A Tourist's Guide to the Sights, Sounds and History of East Anglia

Britain today is renowned in terms of its cultural and historical past as well as its academic lineage. But even as a tourist spot, it remains a place that holds a certain archaic attraction. Much of Western ideology took fruit in Britain (although a greater part of it owes itself to France). It also holds a certain cultural hangover to the people of its erstwhile colonies. They want to see for themselves the country that had once made it its mission to colonize more than half the world. Here, we will try looking at Britain from the perspective of the tourist. In doing so, we shall explore the various historical sites that hold tourist attraction — the palaces, castles and courts. 

A General Overview

History itself can be most fascinating. Hence the castles of Britain are famous for the archaeological interest they seem to embrace. As homes of erstwhile royal family members and also as places that have witnessed countless wars and battles, the castles of Britain still remain the tourists' favourite historical haunt. Many of these are open to public entry. The immediate example that comes to mind is Castle Howard in North Yorkshire. The castle is dome-shaped on top and has an ornamental front gate, both of which present huge attraction. In addition there is also the temptation of the ever-so serene park outside the castle. Another example is the Scottish Edinburgh Castle, a hill-top castle with an awe-inspiring view. The sight looks upon a plain that witnessed some of the most horrific battles of Scottish history. Windsor Castle holds the monopoly of not only being the largest but also one that is inhabited. Considerably damaged by fire in 1992, it has now been restored to its earlier glory. The Hever Castle and the castle at Kent are havens for garden lovers. The locale is enamoring and the moat and drawbridge at Kent adds to its historic splendour. Another attraction in Kent is the house of Sir Philip Sydney, Elizabethan court poet. A country mansion of unparalleled finery, its called the Penshurst Palace. And if that isn’t enough, yet another famous attraction is the Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Its noted for its baroque architecture.

East Anglia - A Historian's Paradise

Named after East Angles, one of the ancient kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England, East Anglia is a peninsula in eastern England. Anglia itself derives its name from Angeln, the homeland of the Angles in North Germany. The region encompassed the dukedoms of Norfolk and Suffolk (probable derivations of 'North Folk' and 'South Folk'). The boundaries, however, are not clearly demarcated.

Along with Norfolk and Suffolk, it also includes the province of Cambridgeshire, now perhaps the world's most exotic academic locale. Earlier, Essex was also considered a part of East Anglia. Primarily flat, the area, however, is by no mean topographically uniform. It has marshlands and fen forests and much of the area around Norfolk is hilly. Brit playwright Noel Coward, noted for his Ealing comedies, delivers a fine allusion to the flatness of the terrain in his play Private Lives. "Very flat, Norfolk" — is the famous line. The primary cities and towns of East Anglia are Peterborough, Cambridge, Ipswich, Colchester, Huntingdon and Ely.

About the Country's History:

Angles had settled in the area of Iceni in the 5h century. In 520, the kingdom of east Angles was formed by the merging of the Northern and Southern provinces. Henry Huntington, a twelfth century writer alludes to East Anglia as one of the seven kingdoms that formed the Anglo-Saxon heptarch. There was a battle between East Anglia and Northumbria around 616, in which the former kingdom won and became a power to be reckoned with under king Raedwald of Bretwalda. But the victory was short-lived. During the coming forty years, East Anglia was invaded by the Mercians twice, and constantly dwindled in power. In 794 again, the then monarch Ethelberht was assassinated by the Offa of Mercia and East Anglia passed under him.

East Anglicans would remain subservient till 825-826 when a rebellion brought about their independence. The two Mercian kings wanting to squelch the revolt were killed. However, this gain was a very short victory. The Danes, under Ivar the Boneless took control of the kingdom on November 20, 870 after assassinating King Edmund. They gave it the name by which it is now famous. The land was re-taken by the Saxons in 920, but again lost it in 1015-17. In 1017, Canute the Great took possession of it and gave it as fiefdom to Thorkell the Tall, then made Jarl of East Anglia.

A Bit of the Country's Geography:

Primarily consisting of marshlands and bogs, the 17th century saw the area in its entirety being transformed through the construction of a drainage system. The rivers were properly channelled and Anglia changed from an alluvial marshland to a fertile arable land. It flourished as one of Europe's richest countries. The Industrial Revolution brought about a change when much of the industries based themselves in the Midlands and Southern States, owing to the availability of wools and textiles there.

Anglia is a haven for tourists, with its Gothic architectures and churches, castles, lakes, rivers, fens and homes made of timber. Ely and Lincoln are cathedral towns. The area is mostly rural, with even the towns resembling large villages. The approximate population is 1,250,000. The landscapes, rich in bucolic scenery, remain a major point of tourist attraction.

Famous Personnel:

Cambridge is home to some of the finest thinkers of the world— John Milton, Francis Bacon, Sir Isaac Newton, Lord Byron, William Thackeray and Alfred Lord Tennyson. Here is where Thomas Gainsborough achieved his fame as an artist and Oliver Cromwell and Tom Paine became established revolutionaries.

Major Attractions:

Cambridge

The most famous haunt (and not just for tourists) is possibly the university town of Cambridge, still one the world's most renowned academic location. But even from a tourist's perspective Cambridge has its share of magnificent architecture, not to mention a historical heritage with its famous boat ride up the busy countryside. King's College Chapel is world-famous as an exemplification of Gothic architecture at its finest.

Places to see in Cambridgeshire:

Wandlebury Ring, Wandlebury – The Iron Age Fort on the Gog Magog Hills still remains a major tourist attraction. The remains of the fort and the road through the woods leading to it calls for one grand adventure. Plus, for horse lovers this is the chance to visit the grave Gondolphin Arabian, considered the finest steed of its time. The master Gondolpin's mansion and the stables, where the best horses were bred, also draw the tourists.

Imperial War Museum, Duxford – In the battle of Britain during the Second World War, Duxford was a fighting station of some vantage point. Today, one can get to see the traces of the World War that was fought in what remains of Duxford. Aircrafts such as the Mustang and the Spitfire and the hangars draw tourists. There is a large Warfare Exhibition Hall that exhibits the battle scenes.

Ely Cathedral, Ely – The cathedral lies on the outskirts of the university town of Cambridge. It boosts the view of the countryside. The colours, once vibrant, have now paled. There is the famous Octagon Tower that offers a splendid view of the countryside. Another spot within the cathedral is the Stained Glass Museum. With a hundred stained glass panes, this is something not to be missed, especially in the hour of sunset just before the evening mass.

Sacrewell Water Mill, Peterborough – The water mill has always been a famous attraction. The mill here has been working for the past four hundred years. The place is also known for its Farming and Country Life Centre, where tourists can see and buy exhibits of handicrafts and locale artwork.

Flag Fen Bronze Age Site, Peterborough – The spot is considered to be holy. The name comes from its topographical location, within a bog. This is the site where the oldest wheel in Britain was found, one dating back to 10,000 BC. There is a Bronze Age Roundhouse at the center, which now abounds in animals such as the wild boar and the Mouflon sheep. Archaeologists working here during summer themselves become an added attraction.

Norfolk

With its name derived from "Northern Folk" this erstwhile dukedom is another major locale of attraction for tourists. One of their favourite haunts is rural Norfolk, with its stately homes at Blickling and Holkham Hall.

Places to see in Norfolk:

The Norfolk Broads are body of rivers and lakes that meander through the entire province of Norfolk. Most date back to Roman times. Surprisingly, most haven’t dried up. They abound in wildlife, particularly in the variety of sea-birds. The area can be explored on boats hired out for a single day o a cruise ride of several days. Norwich and Wroxham are the main ferries.  

The Norfolk windmills – These are a major attraction to tourists. They are five in number — the Sutton Windmills and Broads Museum at Sutton, the Bircham Windmill at Great Bircham, the Cley Windmill at Holt, the Saxtead Green Post Mill at Framlingham and the Berney Arms Windmill at Reedham. These are motored by the winds that blow in from the North Sea and are used for grinding even today. 

Sheringham Park, Upper Sheringham – Designed by the famous architect, Humphrey Repton, the park is noted for the panoramic view it offers of the English coast. The steam train ride here is famous. With a 10 mile track running from Sheringham to Holt, this can be an amazing experience.  

Pensthorpe Waterfowl Park and Nature Reserve, Fakenham – A natural reserve is a definite tourist spot in a marshland area. At Norfolk one can see a diverse aura of wildlife both at the Pensthorpe Waterfowl Park and the North Sea life Centre.

Blakeney Point and Cley Bird Sanctuary – Again of interest wildlife observers! The Blakeney Point is the perfect spot for seeing gray seals. These mostly keep to the water. Another famous spot is the bird sanctuary where one can observe sea birds that fly in from Africa such as the Sandwich tern. The best way to see these exotic beauties is to take a ferry ride from Morston.

Suffolk

Although not as historically rich as Norfolk, Suffolk has its own plethora of tourist spots.

Dunwich Heath, Minsmere Reserve, Ipswich – A paradise for wildlife lovers, quite like the Cley Bird Sanctuary in Norfolk. The Minsmere Reserve Royal Society for the Protection of Birds abounds in different feathered species, a haven for bird-watchers. The coastal dunes and beaches are ideal tourist locales. On the heath itself is the ancient town of Dunwich, now mostly submerged in sand. 

Sutton Hoo Burial Site, Woodbridge – This was an Anglo-Saxon burial mound, now a grassy plain. Kings of the 6th and 7th century who were not given sea-burials were buried here with elaborate preparations. Lots of gold breastplates and other armor have been unearthed here which have now found their place in the armory section of the British museum.

Anglo-Saxon Village, West Stow County Park, West Stow – By far, the biggest attraction of Suffolk! The 5th century village has been restored and is now one of the favourite tourist haunts.

Other Attractions:

The Upper Bure River and the Hoveton Great Broad Nature Trail — A swampy area, this place makes for a great trekking ground. One has to take a boat from Salhouse Broad the Bure Marshes and then follow the nature trail. A haven for bird-watchers, the area also abounds in wildlife. 

The Broadland Conservation Centre, Ranworth – Again, known as a famous bird-watcher paradise. 

Middle Bure and Thurne Rivers – The Hickling Boat Ride is a must for tourists. The water trail passes through dense marshlands. 

St. Benet's Abbey, Ludham — The abbey was founded by the Viking King canute. Noted for its Gothis architecture, the monastery is a site of unique grandeur and a must-see.  Ant River – The boat ride here is unique. Called the "Electric Eel", an electrically powered board takes the tourist on a trip through the marshlands. The sites worth seeing are the two windmills Boardman's Mill and Sutton Mill and Toad Hole Cottage, an erstwhile inn where eel-catchers used to dock. 

Yare and Waveney Rivers and the Carleton Marshes Nature Reserve – This Nature reserve leads one through the ruins of Burgh Castle, a Roman fort on the Waveney River. Another famous site is the Berney Arms Windmill at Reedham.