Aside from the major attraction at Framlingham castle, the town has a varied history and many local attractions for visitors to enjoy.
The Church of St Michael the Archangel
St Michael’s church has a rich history, with most of the building being built between the period of 1350 to 1555. The church includes a number of impressive features for visitors to enjoy, such as the wall painting that dates back to 1400 and tombs of the Howard family that rest in the chancel (built 1674).
The Village Pump
The pump, consisting of two spouts, was, in the past, one of the main sources of water to the town.
Framlingham Mere
Since 1988 Framlingham Mere has been leased by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust as a nature reserve. The mere is home to roughly 290 species of plants, with many wild flowers growing throughout the year. This includes the ragged robin, marsh marigold and flag iris.
There are also 80 species recorded at the mere including kingfishers and barn owls. Some of the lake birds include swans, ducks and herons. Some rare species living there include the water vole and a number of species of bat.
There are a number of theories as to the origins of the mere. Some archaeological evidence may suggest that the mere predates the castle, and is natural, though others think that it was man-made to supply the construction of the castle.
Lanman Museum
The museum is named after Harold Lanman, who was an important resident of Framlingham (1893-1979). Lanman had collected local items that were of special historical interest, and there are a number of artefacts helping to outline local life in the past 150 years.
Wildlife Walks
As well as the attractions listed above, Framlingham boasts a number of beautiful wildlife walks in the surrounding area. The Mere is perhaps the most famous, providing stunning views and a chance to see rare breeds.
If you have the time, it can be worth taking the A1120 away from Framlingham to Mickfield Meadow. This is a meadow full of flowers, and always contains a number of wildflowers, many of which are very rare in the area. This is also a beautiful habitat for wildlife, making it an interesting walk for all visitors to the area.
Derby Gaol - December 10, 2008 -
Derby Gaol is famously labelled as one of the most haunted locations in the country, and is located at numbers 50 and 51 Friargate in Derby. Gaol is simply the old-fashioned version of the word jail, where many criminals were held there between the years of 1756 and 1828.
Visitors can still see the gallows that were used as punishment for the most severe crimes, and there have been many paranormal experiences at the site of the Gaol. The owner himself has experienced many supernatural encounters, including the sighting of figures wandering the corridors. Visitors themselves can even arrange to stay in the Gaol overnight!
Read more Derbyshire ghost stories on the BakewellDerbyshire.com website.
The Edenhall Hotel, nr. Penrith, was bought in 1997 by two business partners who subsequently decided to convert the attics into bedrooms for themselves. When taking afternoon naps between busy shifts at the hotel, one of the partners would frequently feel the sensation of someone walking around the room and would see the door closing, unaware that it had even been opened. He never saw anyone, but had a strong visual image of an elderly lady, who was watchful as opposed to hostile.
A previous worker at the hotel had also seen the ghost, who climbed the stairs in front of her but was nowhere to be seen once she reached the attic. Past workers in the hotel have even spotted a ghost in the bar, not just including a vision of a woman but also a man carrying a pint.
Today the hotel is still in business and is frequented by many looking to catch a glimpse of the famous ghosts!
Read more about ghosts of the Lake District on the GrasmereCumbria.co.uk website.
Brancaster is located on the North Norfolk Coast as is popular with visitors who enjoy sailing. It has long history dating back to Roman times when it was known as Branodunum. The Norfolk Coastal Path travels through Brancaster, and for people walking this route it is a lovely spot to stay.
Professional photographer Martin Billing grew up in Brancaster and today offers wide range of Brancaster Photography from his shop in the nearby village of Holkham.
Lathyrus Odoratus is the latin name for the flower we know as the Sweet Pea. This pretty name perfectly describes the beautiful flowers and the deadly(if ingested) pods that contain the pea-like seeds. It is thought the name was first used by the poet Keats in the early 1800s, although it is not known whether he created the name or it was something he had heard.
Henry Eckford spent his early life working in several nurseries. He soon moved on to other careers in the horticultural industry. His first recognition came whilst working with pelargoniums and dahlias as head gardener for the Earl of Radnor.
By 1882, Eckford had worked on his new varieties and he introduced the “Bronze Prince” sweet pea. This lead to him being awarded the First Class Certificate from the Royal Horticultural Society. This was the highest award that could be awarded to the members of the society.
For the full article about Henry Eckford and Wem please see the Wem Guide: http://www.wemguide.com/pages/sweet-peas.html
On approaching the town of Padstow, upon driving down the hill to the harbour itself, one of the first sights you will be greeted with will be the National Lobster Hatchery. Their vision is to actively promote and contribute to responsible management of our coastal marine resources and to act as resource for education, conservation and research.
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If you love a good ghost story there is no better place to visit than Cornwall. Steeped in mystery, history, legends, folklore and reported ghost sightings; Cornwall is an intriguing place indeed. If you have ever thought of yourself as a ghost hunter, Cornwall is one place that you may end up being very busy.
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Named after East Angles, one of the ancient kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England, East Anglia is a peninsula in eastern England. Anglia itself derives its name from Angeln, the homeland of the Angles in North Germany. The region encompassed the dukedoms of Norfolk and Suffolk (probable derivations of ‘North Folk’ and ‘South Folk’). The boundaries, however, are not clearly demarcated. Along with Norfolk and Suffolk, it also includes the province of Cambridgeshire, now perhaps the world’s most exotic academic locale. Earlier, Essex was also considered a part of East Anglia. Primarily flat, the area, however, is by no mean topographically uniform. It has marshlands and fen forests and much of the area around Norfolk is hilly. Brit playwright Noel Coward, noted for his Ealing comedies, delivers a fine allusion to the flatness of the terrain in his play Private Lives. “Very flat, Norfolk” — is the famous line. The primary cities and towns of East Anglia are Norwich, Peterborough, Cambridge, Ipswich, Colchester, Huntingdon and Ely.
Full article: http://www.castleacre.net/pages/east-anglia.html
A leaflet for children detailing how to care for crabs is being offered free in a Norfolk town.
The leaflet, which cost £200 to produce, has been written by zoology students from Cambridge University and is in shops in Wells-next-the-Sea.
Young beachcombers are warned not to overcrowd buckets, keep crabs in seawater and out of direct sunlight.
The leaflets have been paid for by the Norfolk Coast Partnership (NCP) which oversees coastal area management.
A spokesman for NCP said: “A group of zoology students from Cambridge University visited the harbour as part of their studies and have produced these leaflets.
“They just wanted to give youngsters some information about crabs and the cost was minimal.
“No-one’s suggesting that people shouldn’t go crabbing or anything like that.”
Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7445526.stm
The modern preconception of Kent being a grey extension of Greater London often leads to the garden of England and its delightful resorts being overlooked when considering a domestic holiday. Towns such as Dover famed for its while cliffs are a fantastic destination for a break in the UK, as are resorts such as Deal and inland architectural marvels like Canterbury.
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