Cleeve Abbey

A day of many blips.  First off, a visit to Tropiquaria where there were lots of creatures from parrots to Tarantula spiders and all things in between.  Surprisingly good photography despite the inevitable poor light where flash was encouraged (but, of course I didn't have it with me). My camera though will give good results with very high ISO although it took me a while to trust it.

After the creatures of various shapes and sizes we moved on to a fascinating Abbey - Cleeve - which had been home to a group of Cistercian monks form the 12th century until Henry VIII wrecked everything,  This one has the best preserved set of cloisters in England.

I found this place particularly special after what happened in Paris last night.  History cannot be wiped out - it happened - but the ancient evidence remaining is special.  In addition to fire, we had Henry VII and his obsession with marrying Ann Boleyn plus Cromwell's lot in the English Civil War which wreaked havoc with religious artifacts and architecture.  I love walking on steps and tracing paths that were used by others hundreds of years ago. 

It's amazing that we do have so much real history left behind - there's something everywhere.  I count us as a blessed nation with so much history just around every corner.

Maybe this wasn't the most captivating visit of the day for the youngsters but it is certainly an amazing place - well preserved and easy to imagine the monks being there. There is currently a project to preserve a medieval painted pavement - one as an extra with a stray autumn leaf to add to the composition.  This is so old but still has pattern, shape and colour.

Notre Dame will be rebuilt but the very old can never be replaced. It is so tragic when a part pf the past is gone forever.