See It: Tynemouth Priory and Castle

A few weekends ago, we headed north for our next history lesson at Tynemouth Priory and Castle.  This was once the largest fortified area in the northeastern part of England. It is situated at the mouth of the Tyne and had strategic value for centuries.  Until the development of modern infantry and weaponry, this stronghold was essentially impenetrable to the enemy as it is connected to the mainland by tall cliffs.

This land was occupied as early as the eighth century; however, these ruins date back to the medieval times.  The ruins of the monastery are dedicated to St. Oswine, whose body was preserved in a shrine on the grounds. 

Tynemouth Abbey ruins

These are the ruins of the priory church.  The two openings on the right that look like window were actually niches for statues. 

The vast height of the walls was astonishing.  If you look closely, you can see me on the left side for a size reference!

The devotion to the Virgin Mary was a long monastic tradition.  Due to this devotion, Lady Chapels were often built.  The walls above are the ruins of the Lady Chapel at Tynemouth.  It was considered a new addition in 1336!

Stained glass window in the Percy Chantry

One of the characteristics of cathedrals, ruins, and castles that I never tire of looking at are stained glass windows.  Each is so beautiful!  The complexity or simplicity varies greatly.  These masterfully-created windows often take such skill, precision, and time.  I always wonder what stories these windows could tell about the people that labored over them for days, months, or years.  This gorgeous flower stained glass window is located in the Percy Chantry, the only portion of the church to survive completely.  Mass would be chanted for the family that endowed the space.  It is not completely known which family endowed this space.  The Percy family, a powerful and well-known family in the northeast, arms decorates portions of the space.   Though the Percy arms are present, the initials I L P for Iohannes Langton Prior are also visible in the ceiling suggesting the space may have been endowed in his honor.

The graveyard on the priory grounds has tombstones that date back to the 18th and 19th century.  The majority of the tombstones are made of sandstone.  The headstones represent people who stood on this land, protected it, and worshiped on it have been eroded by salty wind from the North Sea and the rain.  There is something extremely beautiful these headstones.  

Tynemouth Gatehouse

The only medieval defense that has survived and remained largely intact is the Tynemouth Gatehouse.  Since 1390, it served as the main entrance to the headland.  Its grandeur conveys the wealth and power of the institution it protected.  

Church steeple located in the center of town

After exploring the Tynemouth Priory and Castle, we spent the afternoon strolling down the High Street.  This area was lined with quaint tea rooms and picturesque boutiques to pop into to browse or enjoy an afternoon treat. 

After a day learning about the history at our doorstep, we headed home to plan our next outing.  As we contemplate the next stop on our adventure, remember the lights are always on!

~W

Octobers...

A friend posted this quote on Facebook. 

October 1st...not technically the first day of autumn, but in a way it has always felt that way to me.  The back to school feelings of September have ended, and the school year routine is a bit smoother.  There is usually a slight chill in the air by October.  As we transition from summer to fall here in the UK, my homesickness has hit!  Summer in the UK felt similar to the states, but without the unbearable heat.  Now that autumn is in full swing I am feeling the differences. 

October embodies everything I love...sweater and boot weather, pumpkin everything, changing leaves, cool temps, hoodies, and harvest time.  As AJ will tell anyone, I live for sweater weather.  I love throwing on a sweater with boots.  When we first moved, a lot of Brits told us about the weather.  AJ would always respond with, "W will absolutely love the weather...she lives for sweater weather!"  It is true. Sweater weather has been one of the aspects of daily life in the UK that I wholeheartedly love!  Our temps have been in the mid fifties..perfect for a sweater, scarf and boots!.  Everyday, I smile as I pull on another sweater.

Pumpkins are another iconic fall symbol for me!  For over two-thirds of my life, I lived in the Pumpkin Capital of the World (it is a real title!).  We celebrate pumpkins with a town-wide festival for four days, and then we later have a competition to chuck pumpkins from catapults!  There are pumpkin cookies, pies, donuts, ice cream sundaes, and chilli.  One of my favorite memories from elementary school was making pumpkin bread in sixth grade after learning about fractions.  In the fall (and into the winter, if I am honest!), our kitchen routinely smells of pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin bars baking in the oven.  I loved to treat myself to a pumpkin spice latte on my way to work.  I am sure there might be few places that revere pumpkins as much as my hometown, but Northeast England is not one of them!

So true...so true...Edinburgh won my heart instantly!!

Pumpkin anything is a large part of my sense of autumn.  In previous years, our grocery store in the states has put limits on the number of tinned pumpkin that could be purchased at one time.  My hometown is serious about their love of pumpkin.  We easily use at least twelve cans of pumpkin in a season for breads, cookies, bars, and pies.  I knew that tinned pumpkin would be nearly impossible to purchase at my local grocery store when we moved.  Pumpkin is not a common item in the UK.  We looked at the stores, googled possible locations, and asked store clerks.  One clerk even asked me, "Why would you eat that?"  Unwilling to accept defeat on the tinned pumpkin search, I headed to Amazon!  Just as we ordered tinned pumpkin, we received some from one of AJ's visiting co-workers as well as his visiting parents.  There will now be enough pumpkin to satisfy my cravings and maybe convince our UK neighbors of the glory of pumpkin!
 

The tinned pumpkin shipment

There is not an ounce of me that is a farmer or has any desire to be a farmer, but there is something about the Midwest harvest in October that is home to me.  Cornfields have always been a part of my life.  I never had to look far for one.  They frequently have a prominent place right next to the highways.  I never realized how much cornfields were a part of my landscape and sense of home until I moved to the UK.  On my drive to and from work for four years, I spent the majority of the drive passing cornfields.  The fields gave me a sense of the passing time.  I would witness the planting in spring, the growth through the summer, and then the harvest in the fall.  

Octobers in the past have always brought trips to the apple orchard.  AJ and I would always dedicate at least one Saturday to the apple orchard.  We would headed out early every year in attempt to beat the crowds.  We would buy a bushel of apples, cider, cider donuts, and many other treats.  Pumpkins and mums for the porch would be loaded into the trunk.  There are no apple orchards or pumpkin patches in our area.  Walking into our grocery store today, I was pleasantly welcomed by pumpkins.  A few of them came home with me to adorn our porch! 

A welcomed sight of autumn!

Octobers have always held a special place in my heart!  They truly encompasses everything I love.  Our first October in the UK looks a bit different than in the Midwest, but it is no less special.  This will be the October that we traded the apple orchard and pumpkin patch for castles, cathedrals, tea, and scones.  It will be the October that I shared an important part of heart through pumpkin anything with neighbors and new friends.  This October will be the one that I truly learned that home can be anywhere if you look hard enough!

As I am baking up all things pumpkin this October, remember the lights are always on!

~W