Historic England

Historic England: Breathtaking, Every Time

England is filled with some of the oldest and best-preserved castles, cathedrals, inns, and other structures. You can visit the graves of 11th century potentates, and even walk in the ruins of chapels dating back to Saxon times. But there are other, lesser known historical sites in England that will really make your trip a unique one. You just need to know where they are… here are a few.

Hever Castle, in Kent, is a good place to start in becoming more familiar with historical England. This is the place where Ann Boleyn – the woman who did so much to forever alter England’s political climate – lived as a girl. While it is indeed touristy, there are relics here that simply must be seen. These include Ann’s splendid Books of Hours, which show the skill of a truly refined maiden, and give one a clue as to the temptation she really was to Henry VIII. Many other things on the grounds, including the John Jacob Astor era gardens and “medieval village,” are also magnificent and interesting in their own right. Hever Castle is a great alternative to the de rigeur sites in London and Winchester.

So you want some real history? Yes, there’s always Stonehenge.

But have you ever heard of the “hill figures?” These are magnificent, monumental carvings of people, animals, and other figures into the sides of chalk hills scattered throughout the southern part of England. Many of these were made between the 17th and 20th centuries, as commemorative figures. But the Horse of Uffington, in Oxfordshire, dates to well before the Iron Age. This magnificent monument, whose original function remains unknown, is the centerpiece of a few other Iron Age sites, including Dragon Hill nearby, which is associated with the legend of St. George.

Hadrian’s Wall is a well-known ancient wonder in the far North. Once stretching from sea to sea, there is argument to day what primary function the wall may have served. Some believe that it was indeed a physical boundary, while others feel it was primarily a political monument. You’ll have time to ponder this as you stroll along a section (or the whole thing if you’re that hardcore) through the sparse, rough, yet somehow romantic borderlands.

Speaking of sparse and romantic, one cannot get much more of either than upon the Isles of Scilly, off the tip of Cornwall. Thought to be the remains of the “Tin Islands” mentioned by Greek geographers, these islands were once much larger when sea levels were lower. You can still see the remains of old farm walls at low tide. Many believe that this place is the source of the legend of the drowned land called “Lyonesse.” Figure it out for yourself as you take in the Atlantic breeze and stroll through the rocky terrain.

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