Latest news with #Elizabethan
Scottish Sun
17 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I went on a UK adventure holiday with my entire family for adrenaline pumping activities and Elizabethan manor stays
It was cheaper than any theme park day out TOP MARKS I went on a UK adventure holiday with my entire family for adrenaline pumping activities and Elizabethan manor stays 'WILL the ropes manage my 20-stone bulk?', I laughed nervously, directing my question towards the instructor who would be guiding me down the sheer drop. I had attempted to pass it off as a joke, but even the kids sensed my anxiety as we prepared to walk ourselves over the edge of the tall tower. 5 Canoeing is just one of the many activities at Condover Credit: Supplied 5 Condover Hall in Shrewsbury, an Elizabethan manor house Credit: Supplied 5 The abseiling wall was just one of many adrenaline-fuelled activities Credit: Supplied The abseiling wall was just one of many adrenaline-fuelled activities the children and I had attempted on an action-packed break in Shropshire. And best of all, it was cheaper than any theme park day out. School-trip provider JCA Adventure shows energy-exerting fun isn't just for the kids. And my mini break in peak holiday season, with all meals included, cost me less than the price of a train ticket up north. On top of school getaways, the UK holiday company offers short trips for families, where you can try out all manner of spine-tingling activities without spending thousands. In fact, holidays here start from just £149. We were staying at Condover Hall in Shrewsbury, an Elizabethan manor house once used as a World War Two hospital and a school for blind children, before being converted into a hub for thrill-seeking youngsters. The accommodation and food is fairly basic — think bunk beds, plastic mattresses and school dinner-style food. But given the time spent outdoors, we all slept soundly at night. Sundown Aventureland is a family-friendly staycation Myself, my daughter Lily, 12, and my nine-year-old son Clark got stuck into the action straight away on arrival at the rural escape. No sooner had we dropped our bags than we were strapping a harness around our midriffs and heading up a wooden tower to tackle the aerial trek adventure. My son was the only one of us who had done something similar before. He struggled with nerves at the time, navigating wobbly obstacles while dangling 50ft in the air, but this seemed to be a breeze for him. And soon my daughter was whizzing alongside him at lightning speed, tackling the obstacles as if no distance lay between them and the forest floor. It was one of many magical moments on the trip, watching as they grew in confidence. If your little ones can tackle that, they'll be keen to get on the climbing wall. It was here my daughter proved she's made of stronger stuff than me by making her way to the top with ease. 5 Among the trees, we whooshed along a zipwire Credit: Supplied 5 Mark, Lily and Clark geared up for adrenaline action Credit: Supplied My son and I preferred to stay closer to solid ground. Luckily, there's plenty of adrenaline-pumping fun for those who are less comfortable with heights. In the sports hall, we darted around an inflatable maze virtually-shooting each other in laser battles, while outside, among the trees, we whooshed along a zipwire. There's also den building, canoeing, circus skills and fencing. But it wasn't until axe throwing, a new activity at Condover Hall this year, that I was restored any dignity with a knockout performance. By dinner time each day, we were ready to gobble big portions of pasta bolognese, sweet and sticky chicken drumsticks, burgers and stir-fry. The morning meals were just as hearty — giant fry-ups to fuel us for an adventurous day ahead. Evenings are a more mellow affair. Guests can relax with a dip in the swimming pool or head to the sports hall to play more wacky games. There's even a bar for adults to knock back a few pints after a hectic day. Our final day saw us tackle the activity we'd been waiting for — the Gladiator Wall, which can only be described as a climbing wall on steroids, with obstacles to navigate as you make your way to the top. Seeing Lily eventually reach the peak on her last go and beam down at us from 70ft above ground was enough to make my chest swell. Everyone left the holiday with a new sense of accomplishment. And the best part is, the kids didn't look at their devices once.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Pretty town with UK's best high street bursting with 170 independent shops
Over 13,000 shops closed across the UK last year – including thousands of independents – but Stamford's high street continues to flourish and there's a reason why High streets across the nation are facing closures, with many empty shopfronts, but one little town is thriving instead. Stamford, a market town with a population of just over 20,000 in Lincolnshire, boasts the most listed buildings for a town of its size, with more than 600, and is home to around 170 independent shops. Whilst other retailers may be feeling the pinch, Stamford continues to buck the national trend, with businesses thriving thanks to a loyal community, a strong tourist pull and a close-knit network of traders supporting one another, the Express reports. "The message is pretty clear - use us or lose us," says Ben Stevenson, owner of jewellery shop Rubirox, which just marked its 15th birthday. "If you want us to stay here then you need to keep shopping in the town. And people do! It's a great town to be based in." READ MORE: Elizabeth Hurley risks wardrobe malfunction on date night with Billy Ray Cyrus Rubirox sits proudly on St Mary's Street – crowned the UK's best high street for independent shops last year. Ben credits the success to Stamford's unique sense of community and said: 'A lot of the locals want to support their businesses.' Over 13,000 shops closed across the UK last year – including thousands of independents – but Stamford's high street continues to flourish. Sarah Sewell, who runs Energy Clothing and is chair of Shop Stamford, started the initiative to promote the town's shops eight years ago. "We've got a good regular customer base from the local community," she says. "That sense of trust we've built over time." Their annual Little Book of Stamford highlights shops, includes a town map, and is distributed around local hotels and campsites. Shop Stamford started on social media as a campaign to promote the town but now it's in its fifth edition being published as a book as disturbed widely so when people arrive they can get their hands on it and know exactly what's on offer. Markets play a vital role in the town's success, with over 70 stalls filling Broad Street and Ironmonger Street every Friday. From produce and flowers these markets along the farmers' markets and weekend stalls in Red Lion Square regularly draw crowds to the town. Stamford's historical charm also keeps the visitors coming. Burghley House, a grand Elizabethan mansion just outside the town, was used as Windsor Castle in The Crown, while Pride and Prejudice fans might recognise scenes shot in the town centre. For Molly Clegg, who runs Murano Silver, the town's success lies in its community of shops, not competition. "You can have the best shop in the world but if you're the only shop in the town, you're trying to bring people in yourself," she says. 'Because there's lots of us, and we work well together as a community, it brings people to the town rather than to an individual place. I'm not the only jewellers' in Stamford, there are other brilliant ones here. But we always refer each other to customers.' Support from local landlords also plays a role. Nicholas Rudd-Jones, who helps produce the Little Book of Stamford, says: "You get relatively smaller scale landlords in Stamford who own 20 to 30 properties and favour the independent sector. This is quite important in helping the businesses." Stamford has also held onto its reputation as a top spot for a weekend break or relaxing day out. The Crown Hotel, a coaching inn dating back to the 1800s remains a staple. "You can come here and have a coffee, have your brunch, have your lunch, do some shopping, you can have an hour wandering around looking at architecture, you can visit a church. We've got the whole experience here," says its owner Michael Thurlby. He says even in November, business is steady. It seems that Stamford has found the perfect mix to keep thriving and to keep its community happy and it all comes down to community and neighbourly spirit, businesses working together to bring in crowds and promote one another and landlords being invested in businesses thriving.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Grade II* listed estate's rose garden in bloom weeks early due to weather
An estate's rose garden has burst into bloom two weeks early. Jay Robin's rose garden at Borde Hill in Haywards Heath is a riot of colour due to warm weather encouraging its early appearance. The garden, designed by Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) gold medal winner Robin Williams in 1996 and named after Andrewjohn and Eleni Stephenson Clarke's daughter, contains 750 David Austin rose plants of 100 varieties. Williams' design ensures that the Elizabethan chimneys of Borde Hill House are immediately noticeable as visitors walk into the garden, making a spectacular backdrop to the vibrant planting. Jay Robin's rose garden (Image: Borde Hill) It is a colour wheel of white, yellow, pink, orange, and red roses, nestled between small trees and framed on two sides by topiary and 100-year-old yew hedges. At the heart of the garden is a fountain statue of Aphrodite, installed in August 2020 and sculpted by artist Brendon Murless. READ MORE: Grade II* listed garden to reopen for 2025 season The life-size copper figure is studded with roses and holds a bouquet from which the water bursts. Roses at Borde Hill (Image: Borde Hill) Roses in Bloom is running from June 9 until June 20, when visitors can access hints and tips on how to grow their own roses at home. The event is included in general garden admission tickets. Individual RHS Members who visit during the Roses in Bloom weeks receive 20 per cent off the standard admission price.
Epoch Times
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Poet Ben Jonson and the Mystery of Fatherhood
Some men dream of being successful businessmen. Others want to tame a wild piece of land. Many want to be great leaders, soldiers, sports stars, or travelers. The type and scale of a dominant dream varies from man to man, but always it constitutes the inner fire that puts a light in the man's eye. It's that certain subject that causes a stillness to steal over him and faraway look to materialize on his face. In colloquial terms, it is his 'passion.' Ben Jonson wanted to be a poet and playwright. Jonson, who lived in England at the turn of the 17th century, worked his way up from being a lowly apprentice bricklayer to strutting the stages of London and penning essays, poems, and plays to great acclaim. Indeed, many consider him second only to his friend and rival Shakespeare in the category of Elizabethan dramatists.
Wales Online
08-06-2025
- Wales Online
Stunning country manor with cottages and over 500 acres of land for sale for £4.5m
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has arisen to purchase a historic country estate near the north Wales coast. The property is so special it was designated as Grade II* listed by Cadw in 1952 for being an "important 18th-century Welsh country house retaining fine external character and good 18th-century interior detailing". The Garthewin Estate is a charming and historic 507-acre country estate situated above the Elwy River Valley that has been in existence on this beautiful spot, in one form or another, for more than 600 years. But it's not just the impressive features, grand rooms, and period interiors that The Hall at the centre of the estate offers an owner as there's a long list of extras that makes this an outstanding place to call home – including multiple income streams. For more property stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here. The property provides an immediate income from its cottages, farmstead, farmland, and woodland as well as potential for diverse usage and income streams including equestrian activities, a country retreat, or glamping. Garthewin was the ancestral home of Robert Wynne and his descendants who resided in the area for more than 11 centuries. The Wynne family's stewardship concluded in 1996 when the current owner purchased the property as their primary residence. The first written records of the house date back to the 14th century. It was replaced by an Elizabethan house that was then itself replaced by the Jacobean house. The present incarnation of Garthewin dates back to 1767, designed by architect Joseph Turner of Chester, with several 20th-century additions by Clough Williams Ellis, the creator of nearby Portmeirion. In 1870 a tower was added to accommodate a ballroom, which now serves as the main reception room. The Hall is recognised as being one of Wales' most significant country houses, retaining fine external character and good interior detailing. Outside the elegant nine-bay house is made of stucco, featuring a neoclassical pediment spanning three bays, while inside the interiors oozes with period character including marble fireplaces, intricate cornicing, exquisite panelling, and plasterwork details in the style of Robert Adams. But the Garthewin Estate is home to more than just this incredible home because as well as the tenanted cottages and houses there's a chapel and a range of traditional outbuildings nestled in the heart of the estate that could become more accommodation if planning allows. The Garthewin estate boasts a truly splendid location, situated between the coastal town of Conwy and the market town of Denbigh, and just a few miles from the coast. The Hall itself enjoys a sheltered position halfway up a south-facing hill, enveloped in lush greenery and boasting mesmerising panoramic views in every direction. For more property stories and home content join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here.
