A day in Guildford - Travels With Me

The UK is old. Period.

Since we’ve been here we’ve eaten at a pub 600 years old, live in a house surrounded by 300 year-old houses and yesterday went to a city founded 1,600 years ago when the Saxons ran the Romans out of what is now Southern England. Guildford has come a long way since then and now is considered a growing city southwest of London. It is about a 20 minute train ride from where we live.

Guildford has had an interesting history intertwined with royalty that includes William the Conqueror. In fact, the castle in the images below is believed to have been a stronghold of his founded in 1066.

Here are a few images from the trip each with a few lines of commentary. As with most of the pics on this blog, if you click on the images they will enlarge in their own window and if you wait a few seconds for them to load you can view in a slide show. Enjoy.

George Abbot was born in Guildford in 1562, helped produce the Authorized Version of the Bible in 1611 and eventually became the Archbishop of Canterbury. He never forgot his hometown and in 1619 established a hospital for the elderly which is still in operation today and pictured below. — George Abbott was born in Guildford in 1562, helped produce the Authorized Version of the Bible in 1611 and eventually became the Archbishop of Canterbury. He never forgot his hometown and in 1619 established a hospital for the elderly which is still in operation today.

Guildford isn't all about the ancient. Guildford's diamond dealers attract plenty of modern-day window shoppers (although I saw no men at diamond dealers; they had there noses pressed against the windows at the electronics stores). — Guildford isn’t all about the ancient. Guildford’s diamond dealers attract plenty of modern-day window shoppers (although I saw no men at diamond dealers; they had their noses pressed against the windows at the electronics stores).

The castle that remains standing was probably established by William the Conqueror in 1066. (My girls for interested family!)

Doubtful the tree has been there since William's conquests, but quite old nonetheless — Doubtful the tree has been there since William’s conquests, but quite old nonetheless

Thoughout the castle gardent there is a significant amount of detailed stonework. — Throughout the castle gardens there is a significant amount of detailed stonework.

The castle garden path leads up to an extremely well-manicured lawn bowls, a game that involves lots of formality and wool sweaters. — The castle garden path leads up to an extremely well-manicured lawn bowls pitch, a game that involves lots of formality and wool sweaters.

Yep, performing in downtown Guildford. I think i once saw these guys in San Antonio performing at the Riverwalk Mall.

3 Responses

Carolina

November 8, 2009 |

Boy, things must REALLY be different in the UK. I didn’t know that 600 year old pubs could eat you. (see first line of post)WOW!
Wahokia

November 8, 2009 |

I escaped from the same pub. Most of the scars are psychological. 🙂
Chris

November 9, 2009 |

Boy, what a difference a word makes! Corrected now….but I have psychological scars from the typo!

3 Responses

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