Cathedrals & Castles Tour

7 /10 /14 Day Tours

See some of the most famous structures in history, some still in use after 1000+ years. Steeped in history and the passion of the era. See castles and cathedrals built by the Normans, and then modified by every subsequent historical group. 

This  tour will treat you to some of the oldest and most wonderful Cathedrals and Castles in England.

This tour uses just one hotel so there is just one unpacking / packing.

THE DETAILED ITINERARY:

Chichester Cathedral, the Mother Church of the Diocese of Chichester, which covers both East and West Sussex, has magnificent architecture and works of art from Romanesque stone carvings to the famous twentieth-century paintings, sculpture and tapestries, including work by John Piper and Graham Sutherland.

By whatever road the city is approached there are splendid views of it, often from miles away; and once inside the city, one is always conscious of the cathedral. The Close, the Bishop's Palace and the cathedral fill up practically the whole of a quarter of the ancient Roman city enclosed within the walls.

Chichester's most famous Bishop was St. Richard (1245-1253) canonized in 1262. The cathedral was visited by many thousands of pilgrims until his shrine was destroyed in 1538 on the orders of Henry VIII. His prayer has become well known (in adapted form) all over the world:

Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,
For all the benefits which Thou hast given me,
For all the pains and insults Which Thou hast borne for me,
O most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother,
May I know Thee more clearly,
Love Thee more dearly
And follow Thee more nearly.

The Triforium Gallery and Library contains many of the Cathedral's treasures, including original statuary from the Great Screen. Bishop Morley's Library, bequeathed to the Cathedral in 1684, contains over 2000 historic books in magnificent 17th century book cases. On permanent display is the priceless Winchester Bible - the supreme example of 12th Century illumination, using real gold and lapis lazuli.

The first and finest of all 13th century halls, with the greatest symbol of medieval mythology, "The Round Table of King Arthur".

Winchester Castle dates from the reign of William the Conqueror (1066-1087). By the end of King John's reign in 1216 the castle and its royal palace needed extensive repair. Between 1222 and 1235 the Castle's hall was replaced by the building which stands today. Other alterations and improvements brought the castle to its peak of military and domestic development during the reigns of Henry III (1216-1272) and Edward I (1272 - 1307).

Edward and his second wife Margaret of France, almost lost their lives in a fire which destroyed the royal apartments in 1302. The roof was rebuilt at the end of the 14th century changing the halls external appearance. During the English Civil War the Castle was held by the Royalists until its capture by the Parliamentary Forces in 1646. Oliver Cromwell ordered the demolition of the Castle, but the Great Hall was kept as a venue for assemblies and the County Assizes. The Hall was restored in the 1870s, and was used last as a court between 1938 and 1974.

Arundel Castle, pictured left. Amongst it's treasure is a fascinating collection of fine furniture dating from the 16^th century, together with portraits by Van Dyke, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Mytens and Lawrence. There are also personal possessions of Mary, Queen of Scots and a selection of heraldic items from the Duke of Norfolk's collection.

The title Duke of Norfolk was created by King Richard III on Sir John Howard in 1483 and carries with it's title the Earl of Arundel. The other members of the family who are mentioned throughout history include Lord Howard of Effingham, who with Drake repelled the Spanish Armada, the Earl of Surrey, the Tudor poet and courtier, and the 3^rd Duke of Norfolk was the uncle of both Ann Boleyn and Catherine Howard, both of whom were wives of Henry VIII.

Arundel Cathedral -  the building was made possible through the generosity of the 15th duke of Norfolk. It is a magnificent example of nineteenth-century Gothic revival in the French style of around 1400. The architect was Joseph Hansom, who designed Birmingham Town Hall and the Hansom Cab.

Arundel Cathedral exudes a sense of height, both from exterior and interior elevations. It has an aisled nave of six bays and is cruciform in plan with an apsidal sanctuary, again following the style of French Gothic. In the nave the arcades with their slender columns and pointed arches add to the sense of height. In the north transept are the remains of St. Philip Howard, Earl of Arundel, who was martyred in 1595 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1. There is a noble western gallery housing the organ and beyond that a fine rose window.

We will have plenty of time for you to relax in the Castle grounds, independently explore the city, or whatevr your fancy may be before we return to Chichester in the evening.

He converted this into the Marine Pavilion hiring renowned architect Henry Holland. It was the architect Porden who designed the first dome and the Prince was so tickled with this novelty that he had the entire palace remodeled on this theme in 1815 by the architect John Nash. As a consequence of his father's illness the Prince became the Prince Regent, heralding in the Regency period - the most elegant period in English architecture. After his father's death he assumed the title King George IV.

After our visit to the Palace we will provide several hours of free time for you to explore Brighton and have lunch at one of the many fine restaurants. And shop to your hearts content. For those not interested in exploring shops, we will conduct a  walk to explore the wonderful georgian architecture which abounds here.

The castle was originally the site of a manor of the Saxon royal family. It was first built in stone by the Normans and fortified by the great castle-builder Edward I. Henry VIII transformed the fine apartments we see today. The Castle contains a wonderful collection of furniture, tapestries and art.

The first Archbishop of Canterbury was St Augustine who arrived on the coast of Kent as a missionary to England in 597 AD. He came from Rome, sent by Pope Gregory the Great. The story goes that Gregory had seen "Angle" slaves for sale in the city market and struck by their beauty, had remarked "not Angles but Angels". Such a people he was convinced should be converted to Christianity, and ordered Augustine and a group of monks to set out for England. On his arrival Augustine was given a church at Canterbury by the local King Ethelbert whose Queen, Bertha, was already a Christian. This building had been a place of worship during the Roman occupation of Britain. Soon consecrated Bishop, Augustine established his seat (or "cathedra") in this place as the first Archbishop of Canterbury. The present archbishop, George Carey, is 103rd in the line of succession.

Until the 10th century the Cathedral community was a family of clergy, living a regulated life as the household of the Archbishop. Not until 998 do we find evidence that they were living by the Rule of St. Benedict as a formal monastic community. The Benedictine community of monks continued until the monastery was dissolved in 1540. The next year a new Foundation, called the Dean and Chapter, was constituted by Royal Charter. Today there is a Dean and four Residentiary Canons in the Chapter, who, with the Precentor, make up the establishment of full-time clergy.

You will have plenty of time for independent exploration, shopping, or just watching the sites from the comfort of a local pub.

Two hundred years later, around 1505, the Bullen family, who had acquired the Castle in 1462, added a comfortable Tudor dwelling house inside the protective wall. This was the beginning of the glory days for Hever Castle, although sadly short-lived when Anne Boleyn (Bullen) failed to produce a son and heir for King Henry VIII. The rest, as they say, is history.

Despite the fact Hever Castle had been the home of two queens (Anne Boleyn and Anne of Cleves) the Castle slowly fell into disrepair until finally, in 1903, the Castle was bought by an American, William Waldorf Astor. With a keen appreciation for quality and a true respect of history he set about restoring the Castle and Gardens, lavishing millions of dollars of his personal fortune filling it with treasures, building the 100 room Tudor Village, and creating the Gardens and lake making Hever Castle what it is today.

Sunday Day 10:

[For those clients on our ten day tour this will mark the end of your tour and we will arrange for you to be delivered back to your departure airport.]

We will have time for those wishing to attend Sunday services to do so at their leisure. For those not attending services we will conduct an optional city or county walk (no charge of course).

Sunday afternoon will visit to Boxgrove Priory. Built on the site of a Saxon Church in 1108, Boxgrove Priory housed Norman monks until the dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII when it became the Parish Church under the patronage of the 9th. Lord de la Warr.

Buried in the church yard at Boxgrove is the first American casualty of World War II. Time and interest permitted we will visit the Tangmere Aviation Museum, site of one of the Battle of Britain airfields. Here you can see restored aircraft, Spitfire, Hurricane, Etc.

Monday Day 11:

Today we will tour what is now known as 1066 country, named for the famous battle in 1066, when the Normans invaded Britain and defeated King Harold at Hastings. We will visit the towns of Rye, Battle, and Hastings.

Battle Abbey: Founded by William the Conqueror on the site of the Battle of Senlae or Hastings (1066), nearly seven miles from the town of Hastings, in the County of Sussex. The building was begun in the following year, but was erected on such a great scale that it was not finished till the reign of William Rufus.

It was designed for one hundred and forty monks, though there were never more than sixty in residence at one time. The first monks were from the Benedictine Abbey of Marmoutier in Normandy; the new foundation was dedicated to the Holy Trinity, St. Mary, and St. Martin, and was consecrated on 11 February, 1094. The king offered there his father's sword and coronation robes, and the abbey was enriched by many privileges, including the right of sanctuary, of treasure trove, of free warren, and of inquest, and the inmates and tenants were exempt from all Episcopal and secular jurisdiction. It was ruled by a mitered abbot who afterwards had a seat in Parliament and who had the curious privilege of pardoning any criminal he might meet being led to execution.

The town of Rye is a delightful town situated in Sussex. Rye's history can be traced back to before the Norman Conquest, when, as a small fishing community, it was almost surrounded by water and lay within the Manor of Rameslie. The sea has retreated and now lies two miles from the town and sheep graze where the waves once broke on the beach.

Our first stop will be at Osborne House, Queen Victoria's favorite. In 1845 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought Osborne House and its 1000 acres. Osborne House was a retreat for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. They greatly enjoyed  the Isle of Wight, far from the pressures court life at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.

At one time the capital of the Isle of Wight, Carisbrooke - no larger than a village itself - embraces a fine medieval castle. This Norman structure, set high on a hill, was based on a Saxon fort that occupied the site during the 8th century.

The original 'motte and bailey' castle was laid out in the 11th century, and the polygonal Keep was added in the first half of the 12th century, built on an artificial mound. About the same time, the stone curtain walls were built, with their square flanking towers at the south east and south west encompassing the bailey. On the western side of the curtain wall lies the twin-towered Gatehouse, where it is still possible to see evidence of the portcullises. This imposing Gatehouse, dating from the 14th/15th centuries, replaced an earlier gateway built during the time of the Redvers family, who ruled the island until 1293. Following the family's departure from Carisbrooke, the castle was bought by Edward I.