700 Years of History

Imagine sleeping in a room that's over 700 years old.  Imagine climbing a winding staircase that has been trodden by knights of the realm.  Imagine walking the same cobblestones that were once broached by the wealthy widow of William Longspee - an illegitimate son of Henry II.

The staircase

Walls as thick as my arm is long

The mantlepiece is very high

700 years, that's more than triple the age of the first dwelling built by white man in Sydney Cove.
We were headed towards Bath, looking for our next rest stop for Sunday night.  It was getting late in the afternoon, so we knew available accommodation would start to fill quickly.  We stopped at a little village about 5 miles out of Bath - the pub was full for the night, they suggested we try the George, in the next town, Norton St Philip, Somerset.   And that's how we stumbled upon the most historic hotel in Britain, which can be dated back to the 1300s.


This time the four poster bed was real, it must have been built in the room, as the circular staircase could barely manage my foot width.  The canopy was oak, with heavy drapes at the foot and head.  Very regal!
The floor of our room had been repaired numerous times over the centuries, resulting in an uphill down dale effect which was rather difficult to negotiate in darkness on the way to the bathroom.  The dungeon had been transformed into a lounge, with the front bar located partway through the middle.  The mantlepieces above the fireplaces are so high, i had to raise mys arm above my head to reach.  Needless to say we have an entire album of photos.  I think the barman was quite impressed by our enthusiasm for the history and gave us a booklet documenting the history and restoration.   The George has been a very special highlight of this most amazing trip.

But wait!  There's more!  The Roman Baths of Bath.  A Must Stop for any traveller passing through the Bath area.  Another teeming town of tourists, another brilliant sunny day, temperatures reaching 26 degrees, making the stroll around this architectural feast particularly pleasant.  The Roman Baths provided us with new insight into how the Romans inhabited Bath, leaving a legacy of engineering feats and archeological wonders.
No lunchtime stops at pubs today, giving the tummy a rest.
Driving through the Cottswolds has brought us back into the thatched roof territory, which is always may delight.