Saint-Omer – September 2008
Saint-Omer is a commune in France.
It is a commune and sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department 68 km (42 mi) west-northwest of Lille on the railway to Calais. The town is named after Saint Audomar, who brought Christianity to the area.
The canalised portion of the river Aa begins at Saint-Omer, reaching the North Sea at Gravelines in northern France. Below its walls, the Aa connects with the Neufossé Canal, which ends at the Lys River.
You can find my post on Notre-Dame Cathedral, St. Omer and the tomb of Saint Erkembode here.
Tags: France, St Omer, Weekend away
Hay Castle is currently in need of a little TLC…
Hay Castle is very much under threat. The castle and manor are in desperate need of conservation to prevent further deterioration. The Norman keep is unstable and unsafe for entry. The famed archway is impassible. The east wing of the Jacobean manor remains roofless and derelict, and its decorated stone walls are collapsing.*
History
Hay Castle is one of the great medieval structures on the border of England and Wales. Built in the late 12th century by the powerful Norman Lord William de Braose, its history is long and turbulent. The castle was sacked by Llewelyn II, the last prince of Wales, in 1233 and rebuilt by Henry III. Centuries of turmoil followed until the 15th century, when the castle passed into the hands of the Beaufort Estates. Castle House, a Jacobean mansion, was built alongside the tower in 1660.
The remains of the castle include a four-story keep and a beautiful arched gateway. The multi-gabled Jacobean manor was severely damaged by fire in 1939 and again in 1977. Owned by bibliophile Richard Booth since the 1960’s, the site was purchased in 2011 by the Hay Castle Trust.*
*Hay Castle Trust
Tags: Castle, Hay-on-Wye, Mini Break
Hay was a quiet run down market town in 1962, when Richard Booth opened his first bookshop. Ten years and 40 bookshops later, the town became a Mecca for book lovers the whole world over. On 1st April 1977 (All Fools’ Day) Richard declared Hay an Independent Kingdom and the town has been in the public eye ever since. The twinning with Timbuktu and [the] annual Literary Festival have helped.*
*From tourist information leaflet.
Tags: Books, Hay-on-Wye, Mini Break
Designed by ‘Capability’ Brown in the 1760s, the Grand Cascade at the western end of the lake is one of England’s most picturesque waterfalls. Here the Glyme plunges dramatically from the lake and the slowly winds south-westwards under the ‘New’ Bridge designed by Sir William Chambers, eventually joining the River Evenlode, a tributary of the Thames.*
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to appreciate the cascade and bridge from all angles due to extended ‘Selfie taking’ on the bridge…
*From the Blenheim Palace guidebook printed 2014
Tags: Blenheim Palace, The Grand Cascade
He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love.
1 John 4:8
Tags: Cherie's Place Thought, Dorothy Clive Garden, Flowers
