You never know what you will discover when you take a walk. I have passed this place many times to pick up my grandson from nursery but never stopped to look in detail at this old hotel.
For today’s #wednesdaywalk initiated by @tattoodjay I did stop and take a walk along the road to get a better view of this ancient old hotel. Join in the challenge check out Jay's rules page
Hotel front elevation view
When I start to write a new blog. I do a little research to make the post a bit more interesting and relevant to the images that I have captured. This added value helps the reader (you) get a better understanding of the context of the photographs.
Hotel rear elevation view
It is often the things that we pass by every day that can produce the most amazing facts. For me, something has to catch my attention and this cute pink building certainly did that.
This is the Stukeley country hotel in the village of Great Stukeley north of Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. It sits on the west side of Ermine Street which was built in the 1st century A.D. by the ancient Romans. The road linked London to Lincoln.
The curve you can see in the road in the first photo is a very recent addition to the street scene. Up until a few weeks ago that curve wasn’t there at all and the road was dead straight. (Adding this curve was a bad idea because now most of the traffic has to stop and turn right to continue up the old Ermine street.)
To think that here I was standing on a road that has been in use for at least 2000 years and probably longer. That simple fact alone was mind-blowing to me.
The Romans of course were great builders of dead straight roads for this simple reason. To be able to move troops fast from one part of the country to another to subdue the wild tribes of the regions.
Country roads
The side benefit of this road building was that it helped with trade and collecting taxes of course.
As you can see from the photo it is painted in a pretty shade of pink which has been a popular colour in this part of the country for many years although mostly in the Suffolk area.
The current hotel dates from the 16th century but legend has it that there has been a building on this site for many years before the current hotel.
There is even a rumour that Dick Turpin (1705-1735) the infamous highwayman, poacher and horse thief patrolled along this route.
So next time you go for a walk take a bit of time and look around you. You never know what you may discover right under your nose.
Have you noticed that the Daffodils are up very early this year?
More posts on Cambridgeshire
Historic St.Ives
1930’s Vintage Garage
Harvesting the wind
Thatched Cottage
Sunset on the lake HDR
| Category | (Architectural photography)
| Camera | (Canon 70D)
| f stop | (f/5.6)
| Exposure time | (1/250)
| ISO | (100)
| Lens | (Canon 50 mm)
| Location | Photographed in Cambridgeshire | |