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The Age
6 days ago
- General
- The Age
Westminster Abbey, London seven must-see highlights
August 12, 2025 — 5:00am , register or subscribe to save articles for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. The stones, bones and thrones of the famed Westminster Abbey provide a wonderfully cluttered walk through its English religious, royal and architectural past. 1 Clamber into the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries A funeral effigy of Catherine Sheffield, Duchess of Buckingham from 1735. Getty Images Wedged into attic space above the nave's arches, this exhibition space provides a marvellous angel's-eye view of the abbey's interior and displays a collection of wonderful bric-a-brac. Among the items are a 14th-century illuminated missal, sculptures, elaborately embroidered ecclesiastical vestments and Prince William's marriage licence. But the highlight is the powerful and spooky wax or wooden funeral effigies of medieval kings and queens. You pay an extra £5 ($10.50) admission for the galleries, but they're worth every penny. The tomb of Queen Elizabeth I. The abbey's eastern end is crammed with the tombs of 30 kings and queens. The medieval-era royal tombs have an austere beauty but few of us will know much about the bony occupants. Everyone has heard of Elizabeth I, though, whose pompous stone effigy is resplendent in a Tudor ruff and gilded crown. Her bitter rival and half-sister, Mary I, is squeezed in beside her, while the cousin she beheaded, Mary, Queen of Scots, lies a diplomatic distance across the aisle, looking irritatingly pouty and pious. 3 Pause in admiration of the Lady Chapel Lady Chapel, also known as Henry VII Chapel. Getty Images The far north end of the aisle, often referred to as Henry VII Chapel after the king who paid for it, is a medieval masterpiece in Perpendicular Gothic style with elongated stained-glass windows and fan-vaulted ceilings that (presumably inadvertently) resemble interlocking palm trees. Below hang the banners of Knights of the Order of the Bath. Beautifully carved choir stalls and the statues of 95 saints add to the medieval flamboyance. Stained glass commemorating the 1940 Battle of Britain is anachronistic but striking. 4 Rediscover your literary references in Poets' Corner Poets' Corner. Getty Images More than 100 writers and poets from the 18th century onwards – plus Geoffrey Chaucer, who died in 1400 – are commemorated in a muddle of slabs, busts and effigies in the south transept. Not all are buried here: the likes of a jaunty Shakespeare and pensive-looking Wordsworth merely get statues. The Corner is a romp through the great, good and now almost forgotten literature, with the controversial (such as Byron and Wilde) getting only belated mentions. 5 Crick your neck in the Chapter House This former meeting space for monks is one of the oldest parts of the abbey. The magnificent uplift of its fanned ceiling, supported by a single central column, feels like standing under an elaborate stone parasol. Scenes from the Last Judgment and Apocalypse – always gruesomely entertaining subjects in churches – appear on wall paintings. Stained-glass windows also catch the eye, but don't miss the plain oak-panel door dating from 1050 which lays claim to being Britain's oldest door. 6 Get pensive in Scientists' Corner Rack your brain, and you might remember the contributions scientists such as Margaret Cavendish, Charles Darwin, Joseph Hooker, Charles Lyell, Ernest Rutherford and Alfred Russel Wallace made to science – often much to the dismay of the church. All and more are commemorated in the nave's north-east corner. Isaac Newton's elaborate marble tomb features him propped up on books and surrounded by cherub-like boys with telescopes and prisms. The ashes of Stephen Hawking, his fellow professor of mathematics at Cambridge University, are interred nearby. 7 Come up for fresh air in the Abbey gardens Westminster Abbey seen from College Garden. Getty Images Six of London's top royal sites with a coronation connection These often-overlooked little gems aren't outstanding garden-wise, but are a delightful antidote to the abbey's gloomy and often crowded corners. College Garden is 900 years old and a very English space of lawns, ragged flowerbeds and mellow walls. Little Cloister Garden is surrounded by medieval arches and has a Victorian fountain. The quintessentially English collection of surrounding historical buildings is time-warp stuff. You can hear children's chatter coming from venerable Westminster School just over the wall. The writer travelled at his own expense. See Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. Brian Johnston seemed destined to become a travel writer: he is an Irishman born in Nigeria and raised in Switzerland, who has lived in Britain and China and now calls Australia home.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Long Melford church closed after wood panel falls from height
The main body of a church has been closed after a decorative wooden plinth fell from a "considerable height".Holy Trinity Church in Long Melford, near Sudbury, Suffolk, shut its nave after the incident on Tuesday, 8 July, to carry out inspections on other church stressed no one was injured, the roof had not collapsed and added that its Lady Chapel remained open for prayer and Art Society's Summer Exhibition was due to take place at the church from 18 July to 3 August, but it has now been relocated to St Peter & St Paul Church in Lavenham. "We are very sorry to report that the main body of the church is temporarily closed whilst a safety inspection is carried out," the church said on its website. "A wooden plinth fell from a considerable height and we cannot open the main body of the church until all the high woodwork has been physically checked. "We know many people have planned to visit Holy Trinity when visiting Suffolk and are so sorry we cannot share all of our wonderful church with you."The church thanked people for their Trinity Church has been approached for comment. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Herald Scotland
23-06-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Ultimate guide to East Meon: A village with history and pubs
Located on the eastern side of the county near Petersfield, it is less than an hour's drive away from more populated locations in Southampton and Winchester. While it is quite a small place, there is still enough to do in exploring all of its historical facets and the surrounding scenic beauty. Plus, there are also a couple of "delightful" pubs for those who want to relax with a pint. Why is East Meon worth visiting? The beauty of the village and the surrounding area is one reason to travel to East Meon, with Visit Hampshire describing it as a "picturesque" spot surrounded by the South Downs National Park. As a result, there are plenty of walks you can embark on if you fancy, such as the East Meon circular, which takes between one and two hours. The village also has a lot of history to it, as there are bronze age burial barrows within the parish which date back to around 2,000 BC. Visit Hampshire adds: "The village was part of a Royal Manor belonging first to King Alfred the Great, and later to William the Conqueror as recorded in The Domesday Survey of 1086." There are a number of ancient buildings in the village, such as the Norman All Saints Church. According to its website, the historian Nikolaus Pevsner described it as "one of the most thrilling village churches in Hampshire". The original building was completed in 1150, which is still identifiable from its "round-topped Norman arches or Romanesque style in the West and South doorways". Major additions were made in 1230 with the South Aisle and Lady Chapel, with the spire also likely being added around this time. Opposite the church is The Court House, which is said to have a medieval hall from the 14th century. According to the East Meon History website, it is the best preserved of the residences of the Bishops of Winchester. It also has the distinction of being the highest village in the Meon valley, with some quality B&Bs to stay at, such as Belmont Barn and Pound Orchard Bed & Breakfast. What are house prices like in East Meon? According to Rightmove, house prices in East Meon have had an overall average of £521,250 over the past year. It added: "Overall, the historical sold prices in East Meon over the last year were 14% down on the previous year and 70% down on the 2019 peak of £1,713,571." What pubs can you find in East Meon? East Meon has two well-regarded pubs, one of which is Ye Olde George, which is described as a "delightful 15th century coaching inn" on its website. Food at this establishment is made using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible, and its menus change seasonally. Recommended reading: The pub has retained its open fires and wooden floors, and there are five bedrooms for people to stay in. There is also the Izaak Walton, which at the time of writing is currently closed until further notice. When open, this pub has a large garden for guests to sit in and a number of quality ales on tap.
