Royal Palace, Amsterdam

We went over to Amsterdam to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary last month and took in the Royal Palace which was apparently the Town Hall originally. It has been upgraded quite impressively. No shots from the outside as ther was a free concert cluttering up the area out front and the rear was decked in scaffolding but here are some shots from the interior.

Bamburgh Castle

Bamburgh Castle on the Northumberland coast is a grade 1 listed building. There have been fortifications on the site for several hundred years and the core of the current structure dates back to the time of the Normans. For a long time it was in the hands of the monarchy but ended up in private ownership with a number of restorations over the years before being acquired by the Victorian era industrialist William Armstrong who completed the restoration to the condition seen today. I visited the castle 21 years ago but we went again yesterday although, unfortunately, the weather turned very inclement soon after we arrived which limited my desire to take many pictures and this also resulted in the interior being very full of visitors which was also limiting but here is some of what we saw. Additionally there is an on site avaition related museum reported on here.

Preston Pele Tower

This tower in Northumberland was built in the final decade of the 14th century. It was a defensive structure built to protect people and their livestock in times of ongoing troubles between the English and Scottish. It has stood the test of time well and is currently fitted out as it likley would have been in the 14th century. Access to the top of the tower is possible affording good views of the Northumbria countryside.

Howick Hall

Howick Hall in Northumberland is the ancestral home of the Earls Grey including Charles 2nd Earl Grey the Prime Minister from 1830 - 1834 after whom Earl Grey tea is named. The house originates in 1782 although there have been changes over the years, notably some remodelling after a serious fire in 1926. However, it remains a family home although much of the ground floor is open to visitors. The main attractions though are some impressive gardens and woodland walks and the family church which is within the grounds.

Place de las Bastille

The Bastille was originally built over 750 years ago and became a state prison in the 17th century. It primarily housed political prisoners and religious prisoners but also other undesirables and gradually gained a reputation associated with horror and oppression. Then on 14th July 1789 amidst the French revolution the Bastille was stormed and ultimately destroyed. The area previously ocupied by the Bastille is now a large open square with a commemorative column marking the revolution of 1830 and the overthrow of King charles X.