Wisbech

Wisbech is a market town in the Fens of Cambridgeshire. It is also an inland port with a tidal river called the River Nene. There is likely to have been a settlement here since the Iron Age and Wisbech is mentioned in the Domesday Book.

In the 17th century the town benefitted from the draining of the Fens which turned Wisbech into a prosperous port town. There used to be a canal which joined the RRiver Nene near the town centre but this was filled in and now serves as a dual carriageway. Wisbech Castle was built by William I in 1072, destroyed by flooding in 1236 and rebuilt and extended at various stages of its life to the mansion house structure that you see today which is used for weddings and events.

Wisbech has a large population of Eastern Europeans who originally came over to work on the farms. Wisbech is known for its fine architecture mainly of Georgian origin.  Wisbech is home to  Peckover House, a National Trust property which is open to visitors.

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Nottingham

Think Nottingham and you automatically associate it with Robin Hood. This city is just 30 miles south of Sheffield and of equal distance to Leicester. It was once part of the Kingdom of Mercia. The 11th Century Nottingham Castle has a chequered past and is known for the fact that it was besieged by King Richard the Lionheart upon his return from the Crusades and also as the place of the final showdown between the Sheriff of Nottingham and Robin Hood.

Nottingham is also famous as the home of the famous brand of Raleigh Bicycles. The castle on the sandstone hill is not the 11th century castle at all but a more recent structure in the form of a mansion built by the Duke of Newcastle in the late 17th century. This in itself was burned down by rioters in 1831 and today the building has been partly restored to house the city Museum and Art Collections.

Nottingham was notorious in the Industrial Era as a slum city. The housing conditions were atrocious with poor sanitary conditions and serious sewage and litter problems. In 1831 there were riots in the city which were caused when Parliament decided against reform to give Britain's industrial cities and towns better representation.

Modern day Nottingham is a very popular tourist destination and holds events throughout the year. This busy city has an excellent transport system and some good independent and branded shops with plenty of restaurants and cafes for the visitor. 

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Derby

Derby is situated on the River Derwent just 14 miles from Nottingham. With a population of approximately 250,000 it is home to the first factory in the world - Lombe's Mill and arguably the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Derby was also an important strategic home for the British Railways Industry.

Derby today is known for its transport manufacturing with its Rolls-Royce aircraft engines, Toyota Cars at Burnaston and the last remaining train manufacturer Derby Carriage and Wagon Works or Derby Litchurch Lane Works as it is now called.

Historically Derby suffered in the same way as Nottingham with its notorious slum housing estates, the majority of which were cleared during the 1930's. The city of Derby today has a vibrant town centre as the Gateway to the Peak District and as the UK's most central city it has good access to the rest of the UK via road or rail.

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Holmfirth

Holmfirth is situated just 6 miles from Huddersfield in the Holme Valley. Surrounded by stunning countryside this small town developed around an old corn mill and bridge which dates back to the 13th century. The old English meaning for Holmfirth or Holm Frith is Holly Wood or Holme Woods. 

Like most Yorkshire towns and villages the inhabitants prospered through textules. Holfirth in more recent times benefits from having the Peak District National Park on its doorstep and from its new found fame as the home of the BBC comedy "Last of the Summer Wine". Visitors can actually use Sid's Cafe and even take a special tour of the town in a vintage vehicle which starts off from the famous cafe.

Holmfirth has another claim to fame through its sacuy seaside postcards by the firm Bamforth & Co. The town is a picturesque mix of stone cottages and houses. Tourism is the main revenue for the town which is susceptible to flooding. Local Agriculture is still thriving and one of the towns main employers at Longly farm has one of the leading Jersey herds in Europe. The town has some good restaurants cafes and independent shops.

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Mirfield Monastery

The Community of the Resurrection  was founded in Oxford in 1892 by a priest named Charles Gore. Originally from Oxford the community moved to Mirfield in 1898.

The monks at the Resurrection are Anglican and the community is dedicated to the mystery of Christ's resurrection. The worship of God is at the heart of community life and anyone is welcome to attend their services.

The monks lead a quiet and dedicated life and also run a bed and breakfast facility. For a very reasonable fee visitors get clean, adequate accommodation including breakfast and the opportunity to walk around and explore the extensive gardens and grounds of the monastery.

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