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Archive for the ‘Wiltshire’ Category

Wiltshire Crop Circle Tours

Posted in british history, Funny, Stonehenge, Stonehenge private tours, UK Tourism updates, Wiltshire, Wiltshire Crop Circles on May 13, 2010| 2 Comments »

We were excited to see news of the first crop circles in Wiltshire, home to Histouries UK.  We have already been taking private groups to see them and have a great relationship with local farmers allowing us to enter the fields when other can’t. Many locals have reported strange lights in the skies and hearing srtange noises at the same time as the mysterious circles appear (serach on YouTube to view video footage)
Whatever your thoughts on this phenomena they are fantastis to see both form a distance and up-close giving some amazing and unique phot opportunites. We do offer dedicated crop circles, however our regular historical guided tours visiting Stonehenge, Salisbury, Old Sarum Hillfort, Glastonbury and the Wessex are will pass these crop circles and the topic will be discussed in depth.
We expect to see crop circles between May and September this year (2010)

Some more information on the recent circles………….

Herewith the first crop circle of 2010. It is in oil seed rape and measures approx: 180 foot diameter. It is a circle containing six arcs intercepted by a small circle surrounded by a larger circle. A lozenge shape lies alongside the sixth arc with seven circles lying in an arc below. It lies below the ancient Hill Fort Old Sarum in Hampshire. Sadly due to the fact that it lies in Boscombe Military Air space it is also directly below the helicopter low flight approach zone, the images were taken from 2000 feet and also the crop is not yet in full bloom so the imprint is poor

The first week in May we witness the first English Crop Circle in southern Wiltshire. The area around Old Sarum is certainly not an active part of the countryside for the phenomenon. In fact it has only witnessed a few events of the last two decades, which makes this ‘Curtain Opener’ to the 2010 season quite a surprise.

UPDATE

On further investigation, it would appear the positioning of the crop circle in relation to Old Sarum, actually lies on the direct path of a very well know Ley Line which has an alignment with Stonehenge, and cuts the nearside edge of the inner banks of the fortified encampment of Old Sarum. This Ley Line then straight through Salisbury Cathedral itself, and the hill forts of Clearbury Rings and then Frankenbury Camp in Hampshire.

This clearly indicates that the positioning of Crop Circles could indeed be connected with Ley Lines, which are aligned to well known Ancient Sites. Are we being shown a doorway to ancient knowledge? Will we find the key in 2010?

Heather
HisTOURies UK – The Best Tours in Wiltshire – Salisbury and Stonehenge Guided Tours

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First UK Crop Circle – Wiltshire 2010

Posted in Funny, Salisbury Cathedral, Stonehenge, Stonehenge private tours, UK Tourism updates, Wiltshire, Wiltshire Crop Circles on May 11, 2010| Leave a Comment »

The cuckoo traditionally marks the beginning of spring and right on cue to mark the first day of summer a crop circle has been spotted.

The first to be seen of that seasonal staple it is made up of curious swirls and has been ‘discovered’ in a field of oil seed rape in Wiltshire close to the remains of an Iron Age hill fort.

The crop circle lies close to the Iron Age hill fort of Old Sarum where Romans, Normans and Saxons have all since left their mark. To the right of the mound lies the outline of where the first Salisbury cathedral stood

The county is a popular spot for crop circle sightings and this one was found overlooking the historic site of Old Sarum, near Salisbury, near to where a 150ft dragonfly appeared in a field last year.
The bizarre shapes and designs are predominately found in the counties of South West England. However, they tend to pop up in other regions too and last year a 600ft jellyfish appeared in Oxfordshire – becoming the first jellyfish crop circle in the world.
The crop circle season normally begins in April with them increasing in number to a high point in July and August.
Just how these creations come into being is the subject of heated debate with some arguing they are the work of artists, while others feel they are deliberately created to bring in tourism.
The fact that many appear on ancient ‘ley lines’ leads others to believe they carry a mystical meaning.

Ley lines are supposed straight lines connecting three or more prehistoric or ancient sites which are associated by some with lines of energy and other paranormal phenomena.

However they’re formed though, tourists keep flocking to the circles every year to get a glimpse of the giant patterns.

OLD SARUM
Old Sarum was a mighty Iron Age hill fort which became the site of the first Salisbury cathedral. Chosen because of its strategic importance it was where two trade routes and the River Avon meet.
The Romans installed a garrison in the river valley below the site which was named Sorviodunum. Under the Anglo Saxons it ranked among the most considerable towns of the West Kingdom before the Normans arrived and built a castle there in 1069. The construction of the cathedral began in 1075 and it was nearly 200 years later that the second cathedral that stands today was built.

Nicholas – Stonehenge and Salisbury Tour Guide
Histouries UK – The Best Tours of Wessex

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Wiltshire Crop Circle – 1st for 2010

Posted in England facts, Funny, sightseeing tours, Stonehenge, Stonehenge private tours, UK Tourism updates, Wiltshire, Wiltshire Crop Circles on May 11, 2010| Leave a Comment »

One of our guides has just reported a crop circle report, the very first in Britain! One is next to Old Sarum Castle, the other is directly oppisite Stonehenge Stone Circle. We will post more details the next 254 hours but here are some pics……………… Needless to say we are currently taking clients to these circles en-route to Stonehenge


Pat – UK Crop Circle Tours
HisTOURies UK – The Best Tours in Wessex

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Salisbury Cathedral and the Pillars of the Earth

Posted in british history, England facts, History, Salisbury Cathedral, sightseeing tours, Stonehenge private tours, UK Tourism updates, Wiltshire on May 9, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Since its initial publication in 1989 The Pillars of the Earth has been a hugely popular book at Salisbury Cathedral. It is full of drama and intriguing characters but it is also packed with carefully researched historical detail and lovingly tells the story of the building of a beautiful medieval cathedral not unlike Salisbury. The fictitious Kingsbridge created by Ken Follett is in the West Country, not far from the real city of Salisbury, early in the book Tom Builder even seeks work at the original cathedral at Old Sarum. As The Pillars of the Earth became an international best seller we began to meet more and more visitors who had been inspired to visit us by the book, from the UK but also from America, Germany and many other countries.

Many of our clients have read this book before visiting the area which greatly enhances their appreciation of Old Sarum and Salisbury Cathedral.  The announcement that the book is to be turned into a feature lenght film this year is great news for tourism in Wiltshire and for those who have visited or toured with us in the past.  Please take the time to read Ken Follet’s blog.

In 2008, as Salisbury was in the midst of celebrating its 750th anniversary year, Tandem Communications made contact with exciting news about a film of the book. A visit to Salisbury led to closer links, special effects shooting at the Cathedral and eventually a partnership. This section of our website holds a wealth of information about the film including images, video diaries and Ken Follett’s blogs. It will build as the international TV screening of the 8 hour film – starring Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell, Matthew Macfadyen, Eddie Redmayne, Hayley Atwell, Sarah Parish, Donald Sutherland, Alison Pill and Gordon Pinsent – moves closer.

The Salisbury Link to The Pillars of the Earth

Salisbury Cathedral was built in just 38 years in the 13th Century. This was quick for a medieval cathedral, and took place less than 100 years after the fictional Kingsbridge Cathedral was built in a similarly rapid timescale. The two buildings demonstrate a wealth of architectural parallels, notably the Gothic arches and rows of narrow, pointed ‘lancet’ windows, and Ken Follett has written about how Salisbury Cathedral was one of his inspirations as he researched The Pillars of the Earth.

The director of The Pillars of the Earth, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, visited Salisbury Cathedral in 2008 and spent time taking detailed notes about the building as well as receiving input from our Consultant Archaeologist, Tim Tatton Brown. Special effects photographers followed in October 2009, meaning that elements of the real Salisbury Cathedral will be seen on screen, woven into the stunning location photography shot in Hungary and Austria, when the 8 hour film makes its TV debut in 2010.

A fabulous personal link between Cathedral and film became apparent as location shooting began when David Oakes, who plays the evil William Hamleigh, mentioned that as well as being educated at Bishop Wordsworth School in the Salisbury Cathedral Close he was also the son of a current Canon of Salisbury Cathedral – Jeremy Oakes!

The book revolves around the building of a beautiful medieval cathedral, built to the glory of God. As the modern day Salisbury Cathedral continues to the serve the purpose for which it was built, a current generation of craftsmen keeps the skills practiced by Tom Builder and Jack Jackson alive as they work to protect, restore and safeguard the building’s beauty for future generations.

Keep checking back as the airing of the film moves closer for more parallels, and some interesting differences, between the fictional Kingsbridge and the real Salisbury Cathedral!

http://www.the-pillars-of-the-earth.tv/

Nicholas
Salisbury and Stonehenge Tour Guide
Histouries UK – The Best Tours in British History

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