Off the beaten track this place is huge and the gatehouse is the largest remaining in the country…read more Very impressive and loved by artists. You can go inside for, a fee up, the new staircase. Within the grounds stand the ruins of the monastic buildings, notably the elegantly decorated octagonal chapter house of 1282-1308. An early example of brick building in England, it proclaimed the wool trade-based prosperity of one of the wealthiest English Augustinian monasteries. Its founder Sir William le Gros, Earl of Yorkshire, was buried here. (Will the Fat) It is free to wander around it and I find it very atmosphering at dusk and eerie. I swear I have heard whispering voices. By day it is a lovely place to visit. They say if you take stone from the abbey you will die and there is a legend that a manor house build of it suddenly collapsed. Now you will think me mad but once on a sunny day I was walking back to the gatehouse from the chapter house and found myself rooted to the spot. My friends asked what was wrong and I said I couldn't move my legs and I couldn't! They pulled me and suddenly I was free. NO idea what it was but it scared me!

This is a memorial stone dedicated to the Pilgrims going to America…read more In 1608 the attempt to leave for Holland was made, this time from Killingholme Creek near Immingham where a Dutch ship waited. Men were ferried aboard first, but before the women and children could do so an armed crowd intervened. The Pilgrim Fathers left from the bank of the Humber at a place called Immingham Creek to Holland in 1608. The actual spot was marked by a memorial which was erected in 1924. The granite top stone of the memorial was taken from Plymouth Rock, Mass and presented by the Sulgrave Institution. The memorial was erected by the Anglo-American Society of Hull. The memorial became surrounded by industry as the Immingham dock area expanded and was moved in 1970 to its present site in a small park opposite the church in Immingham. According to Alan Tailby in his book the Pilgrims did hire a boat to take them to Holland from Boston in 1607 but the skipper, after taking their money, betrayed them to the authorities and they were imprisoned for a time. Many of the streets in Immingham are named after the Pilgrims: e.g. Clyfton Crescent and Brewster Avenue. Some 22 million Americans claim descent from the Pilgrim Fathers who sailed in the Mayflower and related crossings. The memorial stone, erected in 1924, on the estuary, was moved in 1970 to near St. Andrew's church because of re-development.When I worked in the archeology department I remember listing this as an SMA. (Sites and Monuments). Many Americans visit it each year.

Great place to walk around enjoy the scenery. The zoo, however, was somewhat disappointing. They…read moreshow a picture of a puffin but there are none. It's more like a petting zoo woot the petting. There is a trolley (fee applies) that can take you around but it was so beautiful out we decided to walk. The cliff area and views are spectacular. We ran out of time and didn't go inside the building.

Wonderful place to visit. Plenty for the children to do and a great stately home and grounds. The…read morechildren's play area has been re-vamped and is great. The small animal zoo is cool and it's a great place to have a picnic. The beaches are a stone throw away. They have many events on throughout the year and it's always a delight.

Why have I not reviewed before? Been to The City Walls several times. Hard not to when in York…read more To walk all of the walls it takes a good 1.5 hours and it's a lovely and scenic walk. We walked the whole thing during our first visit. Now when back, we walk little areas just to take it all in. It's just crazy to me that these walls have been around since AD71. They were set to be demolished in the 1800s but luckily were saved. There is so much history surrounding the walls. It's really intriguing and fascinating, especially walking them and envisioning what it must have been like way back when. If you're going to York, add the walls to your list.

- [x] Walmgate Bar (cat trail)     - [x] Fishergate Bar…read more    - [x] Fishergate Postern Tower     - [x] Clifford tower - [x] Skeldergate bridge - [x] Baile Hill     - [x] Victoria Bar     - [x] Micklegate Bar (Tansy beetle mural nearby) - [x] Lendal bridge, Lendal tower, Barker Tower (judi dench walk nearby)   - [x] Multangular Tower in museum gardens where you'll find st Mary's abbey and the hospitium) - [x] Bootham bar - [x] Robin Hood tower - [x] Monk bar (5 mins to minster) - [x] Layerthorpe bridge (15 mins to minster) - [x] The red tower

Our children's authors retreat took us on a truly fascinating tour of Belvoir Castle (pronounced…read morelike "beaver," because the English hate the French lmao). From the moment we arrived, the history and grandeur of the place were palpable. Our tour guide was an absolute gem! Her charm and delightful demeanor instantly reminded me of Mary Poppins - a comparison that probably screams "American tourist," but it's the most fitting image I can conjure! This adorable British lady, likely in her 50s with straight blonde shoulder-length hair, was an absolute ray of sunshine. As an art historian, she brought the castle and its inhabitants to life with a wealth of captivating stories and historical insights about the family who still call Belvoir home to this day. We even had the surreal experience of the current Duchess casually walking through our group - a seemingly ordinary brunette woman in a suit, walking barefoot! It truly underscored the fact that this isn't just a museum; it's a living, breathing family home. My favorite story was the one of Charles Cecil John Manners, 6th Duke of Rutland. Our tour guide showed us a portrait of him looking very Mr Darcy-like. She called him very inept and useless, as he was a leader of the House of Commons for only 3 weeks. But what she appreciated about him was the fact that he fell madly in love with a woman and wanted to marry her, but his family thought she wasn't good enough for them. When she got married off to someone else, the duke was so sad, he swore that if he couldn't marry her, then he would never marry at all. He kept his word, and died without ever marrying. He did scandalize society by giving his mistress a yacht in his will when he died. We also had the privilege of seeing the famous Henry VIII painting, a powerful reminder of the castle's rich historical connections. After seeing the painting in history books and the Royal Diaries volume of Elizabeth I (I grew up obsessed with the Royal Diaries published by Scholastic), it was surreal to see this painting in person. The afternoon culminated in a delightful high tea, the perfect way to soak in the atmosphere and discuss all we had learned. Finally, a leisurely stroll through the breathtaking gardens provided a serene and beautiful end to our visit. Belvoir Castle offers a fascinating glimpse into English history and aristocratic life, brought to life by wonderful storytelling and the unique experience of seeing it as a living family home.

The castle seemed beautiful but we didn't have time for a tour. Indeed we went purely for the…read moreafternoon cream tea. Their website suggests that Belvoir Castle essentially invented this great British concept. To be honest while the location is wonderful and the site is picturesque, the cream tea disappointed. £30 each but while the entire tea room was empty they crammed 5 of us at a single table that would have been fine for 2 or maybe 3 (why not push 2 tables together?). They had to cram the trays together too tightly and hence cram everything together. Because 1 of our group has prawn allergy they removed the prawn option totally for us all (maybe because they had to cram all together on the same plate). This left just 3 types of sandwich and the staff had problems knowing which was which. It seemed to be chicken (nothing special), egg (I hate egg sandwiches) and wafer thin cucumber sandwiches. In terms of the scones, Sainsbury's scones are bigger and tastier. Honestly none of us ate very much. The choice of teas was great and we all had two Pots each. Wouldn't go again sadly.

Hard to say where this is in Qype. It is just outside Sutton-on-Sea on the way to Mablethorpe…read more This is a tiny thatched church. Very rare. Markby was once a priory and the church is all that is left apart from stones making up the nearby farmhouse. The priory of St. Peter at Markby was founded during the reign of Henry II. Ok I lecture in history too so for anyone interested here is the ref: (From: 'Houses of Austin canons: The priory of Markby', A History of the County of Lincoln: Volume 2 (1906), pp. 174-176. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=38025 . ) Markby church is cute! and I love it. Many accounts of monks having to be wheeled home from the inn in a wheelbarrow and of gossiping etc. I think you can still be christened or buried there but not sure if it has services. It is usually open, however, to visit and look around.

Very interesting to look at, but unfortunately it tends to be overrun with Goths and broken glass…read more The steps are quite steep, so keep an eye on your little ones. Shame, as it has a lot of potential.

This was excavated a few years ago and the foundations can be seen..good place to sit eat your…read moresarnie from herbies. Beverley Gate gave access to the town of Hull through its walled defenses. The wall was built in the fourteenth century by Edward II who was granted permission to build a defensive stone wall around the town. It was rebuilt using brick between Beverley Gate gave access to the town of Hull through its walled defenses. The wall was built in the fourteenth century by Edward II who was granted permission to build a defensive stone wall around the town. It was rebuilt using brick between1330 and 1410. In 1642 King Charles I traveled from York to Hull to seize the city for its considerable arms that had been left after the Scottish War. Sir John Hotham (see Ye Old White Hart: plotting room) ordered the gates to be closed refusing the King entry to the town - an act that is thought to have triggered the English Civil War. Beverley Gate was demolished in 1776 to make way for the development of Queens Dock. (Now Queens Gardens)

Many moons ago I looked at buying the old post office in Barrow..it was very cheap and quite large…read morebut woefully delapidated. There is an abundance of historical buildings in the village and in 1974 it was designated a conservation area. Barrow has a mix of 18th and 19th Century houses from all social backgrounds, and was once home to many workers from farms in surrounding villages. It is easily missed as it is on the old road leading from the south of the Humber Bridge.It is however an interesting example of time standing still somewhat. Barrow-upon-Humber's origins have been traced back to at least the 7th Century when a monastery was founded by St Chad. It never grew into a town and was destroyed by Viking raids in the 9th Century. Barrow's strategic importance is illustrated by the huge motte and bailey castle constructed by Drogo de la Beauvriere in the 11th Century. Barrow-upon-Humber Castle is an enormous earthwork motte and bailey, which retains part of its rampart and wet ditch. Built in the Norman plan, the two huge baileys have the large low motte in-between. It is located south of Barrow Haven, by The Beck at West Hann Lane. 12 miles south of Hull on the A63-A15(Humber Bridge)-A1077 or 18 miles north-east of Scunthorpe on the A1077. I went with a friend and we couldn't find it so we randomly knocked on a door and asked. It was behind the house and we wandered around the soggy moat remains. One of the village's most famous sons was John Harrison (1693-1776) (an ancester) who invented the first practical marine-chronometer which enabled sailors to accurately compute their position in the sea. Barrow was once a thriving rope-making and basket-weaving village and in the last century there was a massive population growth leading to the forming of New Holland. Tourist attractions include the Holy Trinity Church, part of which dates back to the 13th Century, and the listed vicarage built in the 1800s. The church was partially restored in 1841 and again in 1856 and a third time in 1869. It seats about 400. The old Congregational Chapel, now a band room, is one of the village's most unusual buildings with its steel sloping roof. Worth a quick visit if you are coming south off the Humber bridge.

With so many mundane buildings in existence, I really value the sight of an architectural…read moremasterpiece. There are plenty in Leeds to admire. A particular example of beauty gets regularly overlooked, due to its secretive location. The Bourse does not have the brazenness of the Town Hall or the City Library, it does not audaciously stand on a major street, waiting for its inevitable plaudits. Instead, this building is well ensconced, shyly peeking out onto Boar Lane. When I ask people if they are familiar with its captivating ergonomics, a blank stare is often my answer. With the appearance of a colossal wall of magic mirrors, it is highlighted beautifully with fairy lights, held aloft by manicured box trees. Have a sneaky glimpse when you are next passing, to marvel at its form.

This is a hit&miss Post Office. I've used it many dozens of times and sometimes I came away feeling…read morequite pleased that I'd been served well, other times I vowed never to return (until the following day at least!). It's inside a large newsagents so if you've got kids with you be prepared for lots of 'I want, I want' as it's full of sweets and toys. There are often large queues, which aren't helped by the fact that the staff seem to spend quite a lot of time talking to each other rather than serving. Not always, but enough times that it becomes an annoyance for regular users. Bizarrely, the nearest Post Box is a few hundred yards down the road, so either hand letters in over the counter or take a bit of a walk after you've bought your stamps! If you're an Ebayer in the area, I'd much sooner recommend taking a trip out to Scawby where the service is absolutely excellent and can't be faulted in any way.

This post office is located inside and at the back of the Martin Newsagent chain, and is available…read morefor your posting needs. There is usually a queue which can be quite long, but often you won't have to wait too long to be able to use it. If the queue is too long you can browse the magazines in the newsagent section of the shop area.