Tower of London Raven
© Mark Rutley (view gallery)
Legend says that the Kingdom and the Tower will fall if the six resident Ravens ever leave the fortress. It was Charles II according to the stories, who first insisted that the Ravens of the Tower be protected. This was against the wishes of his astronomer John Flamsteed who complained that the Ravens impeded the business of his observatory in the White Tower. Despite their having one wing trimmed, some Ravens do in fact go absent without leave and others have had to be sacked. Raven 'George' was dismissed for eating television aerials and Raven 'Grog' was last seen outside an East End pub! Image cannot be loaded
Chartwell House Lake
© Ian Dinmore (view gallery)
Chartwell was the family home of Sir Winston Churchill from 1922 until his death in 1965. The house is situated 2 miles south of Westerham in Kent off the B2026 road. Churchill loved the house, especially the view over the Weald of Kent. He modernised the originally rather gloomy Victorian mansion by adding a garden wing consisting of three large and attractive rooms. Churchill's wife Clementine made her contribution by choosing the comfortable furniture and floral chintz curtains. The estate consisting of 80 acres gave Winston the peace and tranquility that he loved. He relaxed by painting in the garden or in his studio and by transforming the grounds with new lakes, and robust brick walls built with his own hands.The Chart Well which rises on the western boundary of the site fed the existing lake and gave the estate its name. During Churchill's first five years at Chartwell he was Chancellor of the Exchequer, this was followed by what has become known as his wilderness years in the 1930's when he was out of office and did much of his writing to keep the family finances afloat. Image cannot be loaded
The birth place of Lawrence Sheriff, the founder of Rugby school.
© Brian Eite (view gallery)
This picturesque house is tucked away in old Brownsover village, about two hundred yards away from Brownsover hotel and the equally picturesque church of St Michael. Image cannot be loaded
Headington, Oxfordshire.
© Paul Hilton (view gallery)
The Kilns; former home of celebrated author C S Lewis ( 1898-1963). The Kilns was built on a former brickworks in 1922. In 1930, the house was then bought by C S Lewis, his brother, and Mrs Janie Moore. Image cannot be loaded
Gunpowder plot Manor House
© Martin Humphreys (view gallery)
As it's Nov 5th .. thought I'd upload this .. the Manor house
where the famous gunpowder plot was planned in 1605 by Robert Catesby. It is now owned by the Crown estate and is a private
residence. I was peeking over the wall in the churchyard to
get this shot. May 2013 Image cannot be loaded
Mendips
© Rod Burkey (view gallery)
This was taken in July 2001 prior to the National Trust purchase, hence the exterior colour. Not a great shot but it brings back very many happy memories for me. Must dig out the negative and scan it again sometime. Image cannot be loaded
The TV Man
© Vince Hawthorn (view gallery)
The house called Swiss Cottage where John Logie Baird lived is now in private hands and very secluded, so no actual shot of the house I am afraid, just the blue plaque by the gate. Image cannot be loaded
Flatford Mill - Suffolk (The Hay Wain)
© Keith Flamee (view gallery)
Flatford Mill is noted as the location for works by John Constable, whose father owned the mill. Constable made the mill and its immediate surroundings the subject of many of his most famous paintings including one of his most iconic paintings, Image cannot be loaded
Clouds Hill Cottage (National Trust)
© James Barr (view gallery)
Clouds Hill is a remote cottage nestling in Dorset woodland, near Bovington Camp and was the rural retreat of T.E. Lawrence - more famously known as Lawrence of Arabia. It is reported, after Lawrence was killed on his motorcycle in 1935 whilst returning to Clouds Hill from Bovington Camp, his ghost has been seen entering or near his much loved haven of peace. Image cannot be loaded
Headington, Oxfordshire.
© Paul Hilton (view gallery)
The C S Lewis Nature Reserve---now under the auspecies of the Wildlife Trust---which began as a former clay quarry for local bricks, and then formed part of the garden of The Kilns nearby. Its' ecology seems to be now being left to its' own devices and the once several types of fish are gone and algae and other aquatic plants taking over the pond. It is said that this area was the inspration of Narnia in C S Lewis stories as he frequented the area yards from his home. Image cannot be loaded
A picture of Greenway
© Lincolnian (brian) (view gallery)
Greenway House nestles on the wooded slopes of the Dart valley. With an history going back 500 years there have been a fascinating array of owners but perhaps the most well known is Agatha Christie. The property now belongs to the National Trust. Image cannot be loaded
Tower of London
© Mark Rutley (view gallery)
We were lucky enough last weekend to enjoy a private tour of the Tower of London with one of my old ship mates from the Royal Navy who is now a Yeoman Warder (Beefeater). More pictures to follow.... Image cannot be loaded
Minterne House and Gardens
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
Minterne House - Home of the Churchill and Digby Families since 1620.
The Minterne Valley was landscaped in the manner of Capability Brown in the 18th Century. The gardens are laid out in a horseshoe below Minterne House with a chain of small lakes, waterfalls and streams. They contain a unique collection of Himalayan Rhododendrons and Azaleas, with Spring bulbs, Cherries, Maples and many fine and rare trees; the garden is noted for its Autumn colouring. Image cannot be loaded
The Circus
© Victor Naumenko (view gallery)
The Circus is architect John Wood's masterpiece. He was the son of a Bath builder, but saw himself as an architect, not an artisan. Wood drank in the latest architectural ideas while working in London in his teens in the 1720s. Passionately loving Palladianism, he returned to Bath in 1727 to transform his native city. He had built Queen Square, Nort and South Parade and much else in Bath, when he put all his obsessions into the design of these three curved rows of 33 inward-facing houses, forming a circle. Carved friezes represent the achievements of the time and have some Masonic symbolism. Wood died in 1754, just after work started. The Circus has been completely finished in 1768 under the direction of his son John Wood the Younger. The first six building leases for the Circus were granted on 3 January 1755. Among the lessees were the eminent politician William Pitt and his cousin Lady Lucy Stanhope, who took adjoining plots. On 18 November Lady Stanhope moved into her new-built house - the first in the Circus to be inhabited. Pitt's house was reported to be almost fit for his reception and he arrived in Bath around Christmas time. Image cannot be loaded
Gatehouse of Friar Park, Henley-on-Thames
© Edward Lever (view gallery)
Friar Park was the home of the ex-Beatle George Harrison from 1970 until his death in 2001. Friar Park house itself is a 120-room Gothic mansion and is strictly private with the grounds protected by razor-wire, allegedly causing injuries to local cats, including that of thespian neighbour Rodney Bewes. Harrison's widow Olivia continues to live in the house. Image cannot be loaded
Sturminster Newton in Dorset
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
A view of Sturminster Mill from above the riverside gardens of a modern house, which stands on the site of a former cottage once occupied by Thomas Hardy for two years. Image cannot be loaded
Nuffield Place, Nuffield
© Edward Lever (view gallery)
Nuffield Place was the home of Lord Nuffield (William Morris) and his wife for about 30 years until his death in 1963. Although he was vastly wealthy, the house is relatively modest. His fortune was made from motor manufacturing and his wealth supported many medical and academic causes. Image cannot be loaded
Ipsden, Oxfordshire
© Paul Hilton (view gallery)
Braziers Park was built in 1799 for Admiral Isaac Manley who had started his career in the navy sailing around the world with Capt. Cook. It was purchased in 1906 by Valentine Fleming MP who added a playroom for his two sons, Peter and Ian ( who would later be the creator of James Bond of course). For many years it has become a commune for adult education in various capacities and the arts. It has appeared in two episodes of Midsomer Murders and An Unsuitable Job For A Woman (1997). Image cannot be loaded
Hayes Barton
© Mobscooter (view gallery)
Hayes Barton is the birth place of Sir Walter Raleigh, who was an English landed gentleman, writer, poet, soldier, politician, courtier, spy and explorer.
He was born c. 1552 (or 1554) and was executed on 29 October 1618.
The plan of Hayes Barton is a capital E in honour of Queen Elizabeth. Image cannot be loaded
Darwin College on the banks of the River Cam , Cambridge
© Ken Marshall (view gallery)
Darwin College was founded in 1964.The college is named after the family of one of the university's most famous graduates, Charles Darwin. The Darwin family previously owned some of the land on which the college now sits.Charles Darwin's second son, George Darwin, bought Newnham Grange, the oldest part of the college, in 1885, also acquiring the adjacent building known as the Old Granary and Small Island.
Our chauffeur on the punt told us that Charles Darwin lived there but I can't find any record of that. Image cannot be loaded
Anne Hathaway's Cottage
© Tony Payne (view gallery)
Anne Hathaway's Cottage photographed in September. This picturesque cottage and gardens is always worth visiting as the colours and foliage change with the seasons. Image cannot be loaded
Budleigh blue plaque
© Mobscooter (view gallery)
Situated on Fore Street Hill in Budleigh Salterton is a blue plaque on a wall telling all that Joyce Dennys (1893-1991) lived in this house in her later years. Two lions guard the gateposts. She was a poet, artist, illustrator, playwright. Image cannot be loaded
St Catherine's Court & Church 2009
© Ray Bird (view gallery)
St Catherine's Court & Church between Marshfied, Gloucestershire and Bath, Somerset. St Catherine's Court was once the home of the Actress Jane Seymour. Image cannot be loaded
Gibside Hall
© Catherine Greenup (view gallery)
This is an Oil painting of Gibside Hall by myself. It’s from a photograph I took way back in the 1970s when the Hall still had trees growing inside it. Not many people visited back then. It was a quiet magical place. I had to ask the gate keeper to let me through to see the hall. He always warned, don’t go inside because it’s dangerous now. But being a child I often did, to see the trees and imagine the hall intact with its ladies in waiting and wonderful interior. My father can remember the hall intact. He used to be chased away by the warden Mr Cheeseman. Dad can remember hearing that some of its fine furniture would go missing now and then. Stolen in other words. He can remember huge draft horses pulling massive logs out of Gibsides forest and how they were cruelly whipped to make them pull harder. Dad was born in Cowen Terrace and my family including me lived in Cowen Terrace from the late 1800s early 1900s until around 1997. The Cowing’s in Cowen Terrace. I can’t tell you how much Rowlands Gill means to me. It’s where I truly belong. The Hall is said to have a ghost who only shows herself to men. The Grey Lady is still searching for her husband. Once owned by the Earls of Strathmore it’s furnishings are now in Glamis Castle. Mother of our current Queen Elizabeth once visited her family home, the old Hall and it’s once majestic grounds were famous for it orchids and dragon flies and old beech trees. There is a mile long tree lined grass lane between the hall and Chapel, known as the race course. It might have once been used by visiting gentry to place their bets. It is famous for its last rich Lord who spent most of his money gambling and almost bankrupt the Estate. This is where the saying ‘Stoney Broke, came from. Lord Stoney eventually was divorced by the lady of the hall and he died penniless broken body and soul in a workhouse in London. 
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East Dene
© Ray Todd (view gallery)
East Dene is the former home of the victorian poet A C Swinburne. Among the well known guests who have been entertained here are Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The Czar and Czarina of Russia,who were popular in society until the Crimean War, and Charles Dickens. Image cannot be loaded
Rolling Stone Brian Jones Bronze Bust
© David Reynolds (view gallery)
The late Brian Jones who was born in Cheltenham on 28th February 1942. His life is remembered by the placing of a Bronze Bust mounted on display in Beechwood Arcade, Cheltenham. The photos show Brian's grave at the cemetery (top) and the sculptor, Maurice Juggins preparing the Bust for display in October 2005. With him at the bottom is David Reynolds who ran the Cheltenham Fan Club (1996-2006), Image cannot be loaded
Interior at Hall's Croft, Stratford-upon-Avon
© John Ware (view gallery)
Shakespeare's son-in-law's house Halls Croft is located near Holy Trinity Church (where Shakespeare is buried). The interior and gardens are really charming, and it doesn't have the constant stream of visitors that the other locations have. Image cannot be loaded
A picture of Holst Birthplace Museum
© Holst Museum (view gallery)
Holst Birthplace Museum, in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. This is the Regency terrace house where Gustav Holst, composer of The Planets was born in 1874. The museum contains many of his personal belongings including his piano on which much of his music was composed. Image cannot be loaded
A picture of Ruislip
© Caz Caz (view gallery)
45 Cranley Drive - The Portland Spy Ring. The house that spies Peter and Helen Kroger (Morris and Lona Cohen)lived/used prior to their arrest in 1961. Read more about this fascinating story - Click here Image cannot be loaded
Timothy Hackworths Home
© Andrew Harker (view gallery)
Notably he built at Shildon in 1836, the first locomotive to run in Russia for the St Petersburg railway, of which his son was responsible for the safe delivery and preliminary trials. Also in 1838 the Samson was built for the Albion Mines Railway in Nova Scotia, one of the first engines to run in Canada. Image cannot be loaded
Jane Austen's House
© Victor Naumenko (view gallery)
In 1809 Jane's brother Edward gave them a permanent home at Chawton, in Jane's beloved Hampshire countryside.
It was at Chawton that Jane Austen revised and published 'Sense and Sensibility' (1811) and 'Pride and Prejudice' (1813), followed by 'Mansfield Park' (1814), and 'Emma' (1816). She also revised 'Northanger Abbey' and finished 'Persuasion'. After her death in 1817, Jane's final two works, 'Northanger Abbey' and 'Persuasion', were published. These were the first books published under her own name; all of the novels published during Austen's lifetime were simply described as being Image cannot be loaded
A Slideshow of Homes of the Famous
