History of Norwich

As I have shared with you previously we will be staying with my girlfriend Dawn and her family in Norwich for the first 10 days of our vacation before we head on to Ireland. I have given you some history on one of the Pubs that she will be taking us too. Well I think I got a little ahead of myself. I should have given you some history on Norwich first! Silly me! So today I am going to do just that!  And if I get anything incorrect I am sure that Dawn will pipe in and correct me LOL!

Darryl and Dawn ( I just love them!)

Norwich is the Capital of Norfolk, and was once the second only to London in importance, growing out of several small Saxon settlements at the lowest point along the Wensum River. Before the Norman Conquest of 1066, Norwich was one of the largest towns in England. The Conquerors built a Castle and a Cathedral(Anglican) and established a new Market Place which is still in use today and was refurbished in 2005.

Over the centuries Norwich has been the scene of many riots and has suffered attacks by rebels and fires. Perhaps the most famous incident was the 1549 Ketts Rebellion. Robert Kett and his brother led a mob protesting against closures of land in Wymondham: they threw down the fences in the locality and then with growing confidence, marched on Norwich itself. Kett and his followers camped on Mousehold Heath about 2 miles from the City Centre. The Kings army eventually defeated the rebellion and the rebel leaders were hung, Robert Kett was hanged at Norwich Castle.

Despite the damage done to the City during this and other rebellions and heavy bombing during World War II. Norwich has survived the ravages of time so well.
Fortunately the most important historic buildings escaped severe damage during the two World Wars and other incidents that took place from time to time and much historic interest remains within the boundaries of its ancient walls.

And just another little tid bit of information that I personally found fascinating, It is believed that during the Iron Age a tribe of Celts called the Iceni, which was lead by the famous Queen Boudica (died 60 AD) was thought to have been near (within 25 miles) Norwich.  She was an amazing woman who lead her people to rise up against the mighty Roman army and almost defeated them.

Norwich Castle

Norwich Cathedral

Queen Boudica

Statue of Queen Boudica



Well, there you go folks, that is just a little information for you on Norwich. Oh! I did forget to tell you that Norwich is also one of the oldest medieval cities in England  next to London I do believe. Dawn says she has quite a bit planned for us. And knowing her I am sure she does! She shares alot of the same interest as I do. One of them being the paranormal. And being that Norwich has such a history I am sure there is alot of paranormal activity that goes on there. And I am really looking forward to getting out there and investigating some of these places!  I am taking my digital voice recorder along with me, so who knows maybe I will get lucky and capture an evp or two! wouldn't that be great!!!
Well as I sit here we have 187 days to go still. The 187 days is going to by so darn slow, but I am sure that once we get there our 10 days with Dawn and Daryl will go by in the blink of an eye!!!! I cant wait to see her face to face and to be able to just wrap my arms around her and just hug her! She has been there for me thru so much.  She was there with her words of comfort and encouragement thru Mom's illness and subsequent passing. Funny how you can rely so heavily on someone you have never physically met before. But she has been an incredible source of strength for me. Our first night in Norwich is going to be a long night! I am sure that we will be up all night just talking! Laughing, crying and having a Beer or two! Boy our poor husbands might as well just go down to the local pub for dinner and a few beers! hahahah

Well, back to counting the days and researching more of the history of the place we will be going to so I can share it with you all!!


Till the next time! 

Norwich

OK Kiddies, here's another history lesson for you! But this time I am gonna put a different spin on it. For you see, here I am talking all about Ireland and where we are going and what we will do, That I am leaving out another very important part of our journey. So, before I give you your next history lesson. Let me tell you a story about how two strangers from different sides of the world met and became best friends! I will try and give you the condensed version!

You see approximately 4 yrs ago when I had a myspace page i was just doing a search to see who else out there had the same interest as I did. Not necessarily looking to talk to that person, just merely checking out profiles. Well, I came across this profile of a lady who's screen name was Aurora and she lived in Norwich England. Now here comes the hard part to explain, something in me just told me to send her a message. There was just this feeling that came over me, a feeling of familiarity, I don't know how else to explain it. Long story short she responded, we began talking back and forth, after a while we became pen pals writing letters back and forth. Eventually we began talking on the telephone and we both realized that we just had this connection that again felt familiar, like we had known each other forever. So that is when we started to call each other "Sister Across the Sea" or SAS for short. So when Dan and I decided to go to Ireland, I knew that I had to go to Norwich and see Dawn (oops sorry forgot to mention that her real name is Dawn! ) So when we fly into London Dan and I will then take a train to Norwich and spend the next week with Dawn and her husband Daryl and their daughter Sabrina.  I am really looking forward to seeing her face to face. I have spoke with her several times regarding our trip and she has lots of places she wants to take us while we are there in Norwich. Norwich has quite a deep history.  And I am really looking forward to seeing some of the beautiful sights! There is even a few Haunted locations she plans to show me! And if you know me, you know how much I chomping at the bit to get there and do that!

So now, let me get on to your history lesson! Today's lesson is on The Adam and Eves Pub in Norwich. So I hope you enjoy this lesson. And there will be a pop quiz next week. LOL

Adam and Eve Pub:

Its believed that this pub goes back to 1249 when an army of stonemasons working on the Norwich Cathedral needed a place to eat and drink during construction. It seems that in Saxon times there was a well beneath what is now the lower bar, the oldest part of the pub. Monks from the Great Hospital , just down the road, were the first owners. They were known as great brewers, for medicinal purposes of course. In those days before they had drinks like tea and coffee, water being home to harmful bacteria was often too dangerous to drink. So people drank diluted "small" beer for their health-- particularly children. It was the monks who added living accommodations.
In 1578, during Queen Elizabeth I's grand visit to Norfolk, she passed by the pub during a procession to a torch-lit pageant on the river- its not recorded if she popped in for a pint. Since those days the Adam and Eve has been home to an assortment of characters; from monks to smugglers, from cathedral choristers to notorious murderer or two. It even has two recorded ghosts!

What about the ghosts you ask? Well the ghost of one of the medieval french speaking monks supposedly buried beneath the floorboards in the downstairs bar has been glimpsed. Far more famous is "Sam". This apparently friendly ghost is said to be the Lord Sheffield. In 1549 Norwich erupted into violence when Wymondham landowner Robert Kett's rebels stormed the city. the fighting raged from the Bishops Bridge into Norwich, where Sheffield an officer in the Royal Army, was mortally wounded. His men carried him into the Adam and Eve, where he died. Regulars to this day claim he occasionally makes off with a coat or scarf--which is usually returned the next day, or he taps you on the shoulder. Either way, there's no cause for alarm. Today the pub is the starting and finishing point for the popular city ghost walk.


Well kiddies, That is today's lesson. I hope that you enjoyed it!  Do check back for your next lesson. For I am not sure what, who or where it will be about yet! Please feel free to leave me a comment or two and let me know if you are enjoying my tid bits of information :-)

Until Next time........

Loughcrew

OK folks here it is, This is another place on the ever growing list of places we would like to see!

So let me give you a little history of Loughcrew:

Loughcrew Carins also known as "The Hill's of the Witch" are group of Neolithic passage tombs dating to 3000 BC.  They are situated atop a range of hills on the western border of the county Meath.  On one side of the hills are Lakes and lowlands of Cavan, while the other side is bordered  by the Boyne Valley and its rivers.   The Boyne river according to legend is personification of Boinn, the white cow Goddess.

Loughcrew with its more then 30 chambered Carins, contains the highest concentration of ancient sacred architecture in all of Ireland (though Carrowmore covers the largest area).

It is not currently known what were the exact function of the passage cairns. Archaeological excavations have revealed burial remains in only a few of the passage cairns and it is no longer believed that the cairns and great mounds functioned as burial sites. Contemporary scholarship regards the passage cairns more as sacred places associated with life, rebirth and regeneration.   It is also important to consider the solar alignments of the passage ways leading into the cairns. Perhaps, at ritually meaningful times of the year such as the solstices and equinoxes when the light of the sun shown directly along the passage ways, the megalithic people would utilize the cairns as places of ceremony whereby they would co-participate with the earth spirits in the continuing regeneration of life.

Well there you have it folks,  a little history on Loughcrew. I hope you enjoy my little history lessons. 

Here we stand with still 191 days to go. And I find myself looking over my ever growing list of the places we would like to see while we are there.  I am seriously starting to think that its time to go over this list again and downsize it abit! Part of me is actually considering throwing the list out the window all together! I mean IT"S IRELAND!!!  its not a place to be seen on a time schedule.  Ireland should be experienced, not rushed through! So,... who knows, I may do just that, throw that list right out the window and say "Screw it! we will go where ever the road takes us!"  I don't want to come home from this once in a lifetime vacation feeling regret. I want to be able to just get in the car and go, drive thru the beautiful Irish countryside and see where the Gods lead us. Put it in their hands and let them lead us where they will.

Don't get me wrong, I will still have my list of the highlighted places we want to see, and if we get to em, we get to em.  Yes, I do believe that is what we are going to do. Only seems right.  Ireland should be experienced not done. Its not just a random thing on a bucket list. This is not only for me, or for my husband, this is for my parents. This is the dream they never got to fulfill.


Why yes........ I do believe Ireland should be experienced not done.

Biddys Early's Homestead

Ok so since we have 196 days (yes I really am counting!) before we leave I thought that I would start telling you all about some of the places we hope to see and give you what history I can about them . On a recent web search of ancient places in Ireland I came across Biddy Early's Homestead . After reading just the first few lines I knew I had to go there! If you know me you know that I am a very spiritual person. I don't follow any certain path. Some people may consider my way to be pagan or wiccan I consider my belief to be more of an Earthbound religion. And I think that is what attracted me to Biddy Early's Homestead.  So let me tell you about Biddy Early.

Biddy Early was a  famous Irish seer and healer she was often identified as Biddy "The Healer", "The Wise Woman", "The Witch" and this is the site of the remains of her homestead. It is located on a country road about 2 miles outside of Feakle Eastern County Clare, just north of the city of Limerick. The path that leads to her home is over grown and you apparently really need to know where the spot is. Once you know where it is, its just a short walk up the path  and at the top are the remains of her home. Which they say is over grown with ivy and other plants.





Road to Biddy's Homestead

                                             






Path to Biddy's



Biddy's Place



Doorway to Biddy's Home



The History of Biddy  Early:

Born Bridget Ellen Connors in lower Faha near Kilanena County Clare in 1798, Biddy was the daughter of a small land farmer, John Thomas Connors and his wife Ellen Early. Biddy is described as being small in statue and pretty. While she married four times she always used her mother's maiden name, believing that her gifts were inherited through the female line, Her mother taught her all about herbs and how to make potions, just as her own  mother had taught her.

At the age of 16 when both of her parents died within 6 months of each other Biddy found herself evicted from her family home and forced to work as a serving girl in the nearby towns of Feakle and Ennis. In 1817 she met and married widower Pat Mally, a middle-aged man from Gurteenreagh, who died a short time later. After the death of her first husband, she married his son, her "stepson" John Mally with whom she had a son called Paddy. Her son Paddy died when he was just 8 yrs old, of Typhus a common sickness in those days. After which Biddy started to use her healing powers giving out herbal cures tied-up in small sachets and liquid potions in small bottles with strict instructions for how they should be used.

Biddy's powers of clairvoyance are credited to a mysterious dark blue bottle. How this "magic" bottle came to her possession has become part of her myth and legend. Some say her late husband Pat Mally gave it to her before he died or that her son before he died. Others believe that it came to her from the "sidhe" (Fairies). There are some stories that say she had a way with the sidhe. That she had often stayed among them as a child. And that she could see and talk to them in their own language, which was different from Gaelic and that they taught her how to use her gifts.

During the Nineteenth century, superstitious belief in fairies and all things apparently supernatural was very strong, and when something happened that appeared to be miraculous, without aid of the church, it was commonly and easily attributed to witchcraft and the devil. As such the local church viewed Biddy with suspicion, and all the local clergy were totally opposed to her. As her fame spread they even tried to warn off people who went to visit her. One story of the churches opposition occurred in 1865. While visiting friends in Ennis, Biddy was charged with Witchcraft under the 1586 statute, however the case was dismissed due to lack of sufficient evidence. Many local people stood their ground against the clergy, maintaining she did nothing but good work.

Biddy died in April of 1873 having survived the great famine of 1846, several husbands, and a son. Although she had been at odds with the church for years, with the approach of death and what must have taken great humility and her inimitable courage, she made her peace and repented to the parish priest. She dies a peaceful death a few hours later. Apparently twenty seven priests attended her funeral and the parish priest asked the people to pray for her soul.

Efforts were made in the late 1960's to restore Biddy's cottage, by a local man Dr. Bill Loughnane T.D. the cottage was reconstructed and furnished with pieces of that period, but apparently nothing but misfortune followed him and the project was abandoned. It now stands abandoned and barely more then shell of what it once was.  The area in and around her home is alive with her energy and you can no doubt feel that she is present. They say that visiting this site will sway any non-believers that Biddy and her legend lives on.

I look forward to finding Biddy's Homestead and standing there where this amazing woman once lived and feeling this incredible energy that must still be there. And I will be sure to leave an offering for Biddy before I leave. They say that is the proper thing to do. That it is a sign of respect. Which this woman so rightly deserves. They say offerings of Whiskey, coins or jewelry are most welcome. I think I will leave her a little whiskey and a coin or two.  Every good Irishman will tell ya that there is nothing better then the taste of good whiskey and the sound of a coin or two in your pocket!



Its a Beginning!

So all my life I have dreamt of going to Ireland. It was even my parents dream. They talked about it often. They said that some day they were going to go when my brother and I were grown and out of the house and they had saved enough money that they were going to go. But towards the end of Moms life she said to me that is was just their "pipe dream" something they would talk about. They would sit and have long discussion of where they wanted to go and what they would do there. So my entire life I have grown up with the same dream. The dream of walking the along the rolling green hills and standing next the beautiful stone walls. Hard to believe that my dream is actually going to be coming true!  Dan and I have been saving for this for quite some time. I didn't want it to be just a "pipe dream" for me. I wanted to be able to go no matter how long it took me to save up to go. And with having lost Mom this past June it has pushed me all that much more to go.  As a tribute to my parents I will be taking ( well sneaking is more like it) some of their ashes with me and spreading them in all over Irealnd. But there are  two places in particular, one is in a little village called Cong which is where the movie "The Quiet Man" with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara was filmed as this was one of Mom and Dads favorite movies and the other place is Maguires Bridge in the County Fermagnah as that is where I have been able to trace some of Mom's ancestors back too.
With the Blog I am hoping to keep friends and family posted  on our travels. I will do the best I can to write daily while we are there and to post pictures.

Our Travel Plans:

We will be flying out of LAX on Aug 31 to London where we will be staying with my Girlfriend Dawn and her family. By the way for those of you who don't know. Dawn is my sister across the sea. We have become  great friends since the day we  "met" on myspace about 4 yrs ago now I think. We write and talk on the phone often however this will be the first time we will actually get to see each other face to face and we are both quite excited!
anyway so we will be spending a week with Dawn and her family in Norwich. Then we will fly back out of London to Dublin on September 10 from there we will be in Ireland until September 29 when we are due to fly back to London then back to the US. Our plan is to just drive all over Ireland. Go where we want to go and see what we want to see!

Well feel free to post any comments you want as I will do the best I can to keep up!  I also have a facebook acct where I will be posting pictures (probably on a more regular basis then here to be honest) so if you have a facebook acct and would like to add me you can find me under Maureen Hill Jensen.

Well I will keep you all posted on how things are going as the time gets closer!