June 19, 2019, Southampton, UK, Stonehenge Visit, 159/183
As were cruised into Southampton under cloudy skies, it appeared that our great weather record may be ended. Luckily, we got through our excursion to Salisbury town, Salisbury Cathedral and Stonehenge rain-free, with temperatures in the low 60s.
Salisbury Cathedral has the tallest spire in Great Britain at 494 feet. This magnificent church was built in just 38 years, between 1220 and 1258 AD, and is only used for special occasions. The best copy of the four remaining original Magna Carta is displayed in the church.
Romans invaded England in 43 AD and were present for almost 400 years. A hoard of 2384 Roman coins was found in this area in 2016, but this fine is dwarfed by a find in 1978 of 55,000 coins near Cunetio.
Salisbury was the home of England's legendary Spitfire, which first flew in 1936.
After William the Conqueror won the Battle of Hastings in 1066, he established a 200 square mile hunting reserve for his personal use. Our tour included a drive through this area which is now the New Forest National Park.
Last stop was Stonehenge, a mysterious configuration of large stones that was built over a 2000 year period from 3500 BC. No concrete reason can be specified for the monument, but numerous burial sites spanning a 6 mile diameter around the main site have been found. Stones were moved up to 150 miles and many of the 30 tonners were moved 20 miles to this site. Historians attributed the installation to Druids, but modern science and archeology as proven that this site predates the Druids by hundreds of years. Makes for a wild party / celebration every summer solstice. Darn, we missed it by a day....Not!
As were cruised into Southampton under cloudy skies, it appeared that our great weather record may be ended. Luckily, we got through our excursion to Salisbury town, Salisbury Cathedral and Stonehenge rain-free, with temperatures in the low 60s.
Salisbury Cathedral has the tallest spire in Great Britain at 494 feet. This magnificent church was built in just 38 years, between 1220 and 1258 AD, and is only used for special occasions. The best copy of the four remaining original Magna Carta is displayed in the church.
Romans invaded England in 43 AD and were present for almost 400 years. A hoard of 2384 Roman coins was found in this area in 2016, but this fine is dwarfed by a find in 1978 of 55,000 coins near Cunetio.
Salisbury was the home of England's legendary Spitfire, which first flew in 1936.
After William the Conqueror won the Battle of Hastings in 1066, he established a 200 square mile hunting reserve for his personal use. Our tour included a drive through this area which is now the New Forest National Park.
Last stop was Stonehenge, a mysterious configuration of large stones that was built over a 2000 year period from 3500 BC. No concrete reason can be specified for the monument, but numerous burial sites spanning a 6 mile diameter around the main site have been found. Stones were moved up to 150 miles and many of the 30 tonners were moved 20 miles to this site. Historians attributed the installation to Druids, but modern science and archeology as proven that this site predates the Druids by hundreds of years. Makes for a wild party / celebration every summer solstice. Darn, we missed it by a day....Not!
Ancient Roman wall (about 50 AD)in Salisbury, outside the Port.
More of the Roman wall with some later modifications.
Interesting an old raven patiently greeting visitors to Stonehenge. Maybe he is an angry, reincarnated Druid who is frustrated because credit for Stonehenge has been taken away from his fraternity? My second most favourite picture of the site, after Merrilynne! Look at his attitude!
Bet the Stonehenge builders are laughing at all the goofballs coming to look at their pile of rocks.
Another view - still the same rocks!
Direction of sun's rays during Mid Winter Sunset.
Replica of one of the 30 ton stones used in Stonehenge
Traditional thatched roofs. Construction method not used much anymore because the 'Thatchers" went into politics..............
English countryside
Wild horses in the 200 square mile New Forest National Park
Countryside on the way to Salisbury
Salisbury Cathedral - 1258
One of the halls inside the Cathedral
West front of the Salisbury Cathedral
Article explaining the development of the Magna Carta - 1215. The best original copy, of the four remaining copies of the Magna Carta, is displayed in this church.
Cedar trees planted in 1837, in the English Gothic cloister, Salisbury Cathedral
Ann, Merrilynne and Barb ready for the impending rain as we leave the Cathedral area.
Various views of the town of Salisbury
No one would stay and listen!
Beautiful English gardens
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