Finchale

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Geo: 54.7787, -1.55961

After running ourselves ragged about London, a largely relaxing day in Durham was most welcome. After a smashing sausage and bacon breakfast, the majority of the morning was couch time. Nat and I spent a bit of time trying to win the affection of the family dog, Stanley George, which remains to be an ongoing ambition and no easy feat. As it was a rare beautiful sunny day in the north of England, we decided to make the most of it. Nat and I jumped in the car with Maureen and Stan, and we headed off to Finchale Abbey, a few miles out of Durham. The remains of the abbey sit on the picturesque side of the River Wear. The Abbey was constructed betwwn 1137 and 1139AD. The monks who lived here deserted the abbey hundreds of years ago. Since then, it has fallen into disrepair. The abbey remains still make you marvel and wonder at how it might have looked in its prime. We spent a time wandering about the site, before grabbing an icecream and wandering back to the car by the river.After dinner I went for a walk down the street to watch the football at a little local pub called the Jovial Monk. It was a tense affair, my only company being a Teltleys and Boddingtons beer. Eventually Arsenal stormed to a 4-1 victory, relegating Wigan and sending me home relatively happy. Walking home from the pub, light was still fading from the sky as the time approached 10pm.

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Photos

Nat and I
On the bridge to Finchale Abbey over the River Wear

Comments

[Mum]

I just loved this Abby - wouldn't it be great if we had something like that back at home close to where we lived - I'd always be there! Unfortunately Australia is too young in the history of things.