Titchfield & Netley Abbeys
It seems on Sundays in November I visit abbeys…
Titchfield Abbey
oh what a life you have lived, from your start as an abbey (1231) but suppressed by Henry VIII and granted (1537) to his royal servant Thomas Wriothesley (who would become the earl of Southampton), to hosting Henry VIII, Edward VI, Elizabeth I and even William Shakespeare who preformed some of his plays here.
English Heritage- Titchfield Abbey
Visited: 6 Nov, 2022
Netley Abbey
has also led a varied life. Founded in 1238 it too suffered the fate of suppression 300 years later by Henry VIII. He gifted it to one of his pals who transformed it into a grand Tudor house. It was abandoned in the early 1700s, became overgrown, and then became inspiration to artists and authors. It’s believed that Jane Austin wrote Northanger Abbey (1817) after her visit here. In the 1840s the abbey was a popular place for socializing.
English Heritage - Netley Abbey
Visited: 13 Nov, 2022
Both of these abbeys are free English Heritage sites with the hours varying depending on the season.
I had been wondering why so many pubs have “arms” in the name.
Fun fact: Arms refers to coat of arms, such as for villages, royal families, or guilds.
Definitely different than what I was picturing when I saw a pub named The Sailors Arms. 🍺💪⚓️I’m not a writer and don’t claim to be. I’m an engineer and technician. I feel that exploring these places and this history is too interesting not to share. Plus I’d like a way to share this with my family and friends who aren’t on Facebook, most importantly my grandma. Who knows what this might evolve and become but hey, ya gotta start somewhere.