Hatfield Broad Oak Church

One of the closest of Simon Jenkins 1000 best parish churches to me is Hatfield Broad Oak. At one time it was considerably bigger when it was attached to the priory church of  Hatfield Regis. Nothing remains of priory part of the church.

Today Hatfield Broad Oak is a pretty village and the church a decent one but oh to see it in its pomp

Southwold

I went to the seaside town of Southwold recently. Southwold is a bit of a throwback as seaside towns go as it has a range of specialist shops and a lack of chains (Costa Coffee closed) and it seems to be thriving,

Some find it a bit pretentious (or the people in it according to friends and a colleague) but I rather like it.

It has a brewery and a fine church.

The pier is thriving and is equally old fashioned.

The reason for being in Southwold was nearby Pieathlon at Dunwich Heath. These were from the beach

Viareggio in black & white

Viareggio is a small city in Northern Coast  of Tuscany by the Tyrrenhian sea it has been home to a carnival since 1873 and its papier-mâché floats, which (since 1925), parade along the promenade known as "Passeggiata a mare", in the weeks of Carnival.

A lot of the beaches you have to pay to use.

I stopped for a  coffee. Whereas in Venice and Florence I had noticed coffee had really gone up in price here it was very reasonable.

 the Fossa dell'Abate

 it was a relaxing day

Churches in Lucca

I am sorry I am VERY late.....

I spent a week in Tuscany recently and stayed in the lovely city of Lucca ( I highly recommend it)

The amazing church of San Michele in Foro

The Duomo

Lucca  has a complete set of medieval walls that you can walk along. Here is the Duomo from the city walls....

Lincolnshire & Oakham

I recently spent a few days in Lincolnshire with a trip to Oakham thrown in !

Belton House is one of the trusts more visited properties and the car park is always heaving and today was no exception. The house is recognisable if you've seen an adaptation of Pride & Prejudice and it was built between 1685 and 1688. It has lovely gardens and nice walks with lakes. I will admit it is one of my favourite properties.

I hadn't been to Grimsthorpe Castle in about 10 years so I had to visit. There was originally a small castle on the site, what you see is a Tudor core with a redesign by John Vanburgh.

Oakham is a nice small market town. It contains a very fine church

and a "castle".  Oakham Castle is actually the great hall of a fortified manor. Tradition states that peers of the realm should forfeit a horseshoe to the Lord of the Manor of Oakham on their first visit to the town. There are 230 now the oldest was presented by Edward IV in 1470

This post office caught my eye... very old fashioned.

Another of my favourite National Trust properties is Gunby Hall.

Yorkshire

I have just spent a lovely week in Yorkshire so a few of the places I visited.

Sutton Park

Castle Howard.... 

Helmsley Castle

Byland Abbey 

Fountains Abbey

Nostell Park

Wentworth Castle