Cooper Adventures: North of England 5 day trip

What a whirlwind of a trip! But it was so cool to see so many things in just a few days. I'm learning so much about British history, authors, and I just LOVE the English countryside. I think that's one of my most favorite things here AND everywhere! The kids are troopers. Yes they whined and complained, but not as much as they used to. Heather is actually taking more pictures and looking at things more than she did when we started waaay back in September. The coach rides were long, but no motion sickness this time! Yay! Usually one or more of my boys gets sick so it was nice to not have to deal with THAT. Here is a list and pictures of the places we visited:

Day 1: Chatsworth House, The Bronte Home, spend the night in York.
Day 2: York Wall, York Minster, Fountains Abbey, spend the night in Durham Castle.
Day 3: Durham castle and Cathedral, Hadrian's Wall, William Wordsworth home (Dove Cottage), spend the night in Hawkshead in the Lake District.
Day 4: Hike to Beatrix Potters home (Hill Top Farm), Preston (Church History and Temple) Spend the night in Liverpool.
Day 5: Liverpool and drive back to London.

Day 1
What a fun day! The drive was kind of long, but it was worth it. In case you haven't noticed, I like Pride and Prejudice. So visiting the Chatsworth House was a treat. This is the house used for "Pemberly" in the 2005, Kierra Knightly, version of Pride and Prejudice. The Duke and Dutchess of Devonshire have lived her since the 1500's I think. Obviously not the same people. The gardens were beautiful and there was a dress up area for the kids to goof off in. These are one of the more wealthier royalty and it shows in the house.

Where Mr. Darcy runs down to get Elizabeth

Entry room

Library

Sculpture room

After the Chatsworth House we drove to the moors where the Bronte home is. (Charlotte, Emily, and Anne) The house was just a house but it was set in a beautiful area. Unfortunately people there died at an early age. The average life expectancy was 26. The water was contaminated with raw sewage, but they didn't realize that was the problem. Sad. we enjoyed a walk in the moor area, but never made it to the area that Emily Bronte wrote about in Wuthering Heights. It was too wet and muddy.

Bronte home. how would you like to have a "yard" like this?

Church across from the Bronte home. This style church is all over England.

Heather with the horses as we walked to the house.

Turn right to go to the moors. Cool pathway and just as it was.

The pathway to the moors.

Day 2
After the Bronte Home we drove to York. We didn't have time to do anything in the evening except eat a late dinner. In the morning we walked along the York Wall which was built in the Middle Ages to protect the city. It took us close to the York Minster. We had a guided tour of it which turned out to be really good. My favorite part was when the guide told us about the mischievous builders who, instead of making normal ornate touches, put things like fighting unicorns, funny faces on the carved men, etc. in the "secular" room where the clergy conducted meetings. He also encourages tourists to lie on the floor to take pictures of the ceiling. He keeps track of how many so we had the students lie down to help him with his contest.

Fighting unicorns(it's just supposed to be carved leaves)

Man covering mouth of woman

Students taking a picture

In case you're curious--this is what they were taking a picture of

After York Minster we drove to Fountains Abbey. This Abbey is in ruins even though it was built during the Middle Ages with all the rest of them. it was abandoned though and not taken care of.

Then we drove to Durham and stayed in this castle. Durham Cathedral is behind it in one of the pictures. We were lucky enough to watch and listen to Even Song

The lighted upper windows are to our common room.

Our common room

Exploring the castle

Day 3
On the third day we drove to Hadrian's Wall which is an ancient Roman fort built back in the days of the Roman Empire. This was Scott's favorite place to visit. It was sooo biting cold, windy, (so windy you couldn't really hear people talking) and snowing. Everything was wet and slippery. Daniel and Jacob cried because they fell and were freezing. And of course Scott wanted them to see everything. My protective instincts kicked in though and I rescued them. Scott was just excited about it and it is cool to see how the Romans lived and how advanced they were, but enough was enough. Scott enjoyed it alone.

Heated floor system using hot water that heated

the tiles and up to the floor.

Here is Daniel crying and wearing my scarf to help keep warm.

Huddling down to keep warm

After Hadrian's Wall we drove to the beautiful Lake district to the poet William Wordsworth's home called "Dove Cottage." Then on to his second home nearby.

Dove Cottage

His second home to accommodate a growing family.

View from second home

Day 4 Beatrix Potter's neighborhood then to Preston for some Church history and then to the Preston Temple.
I LOVED Hawkshead, near Beatrix Potter's home. It was so pretty. I love the Lake District. We stayed the night in a pretty hostel and were able to take a walk around the area that evening. The kids got their wiggles out climbing and running around. It was fun to see so many sheep grazing with their baby lambs. These sheep. "Beatrix Potter" sheep are a breed that almost died out. But Beatrix Potter "saved" them and she also bought acres and acres of land to protect it from being developed. It kept farmers in business and now we have a beautiful place to visit.

Preston was just OK except I liked the Temple. The church history sites weren't very interesting or exciting though.

These stone walls are only in this part of England.

Beatrix Potter's home, "Hilltop Farm." Pretty humble for someone who was so wealthy.

Our Hostel

Preston Temple

Day 5 Liverpool.
I thought Liverpool was kind of seedy, but it was neat to see where our ancestors emigrated to America from. In the picture, the kids look bored listening to Scott explain things to them, but they actually asked questions and showed interest. Still...we laughed when we saw the picture. Especially Scott.