By Carl Peterson

Curriculum Study guides.
European History Assignments

Create a study guide with pictures
of a 1600 mile trip in England.

Live in and work in four
historic buildings.

All buildings were previously used
by historically important persons
including several
of the Kings and Queens of England.

Link 20 web sites created
to other existing web sites
for indepth study

Prepare Meaning Search
and keyword files
for the listed sites.

Compare Saxon and Roman life
with current English life styles.

Click here for
a 500 page collection
of articles about the
Archeology of England

Castles and Christopher Wren

The kings of England

Beheadings
Gibbets

Index of links

THE FOUR HISTORIC BUILDINGS
nearby locations visited.

We stayed in the following
historic buildings.

Click to go to their web sites
and pictures for each.

HAMPTON COURT PALACE IN LONDON
Georgian House
Kingston
Portsmouth
Henry VIII fort
D-Day museum

THE ABBEY NEAR BEDFORD
and Biggleswade
Old Warden airfield
Shuttleworth Collection
Sir William Harpur trust 1496-1573
St Pauls Cathedral Bedford

APPLETON WATER TOWER AT SANDRINGHAM
Sandringham gardens
Sandringham house
Kings Lynn
Castle Rising
The fens
Tidal rivers
Dykes
North sea

Portsmouth Harbor
Portsmouth.history.cwc net/Start.htm
WOLVERTON MANOR IN DORCHESTER
Dorchester archeological museum
Weymouth
Portland island
Salisbury
old sarum

__________________________

Journal
RAIN AND COLD for 10 days

Just colder than Colorado
for the next 8 days.

A nice change from hot Colorado.

How nice to have a big old castle
to be inside and out of the rain
for 2 or three days..

How nice to be treated with smiles
and helpful courtesy
by all of the staff.

The manners displayed by the English
people we met were great.

The lack of Road Rage
leads a person to suspect a connection.

BUSHY PARK
Bushy Park is adjacent
to Hampton Court Palace
and was designed by
Christopher Wren as the
entrance to the Palace.

Eisenhower headquarters
during WWII were located
in this large
600 acre entrance way.

What a perfect setting
for planning the D Day invasion.

My Proprietary feelings.

I was offended when
I read about Christopher Wren's
1700's plan
to tear down and replace
the north side of Hampton Palace.

The tear down would have included
the Georgian House building we occupy.

I am less offended
after seeing Wren's mile long
entrance road.

It is really grand.

The road was lined
wih 8 rows of
chestnuts and lime trees.

A lovely fountain leads
directly from the massive gates
to the palace.

A herd of red deer
gave a sense of a long gone past.

Many pheasants grouse and pigeons.

Wren's new north gates
are inviting.

His planning was good.

I now agree.

A new north side of the castle
would have been more impressive.

Don't we all tear down and replace
over time?

After all the north side buildings
were built more than 200 years before.

I have grown up
with the American attitude
of leave the old buildings.

Just add on new buildings
when you need them.

Click here for my Bushy park pictures
Click for other Bushy park web sites.

____________________________

A ONE DAY FIELD TRIP TO PORTSMOUTH.

So many perfect villages.

Visited the home of Jane Austen
author of Pride and Prejudice.
www.janeausten?

Portsmouth
Such a practical harbor.

Just asking for friendly
and enemy visitors.

Henry VIII fort was formidable.

Our american generals
must have copied it's design
before our Civil war.

The D day museum
at the same stop
was a sad review.

_______________________________

KINGSTON
2 MILES DOWN THE THAMES

A dentist for Judy's toothache
was just as hard to locate
as you can imagine.

It would have been impossible without
our cab driver.

Kingston was bright and new
with an impressive
Galleria like our DCTA.

________________________

THE ENGLISH MIDLANDS

THE ABBEY

HAVE YOU THOUGHT
OF BECOMING A MONK?

The thought crosses my mind
several times per day.

Should I retire
to a contemplative life?

This ABBEY FARM
was in use in 1153.

The original abbey building was
torn down and robbed
of its materials by 1700.

This Tudor Abbey Building environment
is mostly the same
as in 1700 AD.

Henry the VIII
sold it to Whitbread
and it is still in the
Whitbread Trust in 2000.

All repair or reconstruction
is like that of
a very old church or cathedral.

3 story winding stairway

Bedroom is 24 by 18
with 2 fireplaces.

10 foot ceilings
with the original exposed beams.

9 tall mullioned windows.

It is so silent and so old.

My DAYS AT THE ABBEY

50 historical books tell the history
and biographies of Whitbread
and other users back to Roman times.

The birds are the biggest noises.

I sit and contemplate
in the sunny rooms.

Popping outside every few minutes
to spot a passing plane from old
Warden airfield.

Why so many planes?

An antique air show
was going on that evening.

I think of the fragility
of those underpowered
antique planes.

_______________________

oldwarden airfield
http://www.ballandia.mcmail.com/pigs/warden/pics98.htm

SHUTTLEWORTH AIR MUSEUM

A museum for reliving my dreams.

Most of the old pilots I saw
at old Warden were tall.

Heros?

Leaders.

Many died during the war.

Did more die from mechanical failure
than enemy action?

A bunch of tall and large men
came out of the hangers.

Perhaps they were the white haired survivors
of the dangerous planes they flew.

It was only accidental that
I didn't die in my plane.
---------------------------

The Shuttleworth collection.

7 buildings contain
many kinds of ancient planes
you only see in movies.

And they still fly them!!

A dozen volunteers
were working on them.

What a way to spend retirement or?

On the grass airfield are
a half?dozen persons
flying model planes.

Perhaps that would be a safer way
for me to resume my flying career.

Would it encourage my grandchildren to fly?

I guess I'd better not do that.

Perhaps model boats?

Perhaps model sail not power boats.

What models should we be
for our children?

I took many risks when flying.

I would never want
my children or students
to copy my foolishness.

Many of the persons discussed
in this museum
died pursuing their flying.

Derring- do is deadly.

I always wanted to fly a p40
and other military planes.

Now that I can easily afford
to rent them
I am afraid to fly in them.

I am too fearful
that they will crash.

Living is much more fun
than being dead.

My silver Luscombe plane
was made in 1941
and rebuilt in 1946.

I never knew why it was rebuilt.

I wonder if someone died in it.

I knew I liked it's modern
metal skin and new interior.

I was so proud of it.

______________________

Weather is perfect
for a shirt.

Definitely not hot.

• http://www.oldwarden.com
  
• http://www.cardingtonairships.com
  
• http://www.bedford.com

One of 3 existing.

The Victoria and Albert museum
wants to keep and protect the chalice.

A locked closet
contained ancient priest robes
with elaborate gold embroidery.

________________________________
Note:
Glenn Miller the bandleader
was stationed at Bedford airbase
before his airplane crash during world war II.
www
www
www

WATERTOWER AT SANDRINGHAM
Our third Landmark home.

I thought I had a lot of
spiral stairs in the abbey

New scores

23 to twin bedroom
26 more to double bedroom
32 more to tub and bathroom
46 more to observation top
plus 25 feet to the
very top of the tower.

127 spiral steps altogether.

Exercise anyone?

Observation floor of the Tower
is above all the trees.

360 degree sunset.

Fire red to dark purple.

Beyond the immaculate fields
we have the North Sea
on half the sides.

The tower is the most recently built
of the places we stayed in.

Wonder of wonders a stand up shower.

The water tower was built in 1887
5 years before the mansion.

Prince Albert contracted typhoid
so the water tower was built
to serve Sandringham.

3 of the royals
caught typhoid fever
from the bad water here.

Aside from supplying water
the upstairs rooms were
used by Royal hunting parties.

They were preparing
for the "shoots"
and talking over their successes.

This tower is an
improbable destination.

It is highly recommended
for lovers that want to be
secluded from others.

Surrounded by verdant fields
and ancient trees.

360 degree views of everything.

Sited on the highest hill around.

10 or more acres.

The watertower is reached
by an overgrown and private road.

This leafy tunnel
could be right out
of a beautiful story book.


The walls are decorated
with portraits and photographs
of the Royals
dating from 1868 Prince Albert.


Park 3 feet from the entrance.
-------------------------------
Fri

This morning I am sitting
in my rental car to plug
in my computer.

My house voltage converter
gave up the ghost.

The car battery converter
works well.

The rental car
is a well appointed office
with deep reclining
cushions and carpeting.

The view out the windows
is superb.

The grass and hedges
are a perfect setting
for the massive stones
that comprise this water tower.

It looks like a fort.

It's base has narrow windows
that would have been good
for shooting arrows at the enemy.


www
www
www

Each landmark location
comes with a bookcase full of
history books and guides
for the immediate area.

I discovered a fascinating
and gory old book
by Charles Kingsley.

"Hereward the Wake"
told many violent tales of
pre-medieval England.

It was hard to put down.

I had to divide my time
with "The big Shots" book about
Edwardian shooting parties.

What an expensive way
to kill time and animals.

A sport or social activity
carried to the maximum
by the example of King Edward.

Extremely expensive parties
were held all over Europe and Britain.

Two rich men went bankrupt
from the expense of the parties.

WHY THE SHOOTS?

All the literature
agrees that the son
King Edward the VII
was disliked by his mother Queen Victoria.

She criticized him
and limited his opportunities
for management of the kingdom.

Did he maximize his shooting
parties as a alternative way to succeed.

King V11 copied his
hunter father Prince Albert.

Shooting records like
7000 rabbits in one week
4000 pheasants in one day.
etc.
www.

IS THIS A SPORT?

The king also hunted
African elephants
and other rare species.

_________________________

THE FENS

NORTH SEA WAS AT LOW TIDE

You could walk on the sand
for one to three or four blocks.

We walked a mile on the beaches.

We collected
some strange looking shells.

A man one half mile
from the beach
said his house had been flooded
by high tides in 1953.

Had a fresh
lobster and minnows lunch
at a perfect and expensive
seaside hotel.

Couldn't find the Roman fort
we were looking for
but we did find
an arch from an 853 church.

Hundreds of elderly couples
quietly sitting and enjoying the sun.

Very few were talking.

Everyone we talked to
wants to tell their history.

http://www.bpm1.demon.co.uk/club.htm#1

_____________________________

Kings Lynn
Market places
and the tidal river
that made it important.

Dykes everywhere in the Fens area.

Many dykes were built by the Romans
along with good roads.

Museums have many Roman and pre-Roman artifacts.

Taking a slower day to rest
we toured Castle Rising.

Built in 1100 and still standing.

A prison
for Queen Isabella
for 30 years.

She had her husband killed
so her son could sit on the throne
rather that his later wife's son.

Her son set her up in the
castle as a prison
and came to visit
her several times a year.

Enormous earthen bulwarks.

http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/castles/castle%20rising.htm

I re-visited the cyber cafe
and nearby beaches
on this sunny day.

Shopping at antique stores
and getting necessary supplies
filled the rest of the day.

Friday eve
We went to the top of the tower
for a last long look at the Fens

It is beautiful.

The farmers have harvested
the next two fields in the last 2 days.

The 4 combines and tractors
made a long parade
going to their barns
at 6 this evening.

A fork lift was stacking the
oversize bundles of straw.

Two trucks loaded with grain
unloaded in the airconditioned
barn next door.


_________________________

ALL DAY DRIVE TO DORCHESTER
We have loaded our bags
so we can get an early start
to go to the
Wolverton Manor house.

We will stay
in the gatekeepers house.

It is in SW England.

We will drive all day
with a stop to see Bath again.

We didn't get to Bath.
A traffic jam on the M25
slowed us up.

Taking a couple side roads
lost a couple of hours.

Tiring day 280 miles 10am
to 7pm.

_________________________

I am impressed
with English drivers.


English drivers
have to be very skilled
to survive the narrow roads.

"Give way and ques" are
essential and
a respectful way of life.

They couldn't live without
these good attitudes.

If people honked at
us it was a very short
little beep.
_________________________

WOLVERTON MANOR

Very original 1500 and 1600 parts.

This house hosted
many famous persons including
King George III
and Sir walter Raleigh
before he was beheaded.

Raleigh's US business
was not successful enough
to escape the disapproval
of King James I.


The manor is partly occupied
by a Captain Thimbleby
who is a direct descendant
of the original owners.


We occupy
two ancient turrets
now used for a kitchen
and 2 bathrooms.

We have a big living room
big bedroom and
2 other bedrooms.

The landlord.

Captain
Thimbleby found our fuses
when our electricity decided
to take a time out.

We had a glass of wine with him
as he told us
of some of his 1960's
war time experiences.

It didnt seem possible that he could have
been in the military forty years
ago.

He seemed younger than his years.

He told us about his duty in
Cypress and how much he liked his
time there.

A friend of his was killed.

_______________________________

We toured the rest of Wolverton.

Our lady guide
was very knowledgeable

She has worked here
off and on
most of her life.

Now lives in Charminster
with children in Dorchester
and Weymouth.

She rented space
for her horses
in the stable
at one time.

___________________________

Portland Island
has stone quarries that
made the English castles
last so long.

Many more castles
would be here now
if they had not been torn down
to get their stones.

Much change just
for the sake of reusing
the stones rather than
going and getting some more.

At many periods and especially
after Henry the VIII
some were torn down
to eliminate some of the evidence
of previous religions.

Portland stone is used in the
United Nations building in New York.

____________________________

Maiden Castle
www.

Really large.

____________________________

Salisbury Cathedral
As impressive as they say.

Salisbury Cathedral is
a Roman Catholic Church

It appears that the Church
may have gone to great lengths
to prove its continuing existence.

www.

Old Sarum
Most impressive of all
given it's 5000 year old history.

I bought my new Roman Helmet
and a burgundy Celtic cloth
to hang on the wall.

These new treasures were
purchased in the Old Sarum
museum shop along with some
Celtic design bookmarks.

_________________________

STONEHENGE

Stonehenge hasn't changed
since my first visit
20 years ago.
www

It is so large it could be
reviewed from my car.

We spent the time saved
finding Woodhenge.

www

Woodhenge is 6 concentric rings
of buried posts.

Really amazing
for 3000 years ago.

It looks like Cahokia from 900 AD.
www.

We saw many more large burial
and defensive barrows.

We call them mounds in the states.

Cursess is a double
mound a half mile long?

Two long barrows
in the middle of a big plain.



Parade ground
or water channel.

Super burial site?


_____________________________

The driving was tough tonight.

Steep and narrow roads
dominated by trucks this evening.

Roads too tight and scary
for a tired man.

_________________________
Have you ever considered
living in an antique store?

All our locations have had
a well used supply of antique
furniture.