I live in the Cotswolds and, sadly, I do take it for granted. For me, all this great stuff is just normal. Thanks for reminding me that I should probably take more notice. Great video and channel. 👍🇺🇲🇬🇧
I grew up in east London. I never took for granted where I was….a complete crud hole. I wasn’t prepared to raise my own children in London, so, because my husband is Australian, we moved to Australia. It’s beautiful here. Do you think my husband stops to look at the beauty often? Does he heck, he doesn’t notice how stunning the surrounding is, because he’s used to it. The birds, the beaches, the mountains….he takes them all for granted. 🌹
Connor, what a perceptive comment, that time is one of the things that makes our country so attractive. The British blood in your veins is what makes you drawn to the UK and gives you spine tingles 💕
Indeed. And historically, the upper classes and landed gentry were 'genteel' meaning they were not the common, rough, uncultured lower classes and serfs.
I, as a Dutchman, visited the Cotswolds many times in the 70's and 80's, I really fell in love with this region. I fully understand what you talk about. American cities and villages almost always miss that historic center, an old church or market place. In Europe when we visit another city or village, we always look for the central point there, were the café's and terraces are and where you can feel the heart of the city and mostly inaccessible by cars. Go in Google maps and try to find the city center in any European citiy (almost always easy), do the same thing in the U.S., it's impossible because there is none. A lack of (historic) heart.
Well said...Although there are some beautiful places in the US they tend to be natural...what I mean is the beauty in the US is generally not skyscapers etc...In England the beauty is natural but also man-made in the buildings, streets and details...the same is true of most of Europe that I've seen.
European cities are like pearls they started as small settlements and grew outwords over many hundreds of years having a natural concentric nature in their growth a large part of that being for defence
Yes!! In Australia too there very often isn’t a “centre” of a town. I was so confused at first always looking for a centre and sometimes there just isn’t one or there’s a main road with shops on and that’s it. I’m still completely thrown by it’s lack of a proper centre where everything happens. The post office, station etc..
I'm not religious, but loving history and architecture I visit as many churches and cathedrals as I can...exploring the behind the scenes details, construction and undercrofts can reveal medieval and roman foundations taking you back further...
In one video he went off on one about how we're a disgusting empire or something. That's Americans main interest in UK history and what they start with to big themselves up as supposedly being better. After that it's trying to make money with views.
You asked about how people know when to say "Amen" in a service. You usually get an order of service, which will give you prompts for what to say at which moment.
Connor you may find this video very interesting, around 25 years ago a team decided to build a medieval castle in France using the methods of that time period, the series was called Secrets of the castle, all in around 4.5 hours, this is an abridged update; ruclips.net/video/Ajqort8ldXA/видео.html
I wish there was more Americans like you Connor in the US because most talk about how proud they are of their Irish roots, like Joe Biden, but I never hear about Americans being proud of their English, Welsh or Scottish roots, except Donald Trump, who’s proud of his Scottish heritage. It’s like why is ST. Patrick’s day celebrated more then ST. Andrew’s Day, ST. David’s Day, and ST. George’s Day, the patron saints of Britain. Why aren’t they all celebrated with the same appreciation. 🇺🇸🤝🇬🇧🤝🇮🇪
There's a hilarious comedy show called 'This Country' which shows a completely different side to living in The Cotswolds. Namely if you're someone born (relatively) poor & not the most, um, intellectually gifted shall we say. Not quite so idyllic for them (or the earnest vicar who tries to help).
I visited the Berkshires in MA and the surrounding area a few years back, so I understand your pride in New England. I am also fortunate to live in Oxford, with the city's many historic buildings, and the Cotswold villages and towns a short drive away. The importance of wool to medieval England is reflected in the fact that the Speaker of the House of Lords still sits on 'the woolsack'.
Honestly, Connor I don't mind you pausing. When you pause the video it's often accompanied by your jaw dropping and a look of wonderment in your eyes at a beautiful scene - it's very touching actually and conveys beautifully the emotion you are feeling. Sometimes it will be to make a relevant comment or ask a question which, judging from all the comments your followers are always eager to answer in illuminating ways. It's what gives your channel its sense of community and charm. Keep up the great work :) Much love from Old Blighty!
Pepys was responsible for naval shipbuilding and supplies. He found out the navy was being ripped off and the sailors were supplied with very poor food. Later, they stopped building ships individually and started to make standard fittings for ropes and sails so that, if a piece of kit broke or was blow up, they’d have an identical one in stock to fit quickly. Same goes for nails. Previously they didn’t have standard nail sizes.
As an English woman I enjoy watching your face during these videos, & find myself hoping that 1 day you can spend a long time over here, to explore this very varied group of islands for several months. For me the many ancient buildings gives a sense of "roots". I lived in N Wiltshire for 40 years & walked miles over the grassy & gently rolling hills. Yet even here, the landscape was all man made from over 4,000 years of agriculture & human habitation - as if even the soil speaks His - story / our story to us. We do have 2 original wooden ships. There is Lord Nelson's flag ship "The Victory" at Greenwich, London. (A modern replica of the ship used by John Cabot & has been sailed to America, now in Bristol). We also have the recently salvaged wreck of Henry 8th's flag ship the "Marie Rose".
Although slightly off topic try and watch ' Building of a medieval castle. Secrets of the castle.' It's a project in France showing a castle being rebuilt with methods of the day.
I have been to the top of the bell tower in Durham Cathedral when 12 O'clock started to peel. Our guide told us not to panic when the tower started to sway, he told us it was built to sway as otherwise the tower would eventually collapse...very unnerving!
I was raised CofE, but I lapsed decades ago. Yet, entering an ancient church or cathedral gives me a wonderful feeling that I cannot explain. I put it down more to the feeling of history, imagining the people who have been there before me and how important their religion was to them. Going down into the crypt in St Mungo's in Glasgow, I was fascinated by the worn steps and wondered which feet had caused the stone to wear away so much over time.
We are very lucky to live in the UK. We see the Gadarene rush to the "continong" every year, yet there are so many jewels to be found in our own backgarden.
Connor, I’m beginning to think that you must have lived a former life in a rural place in England. You certainly seem to respond instantly and strongly to images including rural vistas. Maybe you should get some family history researched and even get a DNA test to check out of you have family from England.
Have lived here in the Cotswolds now for 40 years and never get tired of exploring the villages and towns. Like you, I'm not a religious person but I do marvel at the skills to make the churches and cathedrals. Recently visited Chichester Cathedral where they can list their Bishops as far back to around 608AD. The Cathedral is obviously later, but during repairs they found 6 Roman rooms underneath with mosaic floors. As you say, the spectrum of time.
as much as we all long for living in the postcard pictures of these places, i think its really worthwhile to have a look on rightmove or other property websites and find out more. youll learn that they are massively overpriced, seriously cramped, low ceilings, the historic buildings are too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer, you cant renovate the properties without planning permission, snail pace internet speeds, no local shops, zero public transport. no where to park your car and nobody is given planning permission to have driveways or garages. youd have to PAY ME to live in one of these postcard villages, id happily move to the country but id stay out of these picturesque villages, they are a nightmare for anyone used to amenities.
Admiral Nelson is buried in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral. This is another stunning place to visit in London, but is in a different style of architecture and was designed by Christopher Wren.
I've worked on Derby Cathedral you can see where the stone Masons Chisled Holes into the Stone block's for Wooden Scaffolding then pointed the holes up .
Hiya Conor, have you done the Rick Steves vlog on Lake District and Durham? its a real good one, I've only visited York once that was 32 years ago (1991), it was the nicest day ever, this is Choppy in Whitehaven, Cumberland, England
There's nothing stopping you from packing up your bags and coming to live here.just think all the places you've seen on the videos you can have it all.
Yes Connor, the masons yards were directly on the build site often against/very near the walls. The stones brought in were usually roughed at the quarry to avoid moving/transporting overweight poorly shaped stone. At the build site they were finally cut, carved and shaped, if complexity of shape warranted, to wooden templates and when ready, hoisted aloft to to be placed in position. Mortar was applied by ordinary builders, reserving the shaping to trained stonemasons. Then on with the next piece, not hurried but a carefully planned precision plan to keep the build rattling along without unnecessary pauses and perhaps with a staff of masons and builders of some 10 in number for small projects, and many many more for a cathedral perhaps 300 plus feet in length. Moving stones from the quarry, this was the first time quarried stone was moved, the stone being sorted and roughed to size with information of sizes submitted by the masons. Any particular sized individual stones would be mentioned and probably included in a weekly "order" and for larger builds broken down in smaller one day and 2 day periods to keep work flowing smoothly on site. All this quarry work being stone which was roughed to standard sizes required and with quantities, this would enable organisation of a steady supply. At quarry it would be usual (essential) to mark every stone "this way up" as stone weathers correctly when it is placed in right position to match its original "bed" position/situation in the quarry strata. Offcuts, small pieces of stone waste from the shaping at quarry would often be required for filling/packing the core of the walls, as would some of the larger waste at build site. Very small stone waste would sometimes be mixed into the mortar to bulk it, but not in finer high class work where closer fitting stonework would be the order of the day.
You're right about the term 'Dark Ages'; it was misused in the video you were reacting to. The word used to describe Henry VI was 'genteel', meaning 'upper class, elegant, well-dressed'. Nelson and Wellington were buried in St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London rather than in Westminster Abbey.
York Minister is built on the remains of the Forum of the Roman Fort, Eboracum founded in AD70. The remains can be visited in the crypt. They found a drain some years back and put some dye down it which ended up in the River Ouse. There are two Roman Emperors, Caracalla and Constantius, who was Constantine the Great's father, buried in York somewhere near the railway station, but they've not been found yet. Constantine the Great was declared Emperor by the northern legions in York in AD 306.
Constantius is actually buried at Wroxeter, mistaken for York. This is in the British records, and his stone is there . . . somewhere. Sorry I don't know exactly where. I think it's in 'The Holy Kingdom'.
@@marchellabrahams ah that's probably why they haven't found him then. The amount of Emperors traveling through York during the period AD70 to 410AD makes it more than a bit confusing. Still that's one less to find.
Haha, just come in from checking the roof on our Anglo-Saxon church. Torrential rain yesterday in Oxford and our old roof has leaked. So that's fundraising for the foreseeable future. Lovely, extremely lovely, but the upkeep is no joke!!
I visited some of big cities like London and Birmingham and they are beautiful but the English coutriside is something else... The small villages, old houses, churches the green hills, the sheep and stonewalls it's like the time stands still, like something right from a fairytale. It's stunning. I tell everyone who wants to visit England - same goes for Scotland and Ireland - not to go just for the famous cities because the coutriside of the British Islands are simply marvelous.
I used to live near Hexham Abbey which was first built in the 6th century. I am not religious but it's wonderful to go visit and see hundreds of years of history. Sometimes you can sit and listen to the choir practice, just so peaceful. Old churches are amazing to go investigate. A local town has an old church with a stone roof because it kept getting burned by revenge attacks with the Border reivers.
"Rector" and "Vicar" are both common titles for Anglican ministers. The difference is that the Rector "owned" his church (RECTE, "by right") and the Vicar was technically somebody else's deputy, so history decides which title is used in any parish.
The Cotswolds are a magnificent place to visit. My favourite area is around Bourton on the water, Upper and Lower Slaughter. Bourton on the water is a remarkable village, with a minature village, and a bird sanctuary. Always a great day out, plus, an excellent walking area.
I lived there for a year and it was just too neat and pretty and controlled. I’m much prefer areas like Norfolk and Northumberland beautiful un- touristy , beaches and equally historic places.
Steam Engines, and iron ships are both pretty recent inventions. At the time both where in their ascendant in the UK, the Monarch of the time (Queen Victoria) had a similar idea to you. She gathered all the best inventions, discoveries, and industries that Britain had made (and stolen) and put them all on display for the world to see, in: 'The Great Exhibition' of 1851. Please look this event up its was fascinating, and was the catalyst for many of London's greatest sights, museums, and landmarks (Crystal Palace and more). Victoria was a visionary, and despite the Parliament of the time initially turning her down, she still convinced by explaining the event would be 'self funding' which it was. However it was so popular that it actually made a huge profit, which was later put into a 'trust' to finance other related projects, including the Science museum, the Natural History museum and the Victoria and Albert museum. All three of which housed may of the artifacts previously shown in 'the Great Exhibition', and went on to fund more explorations, education, and science discoveries. The three buildings (and some others) are also examples of new, and beautiful building techniques invented with them. The Story of Crystal Palace is also remarkable, and linked to the Great Exhibition. I'll let you discover that. A large part of the reason the Great Exhibition was so successful, was that it happened just after 'Railway Boom' from the mid 1840's, This was when Britain's railways network was massively expanded, so that most people in the country had access to rail travel (and frieght). Whole communities traveled together to go to London and visit the Great Exhibition. These were people who had mostly lived and died for generations all in the same village, suddenly been granted access to travel and to marvels they'd only heard of. Practically the whole nation paid homage and traveled too Queen Victoria's Great Exhibition. Please read more about Victoria too, fascinating person who was molded by a strict upbringing, but still became her person who followed her own passions, interests, and romance too. Who without doubt left a lasting impact on her country.
I think you mean the Great Exhibition of 1851. Although we did have a “Festival of Britain” in 1951. That was intended to cheer up the Brits after six years of war plus more years of total austerity when with the war over but we were stoney broke. Absolutely stoney broke, with food rationing affecting everyone. (One egg per person per week!!)
I moved to England over a decade ago and I was initially mesmerised by London (as most are)...I have since travelled up and down the country. It is a stunningly beautiful country. Hard to describe just how green and simple and beautiful...(I am not doing a good job right now I know lol)...
Admiral Lord Nelson is in St. Paul's Cathedral with his coffin on top of a column. You have to pay to visit the Crypt but there is a tearoom on the Later Noster Square side of the Cathedral by the main steps which was part of the crypt but is separated from it by a series of columns with gaps between through which you can see Nelson's coffin. The 2nd Secretary of the Royal Navy in 1805 was distantly related to me and he was the man that two warships of the fleet raced back to London to bring news of Nelson's death to him and he arranged the funeral.
It's funny, because I'm British and almost never grasp the beauty of the English and British countryside except when I see it through the eyes of an American like you. Then instantly I can see a fairy tale, picture postcard England. Remember that America was Britain that decided to go off for an adventure in foreign lands. Britain is the Britain that stayed behind. It is not surprising that allot of Americans will look back at their motherland with a sense of longing.
I was waiting to see how long it would take you to mention how green the grass is! What you described at your uncles funeral sounds like Holy communion where you receive a wafer or piece of bread to represent the body of Christ and some wine which represents the blood of Christ. In the UK you normally have to have been confirmed into the church of England or the Catholic church to receive communion.
lovely comments about mental welfare at the end, Connor. I don't think anyone has answered this, anywhere below, so FYI, Wellesley (the Duke of Wellington) and Nelson are both buried at St Paul's Cathedral in London
In Britain we have centuries of history in a very small space . Come and see Carlisle Cathedral (2nd smallest in England) Parts of which were built of stones we nicked from Hadrian's Wall. Our East Window is 3rd only to York Minster and Durham
You need to visit the Cutty Sark and the Victory then- both wooden ships. Durham was the kingdom of the Prince Bishop's- they owned huge tracts of land and knights in their fief- so they had their own army. It's well worth visiting for Evensong- even if you are not religious- no real responses, so fine for those who are not regular church goers.
You're confusing gentile and genteel. Getting very homesick watching this - I grew up close to the eastern end of the Cotswolds, near Banbury - an area nearly as beautiful but less touristy. And I know exactly what you mean. It feels timeless, and you feel "homesick" even though you've never been there. I know what you mean about church ritual, too - magic incantations. Oh, and well done! It took you six whole minutes to mention how green the grass is! 😄
I feel we take the natural beauty of our country for granted. Because its all we know we forget how lucky we are. We have our ancestors to thank for all the beautiful buildings we have. Unfortunately we don't build things to last as long as the ones built back then
Dark ages ended in that period of Western intellectual history we call 'the Englightenment' in the late 17th century. There were so many of the important early Western philosophers - Bacon, Burke, Kant, Rousseau, I can't remember them all but that was the end of the dark ages. The beginings of modern science began as well, but philosophy and science weren't differentiated back then. Francis Bacon is an excellent example 'cuz he wrote science, philosophical aphorisms, was in the government, was religious etc etc. You can see free works by Francis Bacon online and one of his books reflects on social and psychological reality at the time (about 1680 I think). You really see into the early modern mind, and it was far more intelligent then even the best minds of today. It was based on shrewd perception rather then opinion and speculation.
I live in a place called biddulph. Its said that the oldest church in the area (biddulph moorlands) was build by captured saracens. The locals in the area of the moorlands were also noted to have a different appearance. Being redhaired but tanned. Which by the way might be true. I know a family who have lived in the biddulph moorlands for generations, and they are red haired but also fairly tanned and look a little different from other people nearer to the town. I think saracens probably did come here and obviously eventually married local women but maybe they didnt build the church, because what are the odds that all of them were stonemasons? Either way, its still a cool story. Also some who originate from there i believe named the baileys absolutley believe this story. They have for generations believed themselves to be the descendants of these saracens. Most stories have some truth to them. P.s. Biddulph means wolf slayer OR by the quarry. No one can be sure. A decree was put to biddulph by the then king to eliminate all wolves in the area. I think pre christian anglo saxons in the area also had a strong spiritual connection to the wolves (in their belief system). Something to do with totems which ive also heard about the Irish. I may be wrong. Anyway makes you realise how little most of us know about our local history and ancestors.
These videos make it look like we're all in church all of the time. The truth is barely any UK citizens go to Church anymore. But for tourists these churches would be empty, and many chapels and some churches have become private homes etc.. Sick of videos like this making us seem quaint and obsessed with the past. We are neither. Yes churches and cathedrals are nice to visit once in a while, but we are much less religious than Americans, who culturally I always think are at least a hundred years behind most of Europe, look at their censorship, obsession with guns and religion as well as gated communities to keep out the plebs. Britain has about 1000 gated communities, America has over 10 million housing stock behind gates. A travesty.
It's like that all over Europe the old stuff is still very present and very nice. When you visit Europe checkout Rome and after that checkout some small towns and villages. In my town it's so old we regularly find stone chippings from hundreds of thousands of years ago. I have a stone age hand axe dated at 300,000 years, found by my father near here. And it's not unusual.
I laughed out loud when you blasphemed whilst watching a video about churches and talking about faith .... "must stop drinking coffee .... for Christ's sake!!!" Brilliant comic timing!
You're right about ships, and the founding farthers sailed across the ocean while timber was still used for building ships. Your Cotswold video was much too short - there's a score or more picture book villages, and when I was hiking there, the locals in one village told me about an Anerican who had bought a place in the village.
A notable aspect of the English countryside has been its variety of well suited man-made contributions that manage to adorn rather than diminish its surroundings and provide an extraordinary range of views across the landscape, often within very limited space when compared to larger countries with comparatively smaller populations per acre.
Westminster Abbey was actually started in 1065. It was originally Saxon.
I live in the Cotswolds, born and bred, and am thankful for it every day ❤
Beuatiful part of the world to live! The people make the place x (I can't spell beautiful it seems lol)
So jealous
I live in the Cotswolds and, sadly, I do take it for granted. For me, all this great stuff is just normal. Thanks for reminding me that I should probably take more notice. Great video and channel. 👍🇺🇲🇬🇧
Yes I live near Cirencester and yes I take it for granted. It’s there an everyday occurrence.
I grew up in east London. I never took for granted where I was….a complete crud hole. I wasn’t prepared to raise my own children in London, so, because my husband is Australian, we moved to Australia. It’s beautiful here. Do you think my husband stops to look at the beauty often? Does he heck, he doesn’t notice how stunning the surrounding is, because he’s used to it. The birds, the beaches, the mountains….he takes them all for granted. 🌹
Me too
Connor, what a perceptive comment, that time is one of the things that makes our country so attractive. The British blood in your veins is what makes you drawn to the UK and gives you spine tingles 💕
The word "genteel" is not "Gentile". It means, roughly, "gentle, in an aristocratic way".
Indeed. And historically, the upper classes and landed gentry were 'genteel' meaning they were not the common, rough, uncultured lower classes and serfs.
I, as a Dutchman, visited the Cotswolds many times in the 70's and 80's, I really fell in love with this region.
I fully understand what you talk about. American cities and villages almost always miss that historic center, an old church or market place. In Europe when we visit another city or village, we always look for the central point there, were the café's and terraces are and where you can feel the heart of the city and mostly inaccessible by cars.
Go in Google maps and try to find the city center in any European citiy (almost always easy), do the same thing in the U.S., it's impossible because there is none. A lack of (historic) heart.
Well said...Although there are some beautiful places in the US they tend to be natural...what I mean is the beauty in the US is generally not skyscapers etc...In England the beauty is natural but also man-made in the buildings, streets and details...the same is true of most of Europe that I've seen.
America has many beautiful, natural areas too. UK has with gone many eras through centuries with each making their historical mark upon the land.
European cities are like pearls they started as small settlements and grew outwords over many hundreds of years having a natural concentric nature in their growth a large part of that being for defence
Yes!! In Australia too there very often isn’t a “centre” of a town. I was so confused at first always looking for a centre and sometimes there just isn’t one or there’s a main road with shops on and that’s it. I’m still completely thrown by it’s lack of a proper centre where everything happens. The post office, station etc..
USA has no history of great civilisations...
I'm not religious, but loving history and architecture I visit as many churches and cathedrals as I can...exploring the behind the scenes details, construction and undercrofts can reveal medieval and roman foundations taking you back further...
Love you,Connor...you have great enthusiasm for our country,and so respectful too.
In one video he went off on one about how we're a disgusting empire or something. That's Americans main interest in UK history and what they start with to big themselves up as supposedly being better. After that it's trying to make money with views.
You asked about how people know when to say "Amen" in a service. You usually get an order of service, which will give you prompts for what to say at which moment.
I live in the Midlands. My mum and dad drove weekends to Cotswolds. We'd see markets. Beautiful, our dog loved it. 🇬🇧👵🙏
Connor you may find this video very interesting, around 25 years ago a team decided to build a medieval castle in France using the methods of that time period, the series was called Secrets of the castle, all in around 4.5 hours, this is an abridged update; ruclips.net/video/Ajqort8ldXA/видео.html
I wish there was more Americans like you Connor in the US because most talk about how proud they are of their Irish roots, like Joe Biden, but I never hear about Americans being proud of their English, Welsh or Scottish roots, except Donald Trump, who’s proud of his Scottish heritage. It’s like why is ST. Patrick’s day celebrated more then ST. Andrew’s Day, ST. David’s Day, and ST. George’s Day, the patron saints of Britain. Why aren’t they all celebrated with the same appreciation. 🇺🇸🤝🇬🇧🤝🇮🇪
Poor old Biden didn't even know he had Irish very very very very distant pass.🤡🤡🤡
I,m from the Cotswolds and the the longing in your heart lad. Shows on your face. ☮️👊
There's a hilarious comedy show called 'This Country' which shows a completely different side to living in The Cotswolds. Namely if you're someone born (relatively) poor & not the most, um, intellectually gifted shall we say. Not quite so idyllic for them (or the earnest vicar who tries to help).
Loved that show
I visited the Berkshires in MA and the surrounding area a few years back, so I understand your pride in New England. I am also fortunate to live in Oxford, with the city's many historic buildings, and the Cotswold villages and towns a short drive away. The importance of wool to medieval England is reflected in the fact that the Speaker of the House of Lords still sits on 'the woolsack'.
I fully understand that feeling and you are correct saying it is so hard to explain.
Honestly, Connor I don't mind you pausing. When you pause the video it's often accompanied by your jaw dropping and a look of wonderment in your eyes at a beautiful scene - it's very touching actually and conveys beautifully the emotion you are feeling. Sometimes it will be to make a relevant comment or ask a question which, judging from all the comments your followers are always eager to answer in illuminating ways. It's what gives your channel its sense of community and charm. Keep up the great work :) Much love from Old Blighty!
Pepys was responsible for naval shipbuilding and supplies. He found out the navy was being ripped off and the sailors were supplied with very poor food. Later, they stopped building ships individually and started to make standard fittings for ropes and sails so that, if a piece of kit broke or was blow up, they’d have an identical one in stock to fit quickly. Same goes for nails. Previously they didn’t have standard nail sizes.
As an English woman I enjoy watching your face during these videos, & find myself hoping that 1 day you can spend a long time over here, to explore this very varied group of islands for several months.
For me the many ancient buildings gives a sense of "roots". I lived in N Wiltshire for 40 years & walked miles over the grassy & gently rolling hills. Yet even here, the landscape was all man made from over 4,000 years of agriculture & human habitation - as if even the soil speaks His - story / our story to us.
We do have 2 original wooden ships. There is Lord Nelson's flag ship "The Victory" at Greenwich, London. (A modern replica of the ship used by John Cabot & has been sailed to America, now in Bristol).
We also have the recently salvaged wreck of Henry 8th's flag ship the "Marie Rose".
Although slightly off topic try and watch ' Building of a medieval castle. Secrets of the castle.' It's a project in France showing a castle being rebuilt with methods of the day.
I have been to the top of the bell tower in Durham Cathedral when 12 O'clock started to peel. Our guide told us not to panic when the tower started to sway, he told us it was built to sway as otherwise the tower would eventually collapse...very unnerving!
I was raised CofE, but I lapsed decades ago. Yet, entering an ancient church or cathedral gives me a wonderful feeling that I cannot explain. I put it down more to the feeling of history, imagining the people who have been there before me and how important their religion was to them.
Going down into the crypt in St Mungo's in Glasgow, I was fascinated by the worn steps and wondered which feet had caused the stone to wear away so much over time.
Horatio Nelson is interned in St Pauls, in the sarcophagus created for Henry VIII. Wellington is also in St Pauls.
We are very lucky to live in the UK. We see the Gadarene rush to the "continong" every year, yet there are so many jewels to be found in our own backgarden.
Me and my late partner owned 17th century house in Sandwich Kent just a stone throw from Thomas Paine's .. yes THAT Thomas Paine house
Connor, I’m beginning to think that you must have lived a former life in a rural place in England. You certainly seem to respond instantly and strongly to images including rural vistas. Maybe you should get some family history researched and even get a DNA test to check out of you have family from England.
I am his sister! We do have English ties!!
Have lived here in the Cotswolds now for 40 years and never get tired of exploring the villages and towns. Like you, I'm not a religious person but I do marvel at the skills to make the churches and cathedrals. Recently visited Chichester Cathedral where they can list their Bishops as far back to around 608AD. The Cathedral is obviously later, but during repairs they found 6 Roman rooms underneath with mosaic floors. As you say, the spectrum of time.
as much as we all long for living in the postcard pictures of these places, i think its really worthwhile to have a look on rightmove or other property websites and find out more. youll learn that they are massively overpriced, seriously cramped, low ceilings, the historic buildings are too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer, you cant renovate the properties without planning permission, snail pace internet speeds, no local shops, zero public transport. no where to park your car and nobody is given planning permission to have driveways or garages. youd have to PAY ME to live in one of these postcard villages, id happily move to the country but id stay out of these picturesque villages, they are a nightmare for anyone used to amenities.
Canterbury cathedral is worth a look Connor. 😊
I got married in Chipping Camden 12 years ago almost to the day. One of the most beautiful towns I have been to in the UK.
When you visit England, pop down to Portsmouth and visit HMS Victory at the historic dockyard fully intact and absolutely amazing
I remember going on a trip to Cotswold while I was studying at Birmingham University many years ago. Haaaa the memories 😁
Thank you for this. When are you visiting the Cotswold. It is amazing here
The Dark Ages are a bit of a misnomer…some amazing things were happening in arts, crafts and society.
They are called the Dark Ages because of the lack of writings from the time, to cast light on the period.
It's also where both the King and Princess Anne live, even though their private homes they're also open or rather the grounds are too the public
Admiral Nelson is buried in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral. This is another stunning place to visit in London, but is in a different style of architecture and was designed by Christopher Wren.
As is the 1st Duke of Wellington.
Prediction before watching the video:
"Wow, that grass is so beautiful!"
Got a couple of grass mentions 😂
I've worked on Derby Cathedral you can see where the stone Masons Chisled Holes into the Stone block's for Wooden Scaffolding then pointed the holes up .
Thats all on my doorstep in Oxford and it truly is beautiful, I've stayed in Chipping Camden a lot a lovely place!
You should come over and stay for a while!
There are hundreds of museums!
It will blow your mind!!
Its so much fun. I spend time watching views of the east coast states and fantasise visiting Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.
Hiya Conor, have you done the Rick Steves vlog on Lake District and Durham? its a real good one, I've only visited York once that was 32 years ago (1991), it was the nicest day ever, this is Choppy in Whitehaven, Cumberland, England
There's nothing stopping you from packing up your bags and coming to live here.just think all the places you've seen on the videos you can have it all.
Don't encourage him for God's sake!!
Yes Connor, the masons yards were directly on the build site often against/very near the walls. The stones brought in were usually roughed at the quarry to avoid moving/transporting overweight poorly shaped stone. At the build site they were finally cut, carved and shaped, if complexity of shape warranted, to wooden templates and when ready, hoisted aloft to to be placed in position. Mortar was applied by ordinary builders, reserving the shaping to trained stonemasons. Then on with the next piece, not hurried but a carefully planned precision plan to keep the build rattling along without unnecessary pauses and perhaps with a staff of masons and builders of some 10 in number for small projects, and many many more for a cathedral perhaps 300 plus feet in length. Moving stones from the quarry, this was the first time quarried stone was moved, the stone being sorted and roughed to size with information of sizes submitted by the masons. Any particular sized individual stones would be mentioned and probably included in a weekly "order" and for larger builds broken down in smaller one day and 2 day periods to keep work flowing smoothly on site. All this quarry work being stone which was roughed to standard sizes required and with quantities, this would enable organisation of a steady supply. At quarry it would be usual (essential) to mark every stone "this way up" as stone weathers correctly when it is placed in right position to match its original "bed" position/situation in the quarry strata. Offcuts, small pieces of stone waste from the shaping at quarry would often be required for filling/packing the core of the walls, as would some of the larger waste at build site. Very small stone waste would sometimes be mixed into the mortar to bulk it, but not in finer high class work where closer fitting stonework would be the order of the day.
You're right about the term 'Dark Ages'; it was misused in the video you were reacting to. The word used to describe Henry VI was 'genteel', meaning 'upper class, elegant, well-dressed'. Nelson and Wellington were buried in St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London rather than in Westminster Abbey.
York Minister is built on the remains of the Forum of the Roman Fort, Eboracum founded in AD70. The remains can be visited in the crypt.
They found a drain some years back and put some dye down it which ended up in the River Ouse.
There are two Roman Emperors, Caracalla and Constantius, who was Constantine the Great's father, buried in York somewhere near the railway station, but they've not been found yet.
Constantine the Great was declared Emperor by the northern legions in York in AD 306.
Constantius is actually buried at Wroxeter, mistaken for York. This is in the British records, and his stone is there . . . somewhere. Sorry I don't know exactly where. I think it's in 'The Holy Kingdom'.
@@marchellabrahams ah that's probably why they haven't found him then.
The amount of Emperors traveling through York during the period AD70 to 410AD makes it more than a bit confusing.
Still that's one less to find.
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Lol Tolkien called this "sea longing", when the elves (who are from the west) had stirring feelings to want to return west where they came from.
Haha, just come in from checking the roof on our Anglo-Saxon church. Torrential rain yesterday in Oxford and our old roof has leaked. So that's fundraising for the foreseeable future. Lovely, extremely lovely, but the upkeep is no joke!!
I visited some of big cities like London and Birmingham and they are beautiful but the English coutriside is something else... The small villages, old houses, churches the green hills, the sheep and stonewalls it's like the time stands still, like something right from a fairytale. It's stunning. I tell everyone who wants to visit England - same goes for Scotland and Ireland - not to go just for the famous cities because the coutriside of the British Islands are simply marvelous.
I remember the photographs of New England from many years ago at school and the golden tree leaves for some reason.
I live just an hour from the Cotswolds I am indeed a lucky person. If you like nice villages have a look at Castleton in the Peak District
I used to live near Hexham Abbey which was first built in the 6th century. I am not religious but it's wonderful to go visit and see hundreds of years of history. Sometimes you can sit and listen to the choir practice, just so peaceful. Old churches are amazing to go investigate. A local town has an old church with a stone roof because it kept getting burned by revenge attacks with the Border reivers.
You could do a video on your State or New England, I'm sure there's a lot we non-Americans would find interesting 😊xx
I understand how you feel. I sometimes feel “homesick” about a place I hadn’t been to before.
"Rector" and "Vicar" are both common titles for Anglican ministers. The difference is that the Rector "owned" his church (RECTE, "by right") and the Vicar was technically somebody else's deputy, so history decides which title is used in any parish.
The Cotswolds are a magnificent place to visit. My favourite area is around Bourton on the water, Upper and Lower Slaughter. Bourton on the water is a remarkable village, with a minature village, and a bird sanctuary. Always a great day out, plus, an excellent walking area.
Arthur wellesley and Nelson are in St Pauls Catherdral
It's very unusual for someone who's not been baptised to take 'Holy Communion' (mass) which is what happened at your uncles funeral.
I lived there for a year and it was just too neat and pretty and controlled. I’m much prefer areas like Norfolk and Northumberland beautiful un- touristy , beaches and equally historic places.
Steam Engines, and iron ships are both pretty recent inventions. At the time both where in their ascendant in the UK, the Monarch of the time (Queen Victoria) had a similar idea to you. She gathered all the best inventions, discoveries, and industries that Britain had made (and stolen) and put them all on display for the world to see, in:
'The Great Exhibition' of 1851.
Please look this event up its was fascinating, and was the catalyst for many of London's greatest sights, museums, and landmarks (Crystal Palace and more). Victoria was a visionary, and despite the Parliament of the time initially turning her down, she still convinced by explaining the event would be 'self funding' which it was. However it was so popular that it actually made a huge profit, which was later put into a 'trust' to finance other related projects, including the Science museum, the Natural History museum and the Victoria and Albert museum. All three of which housed may of the artifacts previously shown in 'the Great Exhibition', and went on to fund more explorations, education, and science discoveries. The three buildings (and some others) are also examples of new, and beautiful building techniques invented with them.
The Story of Crystal Palace is also remarkable, and linked to the Great Exhibition. I'll let you discover that.
A large part of the reason the Great Exhibition was so successful, was that it happened just after 'Railway Boom' from the mid 1840's, This was when Britain's railways network was massively expanded, so that most people in the country had access to rail travel (and frieght). Whole communities traveled together to go to London and visit the Great Exhibition. These were people who had mostly lived and died for generations all in the same village, suddenly been granted access to travel and to marvels they'd only heard of. Practically the whole nation paid homage and traveled too Queen Victoria's Great Exhibition.
Please read more about Victoria too, fascinating person who was molded by a strict upbringing, but still became her person who followed her own passions, interests, and romance too. Who without doubt left a lasting impact on her country.
I think you mean the Great Exhibition of 1851. Although we did have a “Festival of Britain” in 1951. That was intended to cheer up the Brits after six years of war plus more years of total austerity when with the war over but we were stoney broke. Absolutely stoney broke, with food rationing affecting everyone. (One egg per person per week!!)
@@oldman1734 Thanks.
Yes I meant 1851, not 1951. Amended.
Youve pretty much done this video already. Its part of the West England video
Both Nelson and Wellington are buried in St Paul's Cathedral London. Genteel means gentlemanly, not like a warrior.
Amen is like saying the end.
I moved to England over a decade ago and I was initially mesmerised by London (as most are)...I have since travelled up and down the country. It is a stunningly beautiful country. Hard to describe just how green and simple and beautiful...(I am not doing a good job right now I know lol)...
not 'gentile' in this context, but 'genteel'. Really enjoy your work by the way. (Wimbledon native!)
Llincholn cathedral is a gem too.
Better visit soon.The beauty is shrinking & fraying at the edges - fast! Like the country!
Admiral Lord Nelson is in St. Paul's Cathedral with his coffin on top of a column. You have to pay to visit the Crypt but there is a tearoom on the Later Noster Square side of the Cathedral by the main steps which was part of the crypt but is separated from it by a series of columns with gaps between through which you can see Nelson's coffin.
The 2nd Secretary of the Royal Navy in 1805 was distantly related to me and he was the man that two warships of the fleet raced back to London to bring news of Nelson's death to him and he arranged the funeral.
Genteel, means refined, polite etc...
Genteel means cultured, well mannered and of high status.
It's funny, because I'm British and almost never grasp the beauty of the English and British countryside except when I see it through the eyes of an American like you. Then instantly I can see a fairy tale, picture postcard England. Remember that America was Britain that decided to go off for an adventure in foreign lands. Britain is the Britain that stayed behind. It is not surprising that allot of Americans will look back at their motherland with a sense of longing.
You have to visit one day mate .
I consider myself so lucky to live in the UK, we just have history everywhere you look and it's so beautiful
I was waiting to see how long it would take you to mention how green the grass is!
What you described at your uncles funeral sounds like Holy communion where you receive a wafer or piece of bread to represent the body of Christ and some wine which represents the blood of Christ. In the UK you normally have to have been confirmed into the church of England or the Catholic church to receive communion.
A congregation ,Connor, usually have a prayer book which has a variety of scripts which dictates the service.
Those buried in Westminster Abbey: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burials_and_memorials_in_Westminster_Abbey
Genteel not Gentile
Amen usually denotes "may it be so" or "I believe". Genteel is different from Gentile. Genteel means clean and neat.
lovely comments about mental welfare at the end, Connor. I don't think anyone has answered this, anywhere below, so FYI, Wellesley (the Duke of Wellington) and Nelson are both buried at St Paul's Cathedral in London
Haven't been here for a while. I'm sad to say I've watched other 'american reacts' that weren't yours. I've shaken them off and am back here to stay.
Come and visit the Cotswolds soon! You will love it xx.
I’m from South Wales and my great grandparents came from The Cotswolds.
In Britain we have centuries of history in a very small space .
Come and see Carlisle Cathedral (2nd smallest in England)
Parts of which were built of stones we
nicked from Hadrian's Wall. Our East Window is 3rd only to York Minster and Durham
You need to visit the Cutty Sark and the Victory then- both wooden ships.
Durham was the kingdom of the Prince Bishop's- they owned huge tracts of land and knights in their fief- so they had their own army.
It's well worth visiting for Evensong- even if you are not religious- no real responses, so fine for those who are not regular church goers.
You're confusing gentile and genteel. Getting very homesick watching this - I grew up close to the eastern end of the Cotswolds, near Banbury - an area nearly as beautiful but less touristy. And I know exactly what you mean. It feels timeless, and you feel "homesick" even though you've never been there. I know what you mean about church ritual, too - magic incantations. Oh, and well done! It took you six whole minutes to mention how green the grass is! 😄
I recommend Fred Dibnah’s Building Britain series here on YT.
Bishop Suger in France had a dream in 1137 and the soaring cathedrals and stained glass took W Europe by storm!
You'd love watching Clarksons Farm. That's in the cotswold 👍
Nelson and Wellington-Wellesley are in St Paul's Cathedral.
I feel we take the natural beauty of our country for granted. Because its all we know we forget how lucky we are. We have our ancestors to thank for all the beautiful buildings we have. Unfortunately we don't build things to last as long as the ones built back then
Dark ages ended in that period of Western intellectual history we call 'the Englightenment' in the late 17th century. There were so many of the important early Western philosophers - Bacon, Burke, Kant, Rousseau, I can't remember them all but that was the end of the dark ages. The beginings of modern science began as well, but philosophy and science weren't differentiated back then. Francis Bacon is an excellent example 'cuz he wrote science, philosophical aphorisms, was in the government, was religious etc etc. You can see free works by Francis Bacon online and one of his books reflects on social and psychological reality at the time (about 1680 I think). You really see into the early modern mind, and it was far more intelligent then even the best minds of today. It was based on shrewd perception rather then opinion and speculation.
Nelson's tomb is in St Paul's Cathedral, not Westminster Abbey.
I live in a place called biddulph. Its said that the oldest church in the area (biddulph moorlands) was build by captured saracens. The locals in the area of the moorlands were also noted to have a different appearance. Being redhaired but tanned. Which by the way might be true. I know a family who have lived in the biddulph moorlands for generations, and they are red haired but also fairly tanned and look a little different from other people nearer to the town. I think saracens probably did come here and obviously eventually married local women but maybe they didnt build the church, because what are the odds that all of them were stonemasons? Either way, its still a cool story.
Also some who originate from there i believe named the baileys absolutley believe this story. They have for generations believed themselves to be the descendants of these saracens. Most stories have some truth to them.
P.s. Biddulph means wolf slayer OR by the quarry. No one can be sure. A decree was put to biddulph by the then king to eliminate all wolves in the area. I think pre christian anglo saxons in the area also had a strong spiritual connection to the wolves (in their belief system). Something to do with totems which ive also heard about the Irish. I may be wrong. Anyway makes you realise how little most of us know about our local history and ancestors.
These videos make it look like we're all in church all of the time. The truth is barely any UK citizens go to Church anymore. But for tourists these churches would be empty, and many chapels and some churches have become private homes etc.. Sick of videos like this making us seem quaint and obsessed with the past. We are neither. Yes churches and cathedrals are nice to visit once in a while, but we are much less religious than Americans, who culturally I always think are at least a hundred years behind most of Europe, look at their censorship, obsession with guns and religion as well as gated communities to keep out the plebs. Britain has about 1000 gated communities, America has over 10 million housing stock behind gates. A travesty.
It's like that all over Europe the old stuff is still very present and very nice. When you visit Europe checkout Rome and after that checkout some small towns and villages.
In my town it's so old we regularly find stone chippings from hundreds of thousands of years ago. I have a stone age hand axe dated at 300,000 years, found by my father near here. And it's not unusual.
I laughed out loud when you blasphemed whilst watching a video about churches and talking about faith .... "must stop drinking coffee .... for Christ's sake!!!" Brilliant comic timing!
Gentile someone who is not Jewish. Genteel, exaggerated politeness, sophisticated
Shipbuilding and cathedral building skills still exist today. Gentil and gentile are totally different words.
You're right about ships, and the founding farthers sailed across the ocean while timber was still used for building ships.
Your Cotswold video was much too short - there's a score or more picture book villages, and when I was hiking there, the locals in one village told me about an Anerican who had bought a place in the village.
Hey dude, if you haven't read the book "The Pillars Of The Earth" I think you should. I reckon it would be right up your nave.
A notable aspect of the English countryside has been its variety of well suited man-made contributions
that manage to adorn rather than diminish its surroundings and provide an extraordinary range of
views across the landscape, often within very limited space when compared to larger countries with
comparatively smaller populations per acre.