Neil Matthews - Heritage Weekends: 52 breaks exploring Britains past

COVID-19

Please note that research for this guide was carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic. Because of the impact of the crisis on tourism, some businesses or services listed in the text may no longer operate. We will post any information we have about these on bradtguides.com/updates. And wed of course be grateful for any updates you can send us during your own travels, which we will add to that page for the benefit of future travellers.

First edition published July 2022

Bradt Guides Ltd

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Print edition published in the USA by The Globe Pequot Press Inc,

PO Box 480, Guilford, Connecticut 06437-0480

Text copyright 2022 Bradt Guides Ltd

Map copyright 2022 Bradt Guides Ltd; includes map data OpenStreetMap contributors

Photographs copyright 2022 Individual photographers (see )

Project Manager: Anna Moores

Editor: Samantha Cook

Cover research: Ian Spick, Bradt Guides

The author and publisher have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information in this book at the time of going to press. However, they cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience resulting from the use of information contained in this guide. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior consent of the publisher.

ISBN: 9781784778439

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Photographs individual photographers credited beside images & also those picture libraries credited as follows: Alamy.com (A); awl-images.com (AWL); Dreamstime.com (DT); Shutterstock.com (S); Superstock.com (SS)

Front cover TOP: Ring of Brodgar, Orkney (Danita Delimont Stock/AWL); BELOW: Beatles statue, Liverpool (cowardlion/S)

Back cover Beaumaris Castle, Anglesey (Tomas Marek/S)

Title page Shropshires Ironbridge Gorge (Davelees/S)

Map David McCutcheon FBCart.S

Typeset and designed by Ian Spick, Bradt Guides

Production managed by Page Bros Ltd; printed in the UK

Digital conversion by www.dataworks.co.in

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Heritage Weekends is Helen and Neil Matthews second book for Bradt, following Slow Travel: The Chilterns and the Thames Valley in 2019. Both have written history books based on their PhD theses: Pen & Sword published Helens The Legitimacy of Bastards: The Place of Illegitimate Children in Later Medieval England (2019) and Neils Victorians and Edwardians Abroad: the Beginning of the Modern Holiday (2016).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Researching and writing a guidebook during a pandemic and its aftermath is not something wed like to repeat. Nonetheless its been a positive reaffirmation of the extraordinary heritage that everyone in these islands shares. Wed like to thank the team at Bradt for turning our words into a beautiful final product.

For help, advice and encouragement of various types, thanks also to Mike Bagshaw, Laura Bogard, John Brazier, Peter Burley, Lynsey Clague, Iwan ap Dafydd, Adam Davis, Richard Davis, Katie Featherstone, Darren Flint, Donald Greig, Gemma Hall, Kirsten Hamilton, Tim Hannigan, Vicky Inglis, John J Johnston, Suzanne King, Marie Kreft, Tim Locke, Anna McNally, Laurence Mitchell, Helen Moat, Derfel Owen, Alexandra Richards, Rebecca Rideal, Fiona Ryland, Mark Rowe, Kate Simon, Jill Starley-Grainer, Matthew Sweet and Antonia Windsor.

We dedicate this book to everyone in our heritage industry, whatever their role, as well as the archivists, archaeologists, historians, researchers and teachers who help us all to understand and appreciate Britains past.

CONTENTS

FEEDBACK REQUEST

At Bradt Guides were aware that guidebooks start to go out of date on the day theyre published and that you, our readers, are out there in the field doing research of your own. So why not tell us about your experiences? Contact us on . Alternatively, you can add a review of the book to Amazon, or share your adventures with us on social media: BradtGuides BradtGuides & DrNeilMatthews & HMatthews67 BradtGuides & nmatthews68 & hsmatthews17.

Time to spare on our Avebury weekend? Visit Cherhill White Horse, (). (stocker1970/S)

Museum of Island Life, Skye (). (stocker1970/S)

INTRODUCTION

History and heritage traditions, objects and creations that have passed down to us through the centuries are an integral part of British life. History is a staple of publishing, TV, films and the stage (whod have thought wed have a hit musical celebrating the lives of Henry VIIIs six wives?) Millions of us visit our wealth of historical sites each year, and over five million have joined heritage organisations that preserve, excavate, explain and promote those sites. Our past is one of our greatest passions, and a major attraction for visitors from all over the world.

That passion also generates controversy: whether its the regular reviews of the history curriculum for schools, recent debates about the significance of statues or the prominence of the Black Lives Matter movement. A simple truth underlies these and other debates: history is always contested. Our understanding of the past evolves all the time, in the light of new evidence, new interpretations and new theories. History isnt here to make us feel good about ourselves, although what we find may move or inspire us. We can hear the voices of one section of humanity without silencing others.

Heritage Weekends includes itineraries for a wide range of historical sites and stories, to help you explore for yourself and draw your own conclusions. Roaming round England, Wales, Scotland and two dependencies, weve picked out 52 locations where you can enjoy getting closer to our natural, architectural, industrial or cultural heritage. Some are off the mainstream tourism track, neglected or underrated places that deserve more attention. Others are famous, but you may see them in a new light.