Colchester day trip (part 2)

More pictures to show you from my day trip to Colchester. The sky was conveniently blue and the sun was shining, so I'm pretty happy with how these photos turned out:-

Bradwell & St. Peters

We were starting to feel a bit trapped indoors by the afternoon so decided to go for a walk at nearby Bradwell.  

When me and my sisters were small we used to go to the power-station at Bradwell every other weekend. A nuclear power-station may seem to be an odd choice for a family outing, but it has a beach, a nature reserve and was more importantly free entertainment when we were strapped for cash.

The nuclear facility has now been decommissioned and is in the process of being demolished, but the area is still a popular site for walkers (and unfortunately also for doggers, the ground is littered with used condoms so be careful where you stand).

The landscape looked rather bleak in the grey weather, but I think I managed to get some half decent pictures.

Canons Ashby

Owned by the Drydan family, Cannons Ashby was built in approximately 1550, and underwent significant remodelling in 1590s, 1630s and 1700 to reflect changes in style and taste.

As we visited on Thursday, unfortunately the house was closed, but we still had an informative talk about the history of the house and played a game of croquet.

Wisborough

On the way back from Petworth we stopped at Wisborough, a charming village that was the epitome of Britishness, cricket on the green, church on the hill and traditional pubs

More photos after the cut:-

Canterbury Cathedral, inside

As promised, here is my second post on Canterbury Cathedral (the first can be read here).

The building is even more impressive on the inside. 

Framlingham Castle

Another day, another jolly to an English Heritage site! Well, my membership cost £48 so I have to make the most.

 Framlingham castle  was built in the 12th century and has had an eventful past, it was a stronghold of the Howard family (relations to Anne Boleyn), it was where Mary Tudor raised her armies and declared herself Queen, and from 1636-1839 it was a poor house for destitute people.  The castle is now a ruin, but is still impressive. The self guided audio is informative, and necessary otherwise I would have just been looking at a pile of bricks with no concept of the history of the place.

interior of Framlingham Castle

 Somebody actually lives in the former poor house inside the walls of castle. How awesome would that be! When all the visitors leave for the day you could go and sit on the battlements with a glass of wine and survey the beautiful surrounding countryside. It would be a fantistic place to grow up as well! The games you could play in an actual castle would be amazing.  Of course the downside is you have loads of tourists noseying your front window.