Today, the original Victorian theatre with its stage machinery survives and since 2019 has been back in use. Since 2004 when the first performance in around 70 years took place, Ally Pally has been host to a varied range of sports and music events, including sell out shows by Panic at the Disco and filming of The X Factor.
The ‘Palace of the People’ was an idea from Welsh architect Owen Jones in 1859, although the construction was delayed because raising funds was difficult. Materials for building were largely recycled from the 1862 International Exhibition building in Kensington after it was demolished.
The new public palace was to be built on the land of Tottenham Wood Farm and converted into a park, open to the public from July 1863. The palace was named after Alexandra of Denmark, the popular princess who married Prince Edward in 1863.
Tragedy struck only 16 days after opening when a fire destroyed the palace and killed three members of staff. However, the palace was quickly rebuilt and reopened in 1875, boasting a concert hall, museum, art galleries, a lecture hall, library, banqueting hall and large theatre. The theatre was equipped with innovative machines that allowed artists to disappear and be flown through the air.
The park grounds were also full of leisure opportunities: an open-air swimming pool was constructed as well as a horse racing course with a grandstand, London’s only racecourse until 1970 when it closed. During World War One, the park was closed and used as a refugee camp for displaced Belgians and later an internment camp for Germans and Austrians.
The palace was also home of the BBC broadcast tower from the 1960s, used for BBC News broadcasts until 1969. The antenna still stands and continues to be used for local television and radio services.
Today, the 196 acres of parkland surrounding Alexandra Palace offer a wealth of activities for visitors of all interests and ages. The parkland is open and boasts a GoApe adventure site, as well as an ice-skating rink that often hosts ice-hockey games.
After a drink on the terrace, come in under the glass arched ceiling tickled by palm trees, to see a gig or comedy show. From the top of the hill, the views across London from Alexandra Palace are also well worth the visit.
Alexandra Palace is easily located using London’s central transport system. Alexandra Palace station operates on Great Northern and Thameslink services and the W3 bus will take you from there up the hill to the palace, or you can walk the 10 minutes uphill. There is also free parking on site for those driving.
]]>Whilst Ancient Siam does contain some original artefacts, the appeal of this little known attraction lies not in its authenticity, but in its overview of Thai history and the attention to detail in recreating national treasures.
Again, Ancient Siam is not truly a historical site in the traditional sense, but it is a great way to discover Thailand’s history in a pleasant, tranquil setting.
Lek Viriyaphant was an eccentric businessman and millionaire had a passion in art which inspired him to establish the Ancient city of Siam. Originally his plan was to create a Thailand-shaped golf course with miniatures of ancient sites for tourists.
However, once he started doing research, Lek found that many ancient sites had been left to decay and so altered his plan so the focus of Ancient Siam was education. The Ancient city of Siam therefore chronologically displays significant architectural styles from Thailand’s different eras, from the prehistoric through to the Ancient Khmer and Dvaravati.
The park was completed in 1963.
Today, Ancient Siam is a time-machine back into Thailand’s ancient past, combining replicas of known significant sites with original structures moved there for preservation. Amongst its recreations, visitors can see the Tiger King’s Palace of Phetchaburi, Preah Vihear, the Ancient Theatrical Pavilion, The Royal Stand and many more.
The entire layout of the park creates the shape of Thailand, and sites are placed corresponding to their real geographical locations. Wander through beautiful landscape gardens full of native flowers and trees, streams and lakes, dotted with toilet facilities and shops.
Each site has a sign with a detailed English name, history and location. A particular highlight at Ancient Siam is definitely the Sumeru Mountain; a golden walkway leads across a lake to an island shaped like a giant serpent, its mouth gaped open.
On the outskirts of Bangkok, the faux ancient city is easily accessible from Thailand’s capital. Open between 9am and 6pm daily, you can get a taxi to Ancient Siam after getting the BTS to Kheha station (which takes 7 minutes).
Otherwise, the free shuttle part leaves BTS Bearing Station at 11am each day and stops at the museum, or take Orange bus number 511, getting off at Paknam and getting the 36 mini-van where you pass the Ancient Siam entrance.
]]>Having banned the use of cars in the early 20th century, the question of internal transportation led to the creation of the Bermuda Railway. The 22-mile-long Bermuda Railway service served Bermuda from 1931 to 1948. During the Second World War it had particularly high usage from American and British military personnel – with the war’s end, the railway’s fortunes began to decline sharply.
Ultimately however, the high maintenance costs and low profits left the railway in a poor state and it was finally closed, to be replaced by a bus service. In 1946, automobiles were finally permitted on the island, changing the need for transport. The remaining rolling stock was shipped to British Guiana, where it continued to be used until the late 1950s.
In 1964, the trail was turned into a trail for walkers and cyclists and in 1986 it was designated as a national park.
Today, all that remains is the Bermuda Railway Trail, which provides Bermudians and visitors alike with a wonderful, alternative way to see the country. Visitors can view an array of interesting sites along the trail, including Riddell’s Bay Station and Gibbs’ Hill Lighthouse – reportedly the oldest cast iron lighthouse in the world.
While signposts are not always clear, almost all of the old right of way for the Bermuda Railway Trail (18 of the 22 miles) is still open and is used by walkers, cyclists and other enthusiasts. It’s divided into 9 sections with some gorgeous views and some steep climbs and stairs. Most people cycle the trail as you can cover much more of it in a day, so expect to see a lot of cyclists.
The trail can be accessed from multiple points on the island.
]]>In 1634, Puritan colonists purchased the land rights to the Common’s 44 acres from the first European settler of the area, Anglican minister William Blackstone. Originally, the Common included the entire block northeast of where Park Street is now, bounded by Beacon Street and Tremont Street.
It was first used by the settlers as a cow pasture and became known as the “Common Land”, used by the public to graze local livestock up until 1830.
The Common also became a site for Puritanical punishments, home to a whipping post, pillory, and stocks. Pirates, murderers, and witches were hanged from the tree known as “The Great Elm,” which is no longer there. Mary Dyer and three other Quakers were also hanged on the Common for their beliefs. A statue of Mary Dyer now stands on the Massachusetts State House lawn.
Also referred to as a “trayning field,” over 1000 Redcoats made camp on the Common during the British occupation of Boston in 1775. It was from here that three brigades of Redcoats embarked to make the fateful trip to Lexington and Concord.
True park status seems to have emerged no later than 1830, when the grazing of cows was ended by the Mayor Harrisson Gray Otis. It has since served a higher purpose and been the site of numerous formal/informal gatherings and events throughout the twentieth century.
Here, Charles Lindbergh promoted commercial aviation, while Martin Luther King Jr led Anti-Vietnam War and civil rights rallies in the 1960s. In 1979, Pope John Paul II gave Mass to a gathered crowd.
Boston Common was declared a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1987.
Almost four hundred years after its establishment, families come to this treasured remnant of 17th century Boston for leisure – to stroll, jog, skate on the Frog Pond, and play in the fields.
Visitors come to walk through the venerable historic grounds where memorials, monuments and plaques tell the story of the multitude of ways in its remarkable over 375 year history the Common has served the people.
There are numerous events and ceremonies that take place in the Common annually including Ice Skating events and Opera Series. Every year a Christmas tree is lit up in the Common along with a firework display to celebrate the new year.
Located in the heart of downtown Boston, the Common can be accessed from various different entry points. If travelling via the Subway, take the Red or Green Line to Park Street Station. Exit the station and the Visitor Information Center is 100 yards down the street.
Boston Commons Garage is an ideal place to park for those that are travelling by car. It is located in the centre of the park down Charles Street. If travelling northbound up Charles Street the garage will be on your right by the Baseball Field and visa versa if you are travelling southbound.
]]>Now a scenic park, the Burggarten is home to several statues – including ones of Mozart and Emperor Franz Joseph – as well as a butterfly house.
After Napoleon’s troops withdrew from Vienna in 1809, the fortified structures they left behind were no longer needed, and were subsequently redesigned, altered, or demolished and replaced with other structures.
One of these sites is the Burggarten, which was built as a garden to accompany the Hofburg (court palace), which was the seat of Habsburg power. Indeed, Kaiser Franz II occasionally worked in the garden himself.
Following the change from a monarchy to republic system in 1919, many streets and sites were renamed to remove the imperial connection. This meant that the Kaisergarten (Emperor’s Garden) became what we now know as the Burggarten.
The garden today is a hotspot for visitors to relax during their lunchbreak in the middle of busy Vienna, providing nice views of its palatial surroundings. Its famous Mozart statue moved to the Burggarten in 1953, and is one of Vienna’s most popular photo motifs.
There are three more statues that decorate the gardens. Hercules and the Nemean lion was created at the turn of the 19th century and was incorporated into a small fountain feature in the Burggarten pond in 1948.
There is also a statue of Franz I – husband of Empress Maria Theresa – on his horse (created in 1781, and moved to the garden in 1819). His wife has a larger monument on the other side of the road.
Finally, the statue of Emperor Franz Joseph (created in 1903, and moved to the site in 1957) is a pensive nod to the city’s history.
The gardens are also a popular filming site, with the series Vienna Blood featuring it in a scene at the end of episode 1. The park is also surrounded by the long Ringsstrassen boulevard, the Neue Burg palace wing, the butterfly house and palm house, and Goethegasse, a street named after the famous German writer.
The nearest Subway is Station Herrengasse (U3) or Museumsquartier (U2), and from there, the gardens are a short walk. Trams and buses also run regularly, with tram lines 1, 2, D or 71 to Burgring (which runs along the edge of the park) or bus 2A to Albertinaplatz taking you to right outside the park.
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Chester’s Roman past is one of Britain’s most famous, with the ancient fortress of Deva once positioned there. Deva was first built in around 70 AD by the Romans as they advanced north against the native Brigante tribe, and was rebuilt twice over the following two centuries.
When the Romans left Britain Deva was abandoned in the late 4th or early 5th century, however the civilian settlement that had grown around the fort remained, eventually becoming the city of Chester.
Originally built in 1949 by Charles Greenwood and Graham Webster, Chester Roman Gardens were designed to showcase a number of artefacts from the city’s Roman past in an open public setting. Most of the artefacts derive from the city’s 19th century excavations, with items from Deva’s most important buildings, such as its baths and legionary headquarters, now on display.
In 2000, the Gardens underwent a redesign programme, with information boards added and access to the river provided, further enriching visitor experience at the site.
Today, Chester Roman Gardens provide a scenic spot to browse the Roman ruins and relax amongst the city’s busy streets.
The Gardens contain a range of remains from local Roman sites, with highlights including columns from the Roman gymnasium and carved fascias from the Deva Victrix Roman fortress.
Also contained in the Chester Roman Gardens is a reconstructed hypocaust – the underground heating system used by the ancient Romans – and a reconstructed mosaic found in the city’s main bath house. A number of signs dotted around the gardens give useful explanations to visitors, while the nearby Chester Roman Amphitheatre is also worth a visit – it is the largest of its kind in Britain!
Chester Roman Gardens are located on Pepper Street in Chester’s city centre. From the A540, A5116, A56, A51 or A41, follow the signs into Chester City Centre and onto the ring road, then follow the signs towards Wrexham (A483). The Roman Gardens are located off the inner ring road, next to the Roman Amphitheatre. The nearest car park is on Pepper Street, while a number of bus services run to the Pepper Street stop, a 1-minute walk to the site. Chester train station is also 15-minute walk away.
]]>Incorporating Historic Jamestown and Yorktown Battlefield, together with the Cape Henry Memorial commemorating the location of the first British landings in Virginia, Colonial National Park offers a comprehensive insight into English Colonial America with, amongst other things, ranger guided tours and exhibitions.
Colonial National Historical Park is located in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia.
It protect and interprets several sites that relate to the Colony of Virginia and the history of the United States more broadly.
The site includes the Colonial Parkway, a scenic 23 mile parkway that links three points of Virginia’s Historic Triangle: Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, and Yorktown.
At the northern end of the Colonial Parkway is York County at Yorktown, which is home to both the Yorktown Battlefield and the Nelson House, which was built around 1724, and may have acted as Cornwallis’s headquarters during the final battle of the revolutionary war.
This battlefield was the site of British defeat, with the house and the historic siege earthworks being restored in 1976. Moore House, where surrender negotiations took place in 1781, is located in the eastern part of the park.
There is a preserved portion of Sir William Berkeley’s experimental ‘Green Plantation’, which was an experimental farm to attempt to develop sources of income for the colony outside of traded furs and tobacco alone. It has been left untouched since housing was destroyed there during the American Civil War (1861-1865), meaning that it is a rich archaeological site.
Finally, the Cape Henry Memorial is located off the US Route 60 on the Navy base Joint Expeditionary Base East. It marks the site of the first landing of the Captain Christopher Newport and the soon-to-be Jamestown colonists in 1607.
Today, visitors can count themselves amongst the over 3 million people who visit the park every year. Historic carriage rides are available, and it is also recommended that you hire a tour guide. There are displays that demonstrate hand carving and glass blowing techniques, as well as food that would have been eaten during the civil war.
The site is an hour or so from the city of Richmond, via the l-64 E road. There’s also a connecting bus service – mainly the Northeast Regional, then some in the locality of the site itself – which takes a little under three and a half hours.
]]>The Crystal Palace and Park were built between 1852 and 1855. It was designed to be a magnificent accompaniment to the relocated Crystal Palace, which had previously been located in Hyde Park for the Great Exhibition of 1851.
As one of the main aims of the park was to impress and educate, there was a thematic emphasis on discovery and invention. As a result, pioneering geological illustrations and full scale models of dinosaurs were added to the site.
The park officially opened in 1856. It was transformed in 1911 for the Festival of the Empire, with a railway and many buildings designed to represent the Empire being installed and remaining until the 1940s.
In 1936, The Crystal Palace was tragically destroyed by fire, after which the park experienced a period of dereliction and decay. Though a number of plans to rebuilt the Palace and redevelop the park were drawn up, none were fully implemented.
In 1937, a motor racing circuit was opened at the park, which remained in use until 1972. During the Second World War, the site became a place for military vehicle dismantling and later as a site for bomb damage rubble.
In the 1960s the Park underwent its biggest regeneration project to date, with the site being remodelled to incorporate the National Sports Centre and Athletics Stadium.
In 1986, the London Borough of Bromley took ownership of the site, with a first phase of restoration work, over approximately a third of the site, taking place between 2001 and 2003. This restoration work included the geological illustrations and life-sized dinosaurs.
Today, the park’s full-scale dinosaur models, lakes, maze, and concert bowl are popular sites amongst tourists and locals alike.
A number of regeneration projects are being proposed to further develop the park as a place of fun and recreation, and was originally intended, as well as celebration of its excellent landscape and horticulture.
The park is free to enter.
The park is served by Transport for London (buses and London Overground) and numerous rail operators.
The current Crystal Palace rail station (CYP) at the side of the park dates from the 19th century and was used by visitors to the original amusement park. Other nearby train stations include Penge West and Penge East.
There is also free parking available. The closest car park to the Dinosaurs is at the Penge entrance off Thicket Road, where there is also an information centre, public toilets, and a café. The other two car parks are accessed from Anerley Hill and Crystal Palace Park Road.
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The 40,000 acre Helmsley estate became Dunscombe Park in 1694 when it was bought by Charles Duncombe. However, it was his nephew Thomas Duncombe who commissioned the Italianate baroque mansion in 1711. The Rievaulx Terrace, built in 1758 by Thomas Duncombe II, was originally land owned by Rievaulx Abbey before it was seized during the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII.
Thomas had two neo-classical temple ‘follies’ built on the terrace: the first, a domed Dionic Temple with a floor paved with tiles from the abbey. The second, an Ionic Temple intended for banqueting. Both ‘follies’ were set within Duncombe’s impressive 18th century English landscape garden.
The property was passed down the Duncombe family, including Charles Slingsby Duncombe, Member of Parliament and High Sheriff of Yorkshire for 1790-1, who built an extensive art collection there.
Dunscombe Park became a girls’ school from 1914-1980, although the Rievaulx Terrace and temples were acquired by the National Trust in 1972. After 1985, the house was restored to the family home by the 6th earl Feversham. For fans of period drama, Dunscombe Park was later used during filming for the 2012 TV mini-series Parade’s End as fictional Groby Hall.
Duncombe Park provides ample opportunities for time travelling despite the great house being closed to the public. Visitors can still enjoy Duncombe’s vast estate, including discovery trails and orienteering courses, the great lawn, a scented ‘secret garden’, and a walk through medieval parkland to find the valley’s ancient trees.
The Ionic Temple’s basement also currently holds an exhibition on English landscape design in the 18th century, and the central table is still set as if for a meal. Be sure to also visit the National Centre for Birds of Prey, to which Duncombe Park has been home since 2013.
Duncombe Park is located one mile south-west of Helmsley, a 1.3 mile walk from the town centre. If driving, Dunscombe Park is reached on the A19 via Thirsk, or the B1257 from York. For those using public transport, you can get the 31X bus from York to Helmsley and walk 1.3 miles through the estate.
]]>Hauz Khas literally translates as the ‘royal tank’ in Farsi, and the large water tank was built in the late 13th century by Allauddin Khilji so that the inhabitants of the surrounding city of Siri would have a year-round water supply. The tank would have collected water during the monsoon to effectively supply people throughout most of the dry season. The original tank is believed to have spanned over 100 acres, and was roughly 4m deep, providing a huge area to collect water in.
In the 14th century, a mosque and madrasa were built by Feruz Shah overlooking the tank (although it really looks like a lake). Only the ruins of the madrasa are still standing today, although during its heyday, it was regarded the largest, and possibly best Islamic seminary in the world, especially following the Sack of Baghdad.
Feruz Shah’s tomb also overlooks the tomb: an enlightened ruler who commissioned monuments across the Delhi area as well as public works buildings including mosques, hospitals and public baths. He championed pioneering architectural styles and irrigation projects in order to further prosperity and culture in his kingdom.
The tomb he built himself is relatively austere in style: it uses a mixture of Indian and Islamic architectural styles and motifs. The interior of the tomb is topped with an 8.8m high dome and was constructed using quartzite rubble with a plaster finish to add lustre.
Today, the buildings at Hauz Khas are in ruins, although they are still open to be explored. Steps from every level of the ruined madrasa descend down to the lake, and it’s well worth taking the time to wander through and marvel at how this building would have been in its prime.
The adjacent Deer park makes for a pleasant stroll and also contains more ruined tombs from roughly the same era. The modern day suburb of Hauz Khas encloses the deer park and ruins, and makes for a pleasant afternoon walking round.
Hauz Khas is located in South Delhi, about 10km from the India Gate. The Magenta line on the Delhi Metro runs through the suburb, and annoyingly, the nearest station to the complex is not in fact Hauz Khas but R.K. Puram. Taxis or tuk tuks will not be expensive, but bear in mind the journey may take up to an hour from central Delhi due to the dire traffic – metro will almost certainly be quicker.
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