The Old Smithy

The Old Smithy at Godshill, Isle of Wight

Believed to have once been the home of an old blacksmith whose ghost still wanders the premises, it is now a tourist destination with a wishing well and some lovely shops. (Check out the silhouette in the floor tile of the blacksmith, it appears upside down from this vantage point in the second pic, and also the old stocks in front of the wishing well.)

Another beautiful island view.

Taken from above Shanklin, Isle of Wight

The Model Village

The model village Godshill. Isle of Wight.

A beautiful day on the Island.

A beautiful day on the Isle of Wight.

An Idyllic Village

A beautiful idyllic village. Look very closely. What do you see?

It's the model village at Godshill, Isle of Wight. So fabulously recreated in miniature.

The Grounds of Osborne House

This year I am hoping to visit as many English Historic sites as possible. With both a National Trust and an English Heritage pass at my fingertips, the world is my oyster, or at least English History anyway!
I'm sure with the recent TV series Victoria many people have a renewed interest in this fascinating queen. But from the portrayals of her life as a young woman to the ones of her later years, and the love she shared with Prince Albert, she remains an object of fascination.
One thing that is easy to understand though, is why she loved the Isle of Wight so much. It's a place of such natural beauty.
Below are a few of the photos of the grounds of Osborne House taken on my last visit, I will be going again very soon. I'm sure that hemmed in as she was by her royal status and the expectations and responsibilities of a woman who ruled a third of the planet, the grounds of Osborne must have felt like a godsend.
To awaken in the morning, be able to stand on the lovely terrace, walk the wonderful gardens and view the ocean would have been an incredible boon.

Rufford Abbey Country Park

Rufford Abbey is a great place for a leisurely stroll in an historic setting. It is in Nottinghamshire on the edge of Sherwood Forest. Here are some pics of my last visit.

The Shanklin Theatre

The Shanklin Theatre has a fascinating history and have some fabulous shows. We met some wonderful volunteers when we were there. I've added a link below for anyone who wants to know about the  history of the theatre.

https://www.shanklintheatre.com/the_theatre.aspx

More photos of the Old Village, Shanklin

Old Village, Shanklin, Isle of Wight

The old village at Shanklin, Isle of Wight

The Robin Hood Statue Outside Nottingham Castle

Many years ago the Robin Hood statue outside Nottingham Castle had a quiver of loose arrows, unfortunately people kept stealing them for souvenirs so now there are no loose ones! But it is a great stop for a photograph with the well known folk hero.

The Entrance to Nottingham Castle

Nottingham Castle

Picture of a recent trip to Nottingham Castle

Osborne House, Isle of Wight. UK

A few pictures of a trip to Osborne house last year, a beautiful location and it's easy to see why Queen Victoria and her family loved living there so much. The beautiful grounds and the ocean in the background, what more could any one want!