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After lunch we split into groups and set off with our guides for a tour of Stratford-Upon-Avon. Our guide was a very knowledgeable lady but after an hour or so we were beginning to lose interest and the tea shops looked much more appealing than another historic house! However, the tour did give an insight into the more interesting aspects of Stratford-Upon-Avon. We learned that the multi arched, stone bridge over the Avon was built in the middle ages and the same bridge is still carrying the traffic of today. We learned about the two famous, adjacent theatres, the modern RSC theatre and the older, Victorian Swan Theatre (right). Walking southwards from the Swan Theatre our attention was drawn to the lamp posts which were all different and had been accumulated from across UK and other cities of the world. Most of these were either donated or swapped. Each post carries a plaque describing its origin. The post (below) came from Israel
2015 - Cotswolds and Yorkshire
(above right) The Garrick Inn, one of the oldest buildings in the town (below left) Wisteria covers the facade of a lovely old house (below right) Shakespeare’s birthplace with Carthago owners standing in the way!
The following day we had a guided cycle tour along a disused railway track, now a Greenway, to the Masons Arms in Long Marston. As a point of interest, this is a section of the same railway route that runs through Broadway. We had more than expected join the cycle ride and when the first riders to arrive at the pub told the barmaid to expect at least another 30 people she looked horrified but the landlord was delighted! After the group was fed and watered we cycled back to the campsite via Dorsington and Welford-on-Avon (see map right)
The highlight of the cycle ride was Kathleen Ladwig’s ‘Lanztec’ tricycle. Kathleen has mobility difficulties and uses a wheel chair to get around, so we were pleasantly surprised to see her appear on the start grid with her electric, power assisted tricycle. The performance was most impressive and the associated stability of 3 wheels generated a huge amount of interest. After returning to the campsite Kathleen’s machine was being road tested, all afternoon, by many interested members. (below) John putting the trike through it’s paces!
On the Sunday afternoon we were given a tour of the two theatres in Stratford-Upon-Avon. The older and smaller of the two theatres is the Swan Theatre. This has a cosy feeling to it and the thrust stage brings the performers into the auditorium. Similar to the Globe theatre and full of character. The larger theatre is more modern but still has the stage in the auditorium. The tour also included afternoon tea and a visit to the view platform high above the theatre in the 36m high tower. There were some spectacular views of the town (see below)
(above) panorama looking southeast through south (below left) view to north east and (below right) zoom to the tramway bridge in the forground and the stone, medieval bridge in the background.
(left) looking northwards over the Sunday market. The canal basin in the middle ground is the start of the Stratford-Upon-Avon Canal which connects the River Avon to the Grand Union Canal through a series of locks. (The river Avon is to the right of the photo)
(left) looking south over the roof of the Victorian Swan Theatre and the more modern theatre on the left. The street, Waterside, leads to the church and this is the street which has the collection of lamp posts. In the top right is another theatre known as the Rusty Shed. It is steel construction and very rusty on the outside. It is another of the RSC properties but it causes much controversy in the town. In the top, panorame photo you get a better idea of why it is considered by many to be an eyesore!
We had reached the end of this trip and it is time to head for home. It had been a lovely time to catch up with friends and relatives. We had been away for just under a month and only had a few days on our own. Great fun, good company and some interesting discoveries!