Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

River Avon and Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon, England

This evening, I am focusing on the popular visitor town of Stratford-upon-Avon which is synonymous with England’s greatest playwright for it was here that William Shakespeare was both born and buried.

Stratford is very receptive to visitors who can visit the playwrights birthplace, stroll through the town  and along the sleepy River Avon to Holy Trinity Church, visit the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Shakespeare’s old school.  

In the vicinity of Stratford can be found Palmer’s Farm and Mary Arden’s House, both at Wilmcote and Ann Hathaway’s Cottage at Shottery.

River Avon and Clopton Bridge, Stratford-upon-Avon, England

Shakespeare's Birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, England

Street Scene, Startford-upon-Avon, England

Shakespeare's Grave, Startford-upon-Avon, England

Stratford is an essential stop in course of a tour of the English Cotswolds.

St. Monans Church, Fife Coast, Scotland

This evening, I am focusing on St. Monans Parish Church which is located on an elevated position overlooking the Firth of Forth. This historic church is usually open and welcomes visitors.Some key historic and other facts:

• May be named after an Irish missionary Monanus or Monans who may have visited the area around AD 832 and is reported to have been slain by Danish invaders about AD 875.
• The church was commissioned by King David II ( 1329-1371) on site of a previous church. Building took place between 1362 and 1370 and cost 750 Scots pounds.
• Prior to 1477 the building was granted to Dominican Friars.
• Burned by English invaders in 1544.
• Became Parish Church in 1646.
• From 1646-1848 the choir alone was used for worship.
• Major restoration work undertaken in 1955.
• The interior now contains various piscinas, a vaulted stone roof over the choir with heraldic shields,a  fully rigged ship of 1800 and a plaque showing the arms of St Monans dating from 1792.
• Used for Presbyterian worship.
• The surrounding graveyard is of interest being the last resting place of many local families.

Here is the interior showing the model of a c 1800 ship.

Inside St Monans Church, Fife Coast, Scotland

Inside St Monans Church, Fife Coast, Scotland

This church is something of a ‘hidden gem’ which I try to incorporate in my tours of the Fife Coast whenever possible.

Columns of Porticoes, Corbridge Roman Site, England

This evening, I am posting information on Corbridge Roman Site  near Hadrian’s Wall. Location is probably due to the site being at the intersection of the principal Roman roads of the day which ran east-west and north-south. Although lying south of  Hadrian’s Wall, Corbridge ( Coria) had a major support role as evidenced by a series of military forts which spanned the period from the late 1st century AD through to middle of the second century.From around AD 165  a new garrison town was developed which was maintained through to the 5th century AD.

Around AD180 the character of Corbridge began to change as the site progressively evolved into a mixed civilian/military community. At the end of the 2nd century large scale building work was commenced which included a pair of granaries ( see below) and and a fountain house but there appears to have occurred a hiatus in construction due to enemy action with the result that the buildings were not completed until the end of the 2nd century.

Little is known about the development of Corbridge during the 3rd and 4th centuries, principally because most of the site remains un-excavated under surrounding fields. However, it is presumed that prosperity was driven by a combination of support role for Hadrian’s Wall to the north and, possibly, mining for lead, zinc and coal in the locality.

The settlement at Corbridge probably came to an end in the early 5th century after the collapse of Roman rule in Britain.

Stone-Flagged Floor of West Granary, Corbridge, England

Granaries looking North at Corbridge Roman Site, England

Underground Strong Room looking N.E. at Corbridge Roman Site

Stone Trough and Statue Base at former Fountain House, Corbridge

 For visitors who wish to connect with the Roman era, this is an excellent site with adjacent museum where many of the important archaeological finds can be viewed. Whenever possible I include Corbridge in my tours of Roman Britain.