Ed's I's spanish wife - charming cross.
See the estate near Watteson. Scenery is absolutely beautiful through the country. Back to London and we ask the guide about Rutledge. He says they are from Northumberlandshire - the lakes region. Probably could have told us more but we had to get off. By the way ther terribly terribly English lecturer (delightful) kept getting redder in the face each stop and we support that his lunch was a little on the liquid side!!!
Time we got back about 7:00. Strolled around Trafalagar Square and to Sherlock Holmes Pub. Had some ale cakes and sandwiches (turkey) - packed - some rowdy english boys singing dirty songs - were kicked out finaly. Went upstairs to see Holmes relics then took cab home to bed.
This day was beautiful in every way. Weather beautiful.