Ride in time

[Lamble]

I'm escaping on Thursday from a right PITA, cooking for 100+ guests at a leaving party on Saturday for one of the most objectionable, spoilt, arrogant, aggressive and manipulative turds I've ever had the displeasure to encounter.

So free from the oik and his fellow oikers and oikettes, I'm going to try a ride into history.

Northumbria's Hadrian's Wall and the Roman influence in the area might make for an interesting extended weekend, especially if I can cross into the Dark Ages...no not ride to Middlesborough, the historic period of the early castles and christians.

If all roads lead to Rome, then I'm guessing if you turn around, they all lead away from Rome. I'll see if I can pick up one of those heading that way...

Tips, ride-alongs, gardens to camp in, cups of tea?

Sorry Middlesborough, I meant Gateshead. Sorry Gateshead, I meant Middlesborough.

Oh yes, if any of you are local historians and want to join in then that would be fantastic.
PM me.

 

[Ogmios]

the only tip i can give is...
Hadrian wall leads to Newcastle, and that leads to...
the ferry to Stavanger.

so,
dont forget to stop when yer feet get wet or...
you'll end up in Norway.

HTH
~~
Og, seasoned traveller (but mostly artificially flavoured)

 

[st247]

It's Middlesbrough FFS

 

[Mr K]

Yer castles are along the coast, conveniently laid out along the "Coast and Castles Route" signed off the A189 near Ashington. Bamburgh Castle is recomended by me, as much for The Armstrong Museum as the castle itself.
Fish & Chips at Seahouses.."Pinnacles" I think ....Holy Island....

Roman stuff is located along the Military Road, a B road west of Newcastle from Heddon-on-the-Wall to Greenhead.

There's The Bede Experience in Jarrow -that's not a couple of herbal cig's and a bottle of red by the way...

 

[Lamble]

It's Middlesbrough FFS

I've picked up that US thing haven't I? I'll be saying Edinburg next. I need re educating, more brown gravy should do the trick, that white muck has addled my thunkin'.

 

[Mort]

You could stop off here on your way home if you get bored.

 

[Mr K]

You could stop off here on your way home if you get bored.

I forgot you were working

Might have a look in...

 

[Borderraider]

Hadrian wall leads to Newcastle, and that leads to...
the ferry to Stavanger.
so,
dont forget to stop when yer feet get wet or...
you'll end up in Norway.

Not since end 2008

 

[yalcrabm]

alnwick castle
Castle History
Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in England, and has been the home of the Percys, Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since 1309, making this year the 700 year anniversary.

The earliest mention of Alnwick Castle in the history books appears soon after 1096 when Yves de Vescy became baron of Alnwick and erected the earliest parts of the Castle.

The Castle was first restored, primarily as a fortress, by the 1st Lord Percy of Alnwick in the early 1300's and portions of this restoration remain today, including the Abbot's Tower, the Middle Gateway and the Constable's Tower.

Since then generations of Percys have continued to make their mark. During the late 17th century the Castle fell into decay until Elizabeth Seymour and her husband Hugh Smithson, later to become the first Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, took up the challenge and turned it into a family residence of "gothick" style with the help of architects such as Robert Adam and the landscape designer, Capability Brown.

Algernon, Fourth Duke later replaced the 18th century "gothick", employing the architect Anthony Salvin.

Since then modern comforts have been added, and Alnwick Castle was one of the first homes in the North East to have electricity. Run by a recently restored hydro electric system installed in 1889, there was enough power produced to run 100 electric lamps.
AND NO I AM NOT A HISTORIAN

 

[Lamble]

alnwick castle
Castle History
Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in England, and has been the home of the Percys, Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since 1309, making this year the 700 year anniversary.

The earliest mention of Alnwick Castle in the history books appears soon after 1096 when Yves de Vescy became baron of Alnwick and erected the earliest parts of the Castle.

The Castle was first restored, primarily as a fortress, by the 1st Lord Percy of Alnwick in the early 1300's and portions of this restoration remain today, including the Abbot's Tower, the Middle Gateway and the Constable's Tower.

Since then generations of Percys have continued to make their mark. During the late 17th century the Castle fell into decay until Elizabeth Seymour and her husband Hugh Smithson, later to become the first Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, took up the challenge and turned it into a family residence of "gothick" style with the help of architects such as Robert Adam and the landscape designer, Capability Brown.

Algernon, Fourth Duke later replaced the 18th century "gothick", employing the architect Anthony Salvin.

Since then modern comforts have been added, and Alnwick Castle was one of the first homes in the North East to have electricity. Run by a recently restored hydro electric system installed in 1889, there was enough power produced to run 100 electric lamps.
AND NO I AM NOT A HISTORIAN

I was just brushing up on my Percys. Seems the gentlemen were all a bit wayward when it came to picking loyalties and it's been the women who have been careful in their alliances and allegiances that have kept this castle in the Percy family. An almost definite, along with Lindesfarne and at least a couple of Hadrian's fortifications, the part on the fault line seems to be the must see.
May drop in on the bike event, if by the end of this week I still have no reason to rush back for the start of next week (job second interview I hope).

I like the idea of the first electricity in the N. East, I saw the first home in the USA to have an electric fridge...http://www.biltmore.com/ Biltmore Estate, belonged to the Vandebilts, huge place. Was, if not still is, the largest private property in the USA. Big fridge too.

Thanks for the, 'to be getting on withs'.

 

[original_concept]

electricity

If you're into 1st places with that magic invisible stuff. Check out Cragside (National Trust), but don't blame me if its closed for the day, as it was a few weeks back.

 

[Lamble]

If you're into 1st places with that magic invisible stuff. Check out Cragside (National Trust), but don't blame me if its closed for the day, as it was a few weeks back.

It was just a coincidence. I don't follow pylons and cables to search out electrical innovations.

 

[Brian E]

If you're into 1st places with that magic invisible stuff. Check out Cragside (National Trust), but don't blame me if its closed for the day, as it was a few weeks back.

Gragside was not the first house with Electricity it was the first house powered by Hydro Electricity hence the big pond at the top of the hill. common mistake and really does my end in.

 

[Lamble]

Gragside was not the first house with Electricity it was the first house powered by Hydro Electricity hence the big pond at the top of the hill. common mistake and really does my end in.

Let's not blow a fuse over the electric thing, I'll be taking batteries for most things so sod the mains

 

[Madasaboxoffrogs]

Let's not blow a fuse over the electric thing, I'll be taking batteries for most things so sod the mains

Good idea them vibratory things can be a bit dodgy on the mains

 

[Lamble]

Setting off for York in an hour or so, then swinging up your way.
Hope our paths cross. Although I may give Redcar a miss as there seems to be a rather batey fellow there!

It's Middlesbrough FFS

 

[Lamble]

The Thursday interview went well, I don't think I got the job I went for, I think the boss was looking at something more senior after a bit of grounding work. Camped.

Rode to Vindalanda and the military museum, in the wet...still impressive, in a gloomy and moody way. Next day Alnmouth and Alnwick...don't eat at the steakhouse bistro in Alnwick town centre it's over priced and serves tasteless food. Stayed in a farm house that was very cosy and homely.
Next day, Saturday, rain again in the morning. Coast Road and up passed Bambrough Castle, on to Holy Island. Bunk house in Seahouses at the Lodge...clean 25/per night...everywhere else was full, so not complaining. Stayed two nights and went on the sea trip to the Farne Islands, sunny day but just to keep the theme going I got soaked by spray.

Riding back to Liverpool tomorrow. May shadow Hadrians Wall across country, then down West Coast.

If all went as well as I hoped on Thursday, I may be back in the area soon, and from what I've seen, that's not a bad thing at all. Now if I can only learn the language!

 

[Mort]

Glad you enjoyed the area Steve, we were going to keep it a secret but now you've let the cat out of the bag

 

[Lamble]

Followed Hadrian's Wall across country to Bowness on Solway? All that's there is a gazebo with some Latin on it and a fake mosaic floor overlooking the estuary and it stinks of wee. It just sort of peters out, a bit like the Romans did I guess. Anyway, a splendid area you have there in the NE. I'll certainly ride that way again, even if I don't get the job. At some point I jope I'll have the video and stills in some order to present. Don't hold your breath though, I filled two 2 gig cards, a 1 gig card and I have 120 gig on another video camera, so some serious trimming down is required.

 

[Mort]

Try this one next year