My First MOOC

I recently completed my Masters degree, and after spending a total of five years at university, I’ve become slightly addicted to learning. As I have found myself with quite a bit of spare time, I decided to try something completely new to me, so I signed up for my first online course, or MOOC. I must admit, I was slightly concerned about it, that it wouldn’t be engaging, that the content wouldn’t be challenging enough, or that it simply wouldn’t be that interesting. It turns out that I was very, very wrong.

Known as MOOCs (massive online open courses), these kind of courses have surged in popularity in recent years, and there are plenty to choose from, with a range of websites offering them. I decided to go with Futurelearn, as the majority of courses are from UK-based universities and institutions. As a history lover (and an Archaeology graduate), I also wanted a course that was relevant to me and that would be at the right level, rather than just an introduction, or too specific. There were plenty to choose from, and I decided to sign up for more than one, mainly because I couldn’t choose between them! 

The first course I ended up completing was the University of Liverpool’s ‘Superpowers of the Ancient World: The Near East’. It was spread across around three hours each week, and in total lasted four weeks, although I tended to spend a little more time each week with all the extra bits of research. 

There were a number of key themes that were discussed over the four weeks, and different civilisations, including the Egyptian, Mitannian and Hittite superpowers. Ideas that were discussed included travel, trade, warfare and diplomacy, and there was a great deal of historic context as well as current discussion of international relations, looking at modern parallels. One of the great things was the use of objects from the university’s Garstang Museum, and the input of experts discussing how the objects were used and what they can tell us about the past.

Each week was split into sections, each taking around 15-20 minutes. These included videos and articles, as well as activities. The course also had quizzes each week, to test your knowledge. For some courses, the activities and quizzes contribute to a final grade, and you have to complete at least 50% of the course to be able to buy a statement of participation. I do think the price (just under £30), is a little high, but when you consider the course is completely free, it is not a bad deal at all!

The course employed a number of different online tools really successfully, such as Google Maps, an interactive timeline, and my personal favourite, the ‘Padlet’ photo wall. This particular exercise involved selecting an image from Burton’s photographs of Tutankhamun’s tomb from the 1922 excavation. It was a really engaging tool, that looked fantastic and was very easy to use, and read other peoples’ contributions at the same time. One of the biggest features of the course was the comment section, and you are encouraged to take part in discussions and post questions to other users, as well as reply to their comments. This was a really useful tool, although it was quite difficult to read all of the comments and be able to fully engage with debates that people were having. Having since used another website that uses forums, however, I do prefer the simplicity of the comments.

Ancient Egypt (and a large dose of Time Team) was what got me interested in Archaeology when I was a child, but unfortunately I didn’t end up studying it at all during my Archaeology degree. This course, therefore, was perfect. 

I really do believe that anyone, as long as they have an interest in archaeology or ancient history, would find the course engaging and be able to learn a great deal. The course is, I believe, being run again in the new year, so make sure to sign up to Futurelearn’s newsletter if you are interested in taking part.

I have, at the time of writing, managed to sign up for five courses on Futurelearn, and I am underway with another Egypt course on Courseara. Another great thing is that the conversation is ongoing, with a really active Facebook group that people still use to post their thoughts on articles and objects in museums around the world. The idea of community is central to these online courses, and is what makes them so great. Having educators that are engaging, who answer your questions and encourage debate is key to this, and was very successfully done by the team on this course. It is safe to say that I am an online course convert, and will be continuing with them for many years to come.

If you have any recommendations for other online courses, or your own experience with them, please feel free to share them!

Jess

Tyntesfield

Recently I visited the National Trust property Tyntesfield, which is in North Somerset and around 7 miles from Bristol. It is built in the Victorian Gothic Revival style, and full of really interesting collections, rooms, furniture, and pieces of art. It was on my list to visit this year, but seeing it in the Sherlock special trailer meant that I had to see it for myself! (And yes, I am counting down the days until that episode in broadcast). 

The central staircase

Originally built in the 1830s as a Georgian mansion, it was extensively remodelled and expanded in the 1860s. It was bought by the Trust fairly recently in 2002, and there are many rooms that are still full of collections from floor to ceiling. One of these is open to the public to understand how the house was when it was taken over, and how expansive the collections are. In many other rooms, the Trust has done a fantastic job of recreating the Victorian splendour of Tyntesfield in its prime.

The billiards table with electronic scoring

There are some fantastic objects and pieces of furniture on display throughout the property, including the late Victorian full-size billiards table, with electronic scoring, and its scoreboard, which both stand in the billiard room. Tyntesfield was, in fact, one of the first houses to have electricity installed.

The private chapel

There are a range of rooms that are open in the house, including the higher status rooms in the front of the house, and other rooms that would have been used by the staff. As we visited in mid-November, the house was being prepped for Christmas and undergoing conservation work, which meant that, unfortunately, some of the rooms were closed. However, there were lots of helpful guides of hand to explain what was happening and how the rooms usually looked. Tyntesfield is also open everyday of the year (except for Christmas Day), so I have plenty of time to go back and explore the rest!

Snippets of the top floor tour

The absolute highlight of my visit was the ‘backstage’ tour, which took you around the areas of the house that were occupied by later generations of the family, including the children’s nursery, the servant’s quarters and other rooms. The volunteer who took us around was extremely knowledgable, and with only seven of us in the group, there was plenty of time to ask questions, and take our time looking around. We couldn’t pre-book this tour online and although it wasn’t advertised at the ticket office, we could book our tickets there. From what I can see on the website, these tours aren’t happening with all of the extra things happening over Christmas, but it’s worth asking, and if not, just try out one of the other activities instead! As one of the most popular National Trust properties in the South West, it is also worth reserving your general house tickets online if you want to get in early on the day. 

Overall, it was a great visit, and I will certainly be heading back very soon. 

More information is available at: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tyntesfield

A Birthday in Bath

A couple of weeks ago I celebrated my 24th birthday, and decided to spend the day with my family exploring the World Heritage Site of Bath. I have only visited the city once before, although my parents actually met and lived there for several years. We decided to be proper tourists for the day and visit the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey.

The view from the terrace

The Roman Baths are the best-preserved example of ancient baths and a temple complex in Northern Europe. Completed in AD 75, the Romans had to control the only thermal springs in the UK. Today, the water still flows through the infrastructure from the first century. The site was considered sacred before the Roman conquest, with the Dobunni (the tribe in that area of Britain in the first century AD), believing the springs sacred to the Goddess Sulis, and the Roman temple dedicated to Sulis Minerva. One of the most famous objects from the Baths is the gilded bronze head from the statue of Minerva from the temple, which is now on display close to where it would have stood nearly 2000 years ago.

One of the artefacts housed in the museum

The Baths now have a large museum around them, with many different rooms full of objects discovered from the excavations, telling the history of the Roman Baths. You are mostly led around by a free audio guide, which also has a section for kids, and additional dialogue from the author Bill Bryson. I was surprised by just how much there was to see!

Archaeological remains 

There are many archaeological remains now on view, and one of my favourite areas of the museum was the excavated buildings that can be seen from a raised platform. There is something really amazing about being able to see the walkways and steps that were used by the people visiting the baths and the temple. 

Water flowing through the original Roman structure

Another great thing is that throughout the Baths, you can still see the water flowing through the infrastructure built in the Roman period. One small piece of advice would be to remember a bottle of water, and be prepared for humidity! This comes from the heat of the hot springs, but also the water sprayed onto the remains that are on display.

The Great Bath (with added priest)

The absolute highlight is, of course, being able to walk around the Great Bath, the centrepiece of the bathing complex, and possibly one of the most famous Roman sites in Britain. Today, the steam still rises from the water, and you can walk around the adjacent rooms which have been excavated, and roofed, which give a great sense of the actual dimensions and layout of the complex. A really nice touch was that you can taste the water of the baths at the end of the tour, or in the Pump Room (although don’t be too excited about the taste!).

The overall experience was absolutely fantastic. It took around three hours to fully get around as there was a surprisingly large complex of rooms to explore and collections to see. An adult ticket costs £14, but don’t be put off by the price, it is completely worth it! My only tiny gripe would be, as someone who is not the biggest fan of audio guides just because I like to read things at my own pace, I would have liked more information written around the museum explaining the history of each section of the Baths and the excavated remains. It is somewhere that I have always known about, so it was fantastic to see it in person.

The exterior and interior of Bath Abbey

In the afternoon, we visited Bath Abbey, which is right next door to the Baths. There has been a church on the site for over 1000 years, including a massive Norman cathedral, although it lay in ruins by the 15th century. In 1615, the building was repaired and used as a parish church. It was developed in the 19th century, and the Abbey today is largely thanks to Sir George Gilbert Scott, the leading architect of the Gothic Revival. He transferred the interior of the abbey, the most significant change being replacing the wooden ceiling with the stone fan vaulting that is there today.

The abbey is free to enter, and I would really recommend it. It doesn’t take long to have a look around, and is obviously such an important part of the heritage of the city, so makes for a well-rounded trip to Bath!

It was a great day spent with my family, and Bath is a fantastic city in any weather, so I look forward to visiting sometime soon, hopefully before Christmas to explore the markets and do a bit of shopping!

If you want more information about the Roman Baths, just go to: http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/

Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum, Devon

Earlier this year, I visited Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum in Devon. It was a few months ago, but I wanted to share the experience with you, as it was a really fun day, and it is well worth a visit!

If you visit Arlington, you won't be able to miss the resident peacocks!

The house was built in 1823, and extended in 1860, but the estate itself was in the Chichester family for over 500 years, before being given to the National Trust in the 1940s. The outside itself certainly doesn’t give anything away, but the interior is full of the family’s collections. The collections include model ships, shells, taxidermy, and a large selection of pewter.

The hall of Arlington Court

The grounds and gardens of Arlington Court cover around 30 acres, and include the formal Victorian garden, with a conservatory rebuilt in 2012, and the walled garden which was reinstated in 2003. A short walk from the house is St James church, which was largely rebuilt in the Victorian period. It's a lovely little church, and well worth taking a trip to. 

The interior of St James Church

There are many great things about Arlington Court, a personal favourite thing for me was the bat-cam room in the cellars. A simple idea, but a great one, giving a glimpse into a species of animal that is present at many historical sites, but often gets little attention.

Visiting in May meant that the Victorian Garden was in full bloom

A short walk along from the house is the National Trust Carriage Museum. It houses nearly 1000 items, the highlight of which is undoubtably the Speaker’s State Coach. 

The granary at Arlington Court, which stands on carved toadstools

Arlington Court is now only open at the weekends over the winter. It is definitely worth a trip, but with its extensive grounds and gardens, I would recommend that you go on a day with good weather, or wait until the Spring (although that’s no guarantee for a sunny day!). Located just to the east of Exmoor, there is plenty to do in the area. 

For more information about Arlington Court, visit http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/arlington-court/

York Art Gallery

York Art Gallery and Exhibition Square (©York Museums Trust)

York Art Gallery, part of York Museums Trust, reopened on the 1st August 2015 after a major redevelopment, spanning over 2 years, and costing £8 million. I first moved to York in 2013, and left this June, so I never had the opportunity to visit whilst I lived there, even though I only lived around the corner, and studied at King’s Manor, right next door. Recently, I went back to York, and one of my priorities was visiting the newly opened gallery. I am really glad that I had the opportunity, as the redevelopment has been very successful. 

The gallery originally opened in 1879 for the Second Yorkshire Fine Art and Industrial Exhibition, and in 1892, it became the City Art Gallery. The gallery’s collections and exhibitions are varied, and include more than 2,000 ceramic works, a number of Italian Old Masters, and artworks depicting York, including L.S. Lowry’s paintings of Clifford’s Tower (on display until March 2016). They also have the largest collection of William Etty works, and his statue stands at the front of the gallery, in Exhibition Square.

The newly refurbished gallery has a number of different spaces, filled with different artworks from its collections, and loaned from elsewhere. The renovation celebrates the architecture of the building, including its original Victorian features, and many rooms are flooded with natural light. Instead of listing off all of the exhibitions and displays, here are just some of my favourites, and some highlights from the collection.

One of the most unique aspects of the gallery is the Centre of Ceramic Arts (CoCA), which displays the Trust’s collection of British studio ceramics. It includes a 17 metre long ‘Wall of Pots’, which is organised and curated by colour, creating a rainbow across the length of one of the rooms. I found myself spending more time considering the colour, form and technique of ceramics than ever before. It is a unique way of displaying such a collection, but works incredibly well.

In the same space is the Anthony Shaw collection, displayed in a domestic style, echoing his London home. I personally really liked the domestic aspect to the display, which raised questions, for me, about the functions of ceramics, and what they mean and represent in the home. It also offers a glimpse into Shaw’s mind, and his ideas behind collecting in the way that he did. It automatically also becomes a more relaxing environment (although I was worried I was going to knock a piece over!). 

Clare Twomey’s ‘Manifest: 10,000 Hours’, specially commissioned for the new gallery, is incredibly effective. It fills the mezzanine space, echoing the white space and light created by the Victorian roof. Also in the room is Grayson Perry’s ‘Melanie’, one of ‘The Three Graces’, created in 2014. Both pieces, and others in the exhibition, make you question the role of ceramics, and appreciate them for pieces of art, as well as a traditional craft, something that is often forgotten in a more traditional display of ceramics. Throughout the gallery, I also appreciated the ability to walk around many of the works, and being able to view them from all angles.

Manifest: 10,000 Hours, Clare Twomey (©York Museums Trust)

Downstairs is an exhibition titled ‘A Picture of York’, which contains a variety of artworks depicting York itself. The Trust has a collection of 4000 pieces of work like these, and the room highlights some of the most important pieces. The three L.S. Lowry pieces depicting Clifford’s Tower are also brought together, but make sure you visit soon, as it is planned that they will only be on display together until March 2016.

Without a doubt, my favourite space in the gallery is that created by York based artist Mark Herald: ‘The Lumbar Room: Unimagined Treasurers’. It has been curated by Herald, with objects from York Museum Trust’s collections, and his responses to them. As a result, the room is full of unusual objects, and is a mix between museum exhibition and artwork, creating a modern cabinet of curiosities of Yorkshire. Next to The Lumbar Room is The Studio, a space full of different materials that is used for activities and school visits. During our visit, it was open for anyone to use and enjoy. It doesn’t feel like a classroom, and invites visitors to create their own responses to the gallery.

There are many more rooms and exhibitions that I haven’t mentioned, including works from two hundred years of British Art, and the Lycett Green collection, which brings together works from the Renaissance to the 19th century.

The gallery has a great variety of works, of different mediums, and from throughout the centuries. I felt like I also gained a real understanding of the story behind the background of the collection, and the importance of art, and the gallery itself, to York’s culture, and its community. The gallery has a very inviting atmosphere, and the staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Every detail of the refurbishment has been considered, from the design, to the curation, to the visitor experience. The Museum Gardens have also been renovated to the rear of the gallery, but thanks to the 'Great British Weather', the rain put me off exploring, so I will have to take a look at them the next time I am in York.

The gallery’s website includes lots of useful information about visiting. I would personally recommend parking in Marygate Car Park, as it is just around the corner. If you are getting a train or bus to York, the train station is a five minute walk on the other side of the river (local tip- there is a footbridge across the river from one end of Margate carpark right into the train station itself), and busses stop regularly outside the gallery. There is a cafe in the gallery, with a wide selection of high-quality food and drink, but it is in the centre of York, so there is plenty of choice and other options nearby. 

The gallery has something for everyone, with collections spanning 600 years. One of the best things about it, is its success in representing art created in York and throughout the region, and celebrating the best of York’s culture.

In my mind, it is one of the best cultural attractions in York, and will no doubt remain so for many years to come.

More information about York Art Gallery can be found at: www.yorkartgallery.org.uk


Unfortunately, I was too busy and taken in by the artworks to take any photographs, and so in this post, all images are from the York Museums Trust. 

A la Ronde and Killerton House, Devon

A couple of months ago, we were having some lovely weather here in the South West, and my family and I decided to head down to Devon for the day. We started the morning at A la Ronde. 

This is one of the most unique National Trust properties I have ever visited. Overlooking the River Exe, the 16 sided house was built in the 18th century for two spinster cousins on their return from the Grand Tour.

A la Ronde, Devon

The house inside is really quite remarkable. Every corner of it is still filled with objects from the cousins' journeys around Europe, although it has been altered in layout since that time.

A clever use of space on the ground floor of A la Ronde

The house on the inside has plenty of rooms to explore, including the drawing room, with its unusual artworks by the cousins, and the 'Octagon', the green hallway with eight doors.

Just a small selection of the shells housed in A la Ronde

You may have heard of A la Ronde because of its famous Shell Gallery, with its 25,000 shells. Unfortunately, you can no longer see it up close, as it is has been closed off to visitors for the past twenty years. The only ways of viewing it now are using a mirror in the entrance hall, or on a screen at the end of the tour. You can actually view the 360 picture online at: http://www.rodedwards.co.uk/files/20634/alarondeshellgallery/A_La_Ronde_Shell_Gallery.html. 

As is probably obvious from the image above, as picturesque as A la Ronde is (and as nice as the cake is!), it is not a full day's visit. As we were travelling back up to North Somerset, we decided to spend the afternoon at Killerton House, another National Trust property. If you want to stay in the area, there is plenty to do, and Exeter is only a short drive away.

Killerton House is an 18th century property, originally built as a temporary home for the Acland family. There are relatively few rooms open in the house, as the first floor is used as a temporary exhibition space, and currently houses 'The F-word: the changing language of fashion'.

Killerton House Library

The rooms downstairs are well presented, and the library is very inviting, with a great selection of books on local social history that can be browsed. I personally think that it is important that the rooms are used as much as possible, and to me it just makes sense that libraries have books in that you can read! Making them relevant to the property that they are in is a very simple idea, but one that is not actually put into practice that often.

The garden at Killerton is full of colour, and I thought that having interpretation boards describing the plants and the plans for the rest of the year was brilliant. 

Killerton Chapel

Within the grounds is Killerton Chapel, a mid-Victorian building. Built of volcanic trap aslar (known as Killerton stone), the exterior doesn't really give much away, so the dramatic interior was quite a surprise. On reflection, there are a lot of clues to the nature of the interior, such as the rose window in the west end.

Interior of Killerton Chapel

The whole day was really great, but if you visit, be aware that each properties on their own is a half-day, and you should plan around that. There is plenty to do in the area around Exeter however, so you won't struggle to fill up the day.

For more information about A la Ronde, visit: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/a-la-ronde/

For more information about Killerton, visit: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/killerton/

Montacute House, Somerset

With the nights drawing in, I thought that this was the perfect time to reflect upon some visits that I've made over the past couple of months to historic houses, galleries and other, equally exciting, places. As I've mentioned before, moving to the South West of England has meant that there are plenty more places to explore, some of which I've never heard of before!


One of these is Montacute House, which I visited in June this year. It's a fantastic National Trust property, and well worth a visit! It is an Elizabethan Renaissance mansion, completed in 1601. It was one of National Trust's first great houses after being saved in 1931 by Ernest Cook.

The house itself is great to walk around, with a fascinating range of objects and paintings to discover. If you think it looks familiar, it has appeared several times on screen. Most recently, it has doubled as Greenwich Palace in Wolf Hall (BBC).

Quite often when visiting properties such as this one, rooms are closed without explanation, and it is difficult to understand the changes that they're making. At Montacute, however, there were interpretation boards dotted around to describe changes and renovation that was taking place. It meant that you were able to experience much more of the property, and see different phases of building and decoration too! It would be really great to see this being done at more properties.

Another great thing about Montacute was how open it was. Instead of being limited to one strip of carpet, you could move around the rooms much more freely, and had the chance to look at all of the fascinating objects on display.

One of the highlights of our visit was the National Portrait Gallery exhibit. It contains over 50 Tudor and Jacobean portraits, and was curated with the help of Bristol University students. Whilst I was aware of the exhibition before my visit, I was pleasantly surprised by the range and quality of the collection. I also think that it's fantastic to see portraits of this importance being exhibited in Somerset, and what's more, in a very appropriate setting.

After spending the morning at the house, we decided to head into the village. I would highly recommend doing so, as the village, built almost entirely of local hamstone, is a quintessential English village (and has a couple of very nice pubs too). The church, extensively restored in the 1870s, is also worth a visit.

Montacute House is probably one of the best presented National Trust properties that I have visited in recent years. The staff are very welcoming and knowledgable, and the range of collections, and how they are presented, is fantastic. It's safe to say I'll be returning next year!

For more information about Montacute House, visit: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/montacute-house/

Cleeve Abbey, Somerset

This summer I'm living in Somerset, somewhere that I have never lived before. That means that I am able to explore an area of the country that is new to me. And that means a whole new group of historic properties to explore! Yes, that is exactly what a typical 23 year old looks forward to at the weekend.

One of the first places I visited this summer was Cleeve Abbey, an English Heritage property in the Somerset countryside.

Cleeve is a Cisterican abbey founded in the late 12th century, a relatively late foundation. Built originally in a simple style, more elaborate rooms were added over time, just as they were at other Cistercian abbeys around the country. After the Dissolution, the abbey was turned into a private house and later became a farm. But now, it is one of only a handful of English Heritage sites in Somerset.

Below are a selection of photographs from my visit. What will be very clear is how fantastic the level of preservation of wall painting is in various parts of the monastery. The First Refectory is undergoing a conservation project to protect the 13th century tiled pavement due to deterioration in recent years. Unfortunately this meant that I couldn't see it at the time but at least it is a great excuse for a return visit! The highlights of my visit had to be the Refectory (with its absolutely gorgeous roof) and the Painted Chamber.

Painting on the ceiling of the Chapter House

This series of images show the Dormitory. The dormitory is on the first floor and is amazingly preserved. Although the roof was replaced in the 17th or 18th century, it is fairly similar to how it would have originally been in the 13th century. One of the highlights of this room is the tiled window seats, of which there are several. It was certainly a surprise to see these as they are such a personal touch that survive to this day.

Downstairs is a series of rooms, including the Parlour, the Slype and Warming Room (pictured below). The Warming Room now has a modern concrete groin-vaulted ceiling, which actually gives a great idea of how light these rooms may have been at the time. Again these rooms are fairly well preserved, and although there are some clear signs of later alterations, they have survived well for rooms that were used for keeping animals in more recent centuries.

Above these rooms is the Refectory Hall, the communal dining hall. The focal point is the carved roof. There has been conservation work done here, but unfortunately, I have not been able to source any information on the dates for any of the pieces.  As you can see from one of the photographs, 1953 must have been a time of considerable change to the roof. This room would have had a large painting of the Crucifixion flanked by figures of the Virgin Mary and St John, but the painting decayed until by 1950 there was little trace of it.

What have remarkably survived are little pieces of graffiti in the gallery between the Refectory and the Painted Chamber. I have adjusted the photos to make these slightly clearer as they are now protected by a glass panel. It is not known who painted them, but it is believed that they do date from the medieval period. I love the idea of a monk doodling a little self portrait on a rainy day!

The Painted Chamber was probably the office or counting house for an abbot or his secretariat. Whilst the room can no longer be entered, the magnificent 15th century wall painting can still be viewed through a small window off the Gallery. The painting shows a double arched bridge over a river, with a man standing on the centre of the bridge praying. He is flanked by a lion and a horned dragon, and a pair of angels. To the left is the figure of St Catherine, and the right, St Margaret. It has recently been identified as the legend of the man crossing a bridge from the Gesto Romanorum, a 13th century collection of anecdotes. 

Below is an image showing a painted basin in the sacristy, that would have been used for washing the chalice used during the mass. This is another well preserved room that can not be entered due to the tiled floor that still largely remains. The sacristy would have been used for storing plates, candles, altar cloths, books and vestments used during services in the church. In comparison to other parts of the monastery, little remains of the church itself, with only parts of the south aisle and south transept remaining. Thanks to concrete edgings left by the Ministry of Public Building and Works in the 1960s, one can get a good sense of the size of the church, and its layout. 

The Gatehouse is the first, and last, thing you see of the monastery, as it is still used as the entry to the site today. Whilst it was built in the 13th century, it had extensive remodelling in the 16th century. It has certainly seen a large amount of wobbling (that's a technical term) over the centuries, and there are a number of buttresses from different years.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Cleeve Abbey and was incredibly surprised by the preservation of a large amount of the site, with some of the finest examples of monastic architecture and decoration in the country. It should also be noted how friendly and welcoming the Property Steward was, even letting us eat our lunch in the education room because it had started to rain! On the day of our visit, there could not have been more than a dozen people visiting, and for a long time we were the only people there. Whilst Cleeve Abbey is quite a distance from more popular destinations in Somerset, I would definitely say that it was worth the trip, and I hope that visitor numbers pick up now that it is the summer holidays. If you do go, just remember to either take a picnic or plan for a pub lunch (there are a couple of very reasonably priced pubs in the area, so it is definitely an option).

If you do make a visit to Cleeve, please do let me know what you think. And if you have any recommendations for a medievalist like me, I would love to hear them.

Jess

If you would like any more information about Cleeve Abbey, then just take a look at the English Heritage website: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/cleeve-abbey/. A lot of the information about the history of the site was from the guidebook of the Abbey by English Heritage.