Fotheringhay, Birth Place of Richard III

Main Street, Fotheringhay
© Copyright Ian Yarham

Fotheringhay is a sleepy, picturesque little village in Northamptonshire, with a population of less than 200. Hard to believe then that it was not only the birth place of Richard III  (2 October 1452 – 22 August 1485), but also where Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587) was tried and beheaded.

The reason for the village's illustrious past is Fotheringhay Castle, which stood near the River Nene just outside the village and was at one time the home of the Dukes of York. With Richard III's death on Bosworth Field, the York line of kings came to an end and shortly after Mary's execution (in the castle's Great Hall), the castle began to fall into disrepair. It was eventually pulled down in 1627 and all that remains today is the motte (raised earthwork) on which it was built and a small piece of masonry. The site is freely accessible to the public.

Fotheringhay church and castle mound
© Copyright Martin Richardson

Richard III's birthday is commemorated annually by the Richard III Society by the placing of white roses in the parish church - St Mary's & All Saints - which dates back to the fifteenth century.

The Nene Way long distance footpath runs through the village.

Sandringham House: A Royal Retreat

Sandringham House
© Elwyn Thomas Roddick

Sandringham House, in Norfolk, has been privately owned by the British Royal Family for four generations. Built in 1870 by the Prince and Princess of Wales (later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra), it lies within the Royal Sandringham Estate - 8,000 hectares (20,000 acres) of land near the village of Sandringham.

Sandringham House is a regular and favourite country retreat of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, who spend every Christmas there surrounded by other members of the royal family. On Christmas morning hundreds of royal fans gather to get a glimpse of the family members as they attend the service at the small church that lies on the estate. Last Christmas (2011) was the first Christmas together as a married couple for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (aka Prince William and Kate Middleton) - see picture below.

Christmas Day 2011
© Richard Humphrey

In 1968 part of the Sandringham Estate was designated a Country Park. Today nearly 243 hectares are freely open to the public

The Sandringham House gardens were opened to the public by King Edward VII in 1908, and the Museum (which has displays of royal life and the estate's history) by King George V in 1930. Sandringham House itself was opened to the public at the Queen's wish in 1977, her Silver Jubilee year.

The Royal Sandringham Estate lies within the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

For more information about Sandringham House and the Sandingham Estate click here

The photographs used in this blog licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Coombs Dale in the Peak District: The hidden valley

Above Coombs Dale
© Copyright Jonathan Clitheroe

Many people like getting out on long walks in the country at this time of the year. Conditions are (usually!) cooler than in the summer and the wonderful autumn colours are an added bonus.

The Derbyshire Peaks attract walkers whatever the season. Most of them lie within the Peak District National Park which covers 555 square miles (1,440 km2) of the country, mainly in northern Derbyshire, but also reaching into parts of Staffordshire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and South and West Yorkshire.

Rutland: Much in Little

Rutland is the smallest county in England. Stone cottages and gently rolling landscapes are its distinguishing features, along with its two delightful market towns - Oakham and Uppingham - and of course Rutland Water, the largest man-made reservoir in Europe. The county's motto 'multum in parvo', meaning much in little, couldn't be more fitting.

Cambridge Attractions: Old and New

By Sean Nicholls

Cambridge is perhaps unique in the UK as a place where the progressive and modern exist comfortably alongside the genteel and traditional. At any time of the year, hotels in Cambridge are booked up by visitors from around the world hoping to take in all the city and its surroundings have to offer.

Clare College & King's College Chapel, Cambridge
Q Copyright Oast House Archive 

Cambridge is arguably most famous for being a university town. Many of the university's buildings are iconic structures in their own right and boast long and fascinating histories. Fortunately, these beautiful and magnificent buildings not only add charm to the landscape of the city, they are also open to visitors most of the year.

Food and Drink in the Heart of Leicestershire

King Street, Melton Mowbray

Q Copyright Martin Addison 

Melton Mowbray is a small market town in rural Leicestershire. Every year at the beginning of October, it becomes a mecca for foodies from all over the country when it hosts the East Midlands Food and Drink Festival. (Dates for this year: 6/7 October)

Admission to the festival costs £6 per person or just £5 for pre-booked tickets and children under 16 go free! Click here to pre-book your tickets now.