Photos and the City

Tag: UK

  • Castle Combe

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    And then it stopped snowing…

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    View of the old weavers´ cottages where the local red and white clothes were produced. Once upon a time ago, Castle Combe was the heart of the heart of the Cotswolds wool trade.

    Castle Combe’s history goes back much further than this though. The site of the castle is above today’s village, but little other than earthworks now mark its one time presence. Originally it was a British hill fort which became occupied by the Romans due to its proximity to The Fosse Way. After the Romans, came the Normans, who built the fort up into a Castle.

    By the Middle Ages the village in the valley had become an important centre for the wool industry. The spinsters and weavers lived in the cottages (hence names such as “Weaver’s House”) and the river, still known as By Brook, provided the power to run the mills.

    (Castle Combe)

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    Today Castle Combe is not only loved by visitors but also by the TV- and Movie industry, a lot of movies and tv shows have been filmed in the lovely village. From Dr Dolittle to Dr Thorne, The Wolf Man, Stardust, War Horse, Poirot to Downton Abbey and many more!

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    The Manor House

    The Manor House is a 5star hotel situated in a stunning garden next to the village. The house was built in the 17th century and rebuilt in the 19th century.

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    Beside the Manor House, one can also rent these stunning little cottages.

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    Castle Combe village is built around the 14th-century Market Cross with the old water pump beside it. It was erected when the privilege to hold a weekly market in Castle Combe was granted.

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    After some cream tea, it was time for a walk at sunset.

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    The Castle Inn and another walk the next morning…

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  • Winterwonderland

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    The next morning I woke up to a winter wonderland in Bath. It has been snowing the whole night and Ms Holle was still going strong. On my way to the train station, I enjoyed the snow covered views!

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    Despite the snow, my train to Chippenham was right on time and fifteen minutes later I arrived there. As I had one hour until the bus would bring me to Castle Combe I did a short walk around town (and bought some books). Somewhen I realized there would be no buses today, the twitter account of the Wiltshire buses said all buses for this day were cancelled and I had to find another way. Luckily there was one cab at the station and it was a Scotsman, brave enough to face the snow and the road to Castle Combe – so it came that I was driven through the winter wonderland and arrived safe and sound in the most beautiful village, Castle Combe. And finally learned how to pronounce it!

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    A Porsche driver wasn´t that lucky and needed a lot of help (including the brace Scotsman) to make its way to the Manor Hotel.

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    I´ve already been to Castle Combe in December 2017, when I also was surprised by a winter wonderland, but back then I only stayed for one or two hours and I just wanted to explore and enjoy it more this time!

    I had booked a room (aka the cheapest one) at the Castle Inn right next to the market cross. And I was greeted with surprise as they hadn´t expected to anyone arrive today and I got super lucky! Because staff had to sleep over my original room was occupied and I got a fabulous upgrade to a big room with a bathtub, chaise lounge and a four-poster bed – a room you never want to leave again!

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    My travel companion Froggy enjoyed the bed may be a little too much…. Handmade by the amazing Nonna Rosa, Froggy wanted to join me on my travels to explore England a little bit.

    But it was about time to do the first walk through the village!

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    Castle Combe has featured regularly as a film location, most recently in The Wolf Man, Stardust and Stephen Spielberg’s War Horse. It was also used in the original Dr Doolittle film.
    The village has a rich history and the houses are made up of the honey coloured Cotswold stone, typical for a village of this area. (visit Wiltshire)

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    The cakes still taste as good as last time and were a nice treat, as all the tearooms were on a winter break.

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  • Views of Bath

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    I saw the first signs of spring while walking around Bath. Just behind the Circus lies the Fashion Museum, the former Assembly Rooms.

    Fashion Museum

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    Designed by John Wood, the younger, in 1769 the Assembly Rooms are a number of elegant rooms to meet, have balls, concerts and much more.

    The building, made of Bath stone, is arranged in a U shape. There are four main function rooms in the complex: the 100-foot-long (30 m) ballroom — the largest Georgian interior in Bath; the tea room; the card room; and the octagon. The rooms have Whitefriars crystal chandeliers and are decorated with fine art. (wikipedia)

    The basement houses the Fashion Museum, a collection started by Doris Langley Moore who gave it to the City of Bath in 1963. At the moment there is a special exhibition about royals and their clothes, the red dress was worn by Princess Margaret.

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    Pulteney Bridge

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    A different view of Pulteney Bridge, it really shows how narrow these shops and stores are.

    The oldest house in Bath

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    This medieval building used to be part of the south range of Bath Abbey and the lowest floor level dates to the reconstruction of the abbey after a great fire in 1137.

    The building was acquired in the 1930s by Marie Byng-Johnson who opened it as a tea-room specializing in Sally Lunn buns, promoted with a story that she had discovered an ancient document in a secret panel above the fireplace explaining that Mlle. Sally Lunn was a young French Huguenot refugee who brought the recipe to Bath around 1680. (wikipedia)

    A “Sally Lunn” is a large bun or teacake similar to brioche – I have to taste that one next time!

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    Bath Lookout

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    Cross the River Avon behind the train station and walk up a lot of stairs towards Alexandra Park – up there a stunning view over the city will reward you for the little climb.

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    The Royal Crescent in the middle.

    Parade Gardens

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    And one more on the way back home to my studio.

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