Chepstow to The Eagle's Nest and back
Wye Valley Walks - Chepstow to The Eagle's Nest and back
(Click on this link to see all 8 walks in this series)
A Visit to Eagle's Nest - Kermie Cam
July 3rd, 2014...
This date on my recent trip to Europe, I went to visit Adolf Hitler's Eagle's Nest.
It was built before WWII started, and was used for conferences and visiting dignitaries like Chamberlain and Mussolini.
Hitler was claustrophobic and afraid of heights, so he only actually visited it 14 times! He had a nice home below, which he preferred.
This was the only building not destroyed that Hitler used and is now a tourist site and restaurant!
Once you climb by bus up to about 6000' . . . you then head down a tunnel about 400' to get on an elevator that then takes you straight up about 450' into the facility!
While the facility was historically interesting . . . the view from the Bavarian Alps was absolutely BREATHTAKING!
After the tour, we went down and had lunch and a nice walk around Berchtesgaden.
This has to be one of the most beautiful parts of the world I've seen!
Wales to England ,Chepstow to Aust services old Bridge .
via YouTube Capture
ABANDONED 14th Century COUNTRY HOUSE, EXPLORING THE MANOR (Piercefield: Part 2)
The estate was then inherited by his son, also Valentine Morris (1727–1789), who began living at Piercefield with his family in 1753. At this time, tourism in the Wye Valley was in its infancy. Morris soon added to the magnificent splendour of the estate and its setting, by landscaping the parkland, with the help of Richard Owen Cambridge[3] in the fashionable style of Capability Brown. The work was largely undertaken by architect Charles Howells and builder William Knowles of Chepstow, who had also undertaken work at nearby Tintern for the Duke of Beaufort.[4] Piercefield was developed into a park of national reputation, as one of the earliest examples of picturesque landscaping. Morris laid out walks through the woodland, and included a grotto, druid's temple, bathing house and giant's cave. He also developed viewpoints along the clifftop above the River Wye, and opened the park up to visitors. One of the many tourists to marvel at this view was the poet Coleridge, who wrote: Oh what a godly scene....The whole world seemed imaged in its vast circumference. The scientist and traveller Joseph Banks wrote: I am more and more convinced that it is far the most beautiful place I ever saw.[4]
In the 1770s Valentine Morris's gambling, business and political dealings bankrupted him, and he was forced to leave his beloved Piercefield and set sail for the West Indies. In 1785, Piercefield was sold again, for £26,200, to George Smith, a Durham banker, father of the linguist Elizabeth. Smith continued to open the walks, but straightened some of them.[3] He also commissioned a young architect, John Soane – later to become famous as the benefactor of the London institution which now bears his name – to design a new mansion in the neo-classical style, which would incorporate Morris's house.[3] Work began in 1792, and the new three-storey stone building had reached roof level when Smith found himself in financial difficulties. He sold Piercefield in 1794 to Colonel Mark Wood, Member of Parliament for Newark-on-Trent, who continued and modified the work with architect Joseph Bonomi,[3] incorporating a Doric portico and wings, and commissioning the long stone wall which now runs along the edge of the estate.
A466 - Monmouth to Chepstow following the River Wye
The main reason Phil and I made a weekend trip to the South West, the A466 from Monmouth to Chepstow.
Monmouthshire South Wales: B4235 Shirenewton to Chepstow
An American behind the wheel. Monmouthshire South Wales: B4235 Shirenewton to Chepstow
Red Lady of Paviland coast
ABANDONED PIERCEFIELD HOUSE..FOUND TUNNELS UNDERNEATH
Join me as I take a look around this abandoned Piercefield House in Chepstow. I stumble across abandoned tunnels underneath the house. Take a look.
Music by:- CO.AG Music
Aso joining me were:-
Topcat Urban Explorer
Complex Urbex:-
Exploring with Finn & Gas Man:-
HISTORY:-
Piercefield House near St. Arvans, Monmouthshire, Wales, is a largely ruined neo-classical country house. The central block of the house was designed in the very late 18th century, by, or to the designs of, Sir John Soane. It is flanked by two pavilions, of slightly later date, by Joseph Bonomi the Elder. The house sits within Piercefield Park, a Grade I listed historic landscape, that was created in the 18th century as a notable Picturesque estate.
The house is now a shell, along with its extensive stable block, but its status as a Grade II* listed building[1] reflects its importance. It is currently owned by the Reuben brothers, London-based property developers. A campaign to save and restore the building was launched by SAVE Britain's Heritage in 2013.[2]Records since the 14th century refer variously to Peerfield, Peersfield, Persfield and Piersfield, the area taking its name, according to some sources, from the nearby manor of St. Pierre. The land was owned by the influential Walter family from medieval times until the 18th century. Local historians report an enlargement of the existing house under John Walter in the 1630s, and a later extension around 1700 is believed to have been the work of the architect William Talman, also responsible for Chatsworth House.
In 1727, the estate was sold for £3,366, 5.6d to Thomas Rous of Wotton-under-Edge. His son then sold it again in 1740, for £8,250,
It is rumoured that Admiral Nelson spent a night at Piercefield House on one of his visits to Monmouthshire. Nelson was closely connected to the town of Monmouth through his mistress Lady Hamilton. It is possible that he stayed in the summer of 1802 with her and her elderly husband Sir William Hamilton, on a journey to a friend's Pembrokeshire estate via Monmouth and Kymin Hill.
#realurbex #piercefieldhouse #tunnels
Chepstow Castle and Tintern Abbey, 1932. Film 91042
Chepstow. South Wales, Monmouthshire, Chepstow Castle with walls covered in ivy. Good shots with people in the grounds and next to the walls. Tintern Abbey. A sunny day. Amateur home movie. 1932
Cwm Lickey Pond-Upper Race -Pontypool-DJI Mavic-Jaymie James
a flight around Cwm Lickey pond near pontypool, not much to say enjoy , it's a nice little spot, careful where you park your car as the local gypsies will be eyeing up the wheels..seriously.
DSCN2317
The Chepstow Wassail and Mari Lwyd is a very popular annual event combining the mainly English tradition of Wassailing, the Welsh Mari Lwyd tradition, plus a unique social meeting of the English and Welsh on the Welsh/English border (The river Wye bridge) There is also Morris dancing and a Country Dance Ceilidh.The event is hosted by The Widders Welsh Border Morris, the local team and supported by Monmouthshire County Council, Chepstow Town Council, Chepstow Acoustic Music Club, Glosfolk and the good people of Chepstow and abroad.
The Mari-Lwyd is a Welsh winter first footing tradition which dates back many centuries.The Mari is a decorated, shrouded horse skull which is carried from house to house or pub by the Mari Lwyd group of performers who attempt to gain entry for food and drink through song, rhyme and riddles called “the Pwnco”, a rhyme/song battle between the Mari group and the inhabitants of the house/pub. After some singing, daft capers and banter between the inhabitants and the Mari group the Mari group are eventually allowed inside to partake of small food and drink, there is usually singing and rowdy banter after which the Mari group bless the house and it’s inhabitants (thlwncdestyn) wish all a happy New Year and move on to the next port of call. The Chepstow Mari Lwyd takes place on the steps of Chepstow museum in Bridge St where a large part of the town and many visitors turns out to watch the proceedings. There are also several Morris teams and players of various types, including Mummers, Green Man, Minstals etc.Wassailing
Wassailing is a mostly English tradition of blessing apple trees and asking for a good harvest for the following year. The Wassail is directed by the main character “The Wassail Butler” The Butler has a special Wassail bowl full of good cider which is passed from person to person, after taking a sip from the bowl, the bowl is held aloft to a rousing shout of WASSAIL! There is usually a huge bonfire, Morris dancers and singers. People form a circle around the tree sing, and hang offerings of toast onto the branches. The Butler pours some cider onto the roots of the tree and gives a speech after which there is more singing and dancing. Sometimes a shotgun is fired over the tree to ward off any malevolent spirits that may be foolish enough to interrupt the proceedings. We use party poppers, we have lost our shotgun!!
The oldest new tradition in Wales. A Meeting On The Old Wye Bridge
English and welsh exchange flags
A unique and very special part of the proceedings. At a certain point in the evening the Wassailers (over in England) send up a large firework rocket which explodes over the river to signal to the Mari Lwyd group (Here in Wales) that the Wassail is finished, and the English revelers are about to process to the border (middle of the old Wye bridge) There are musicians and dancers carrying lanterns and pushing an apple cart containing a decorated apple tree to meet with the Welsh. Meanwhile, the Welsh contingent including several Mari’s, Morris dancers, Mummers and a huge crowd of rowdy followers gather on the Welsh side of the bridge to await the signal from the lookout, waiting at the border. The horn sounds, the English are approaching. The Welsh gather themselves and both English and Welsh groups slowly march toward the border, each group brandishing their respective flags…..To the uninitiated, they could be marching to war! Then, they converge at the border and all peace breaks out! Wassail!! Wassail! Greetings all. There is much merriment and hand shaking , Happy New Year. They exchange flags then singing and dancing begins. After a short while The Werlsh invite the English to join them in Wales for The Mari Lwyd ceremony.
Seeing Red
Live acoustic version of this track from the 2010 Also Eden EP Differences As Light
Recorded by Steve Blease in Chepstow Town Centre as part of Summers End Progressive Rock Festival, September 2014.
Hook Eagle Morris Men, The Crooked Billet, Hook, 17th September 2016
Hook Eagle Morris Men dancing Oh What A Lovely Day outside the Crooked Billet in Hook, Hants, Saturday 17th September 2016
Wye Valley Walk - May 2017
Chepstow to Hereford via the Wye Valley Walk
Hook Tandoori
Hook Eagle Morris Men
Exploring abandoned mansion celler in Chepstow
A bit of busking on the riverbank in Chepstow
A bit of busking down on the river bank in Chepstow on a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon 3rd June 2018 - Make You Feel my Love
The Widders - Morris Dancers - Chepstow - South Wales
The Widders - Morris Dancers in the street - Chepstow - South Wales - UK
wye valley walk 2015 day 1
2015 walk on Wye valley, Chepstow to Brockweir....a great way to see Britain in spring
Llandogo From The Air
Some rarely seen views of my village and the surrounding Wye Valley.
Filmed via DJI drone
Music courtesy of the ever-brilliant Mike Simmons