Me (on the left) and Tom Marihart (on the right) in front
of the Nutshell Pub. A Kelly Kafeyan photo.
A pleasant little country town not far from Cambridge. Bury (as the locals call it) has a wonderful garden and interesting ruins of a monastery in the center of town. The gardens and ruins are free to visit.
Anyone who visits the town should also stop at the Nutshell Pub. It's the smallest pub in England (it seats less than 20 people). You may have to down your pint outside the room, but it's definitely worth seeing when you're in Bury.
The back of the rotunda at Ickworth House.
Ickworth House - 3 miles south of Bury is Ickworth House. This home was built by the Earl of Bristol in the late 18th century as a home for his art collection. Today, a visitor can enjoy the collection, as well as the house and the gardens, for only £5. There are not any discounts for students; but, senior citizens get in for £2.
I thought that the house was very interesting to visit; but somewhat run down. The National Trust owns the building and it doesn't look like they've had enough funds to fully restore the site. A guide in the rooms told us that the Trust is hoping to make the west wing of the building into an auditorium that will be the home to plays and concerts. The west wing's interior was never completed, so the Trust would like to make use of this shell. They are currently running into opposition from other conservation groups who worry about things like traffic and adequate ancillary facilities. I hope they get to utilize the rest of the building and use the funds to finish a restoration of the main part of the house.
The house has a very nice restaurant in the basement of the house. Prices for various meals and snacks range up to £5. It's a great place to take a break before touring the gardens.
Get your own Free Home Page
