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British Heritage · January 4, 2015 · 5 min read

Norwich

Largest Private Residence in Europe for Sale

WENTWORTH WOODHOUSE, former seat of one of Britain’s richest families, can be had for a modest £7 million. The Earls of Fitzwilliam are long gone, however, and what is called “the finest Georgian house in England” comes with an estimate of £42 million in needed repairs. With five miles of corridors and almost 400 rooms, in its prime the house required an indoor staff of 85 and 300 outdoor staff. Dinner guests used to be given confetti to lay a trail from their bedroom to the dining room, so they could find their

REX USA/STEVE BLACK

The Birdwoman of Aberdeen

does look like the invention of a horror movie. As it happens, a photographer out and about in Aberdeen just happened to capture this ominous-looking crow just as it flew alongside a woman walking on the pavement. The picture created quite a stir in the media.

Average Brit Spends £50,000 on Booze

Figures compiled by MacMillan Cancer Support indicate that the average Briton spends about $1,250 a year on alcohol. Londoners spend an extra $150 more. A hard core 1.3 million people spend almost triple the average.

Tower Hill

Poppy Tribute Becomes Popular Phenomenon

Crowds filed by at all hours to witness the “Seas of Red” filling the moat of the Tower of London.

THE CASCADE OF CERAMIC POPPIES that gradually grew through the autumn to fill the moat of the Tower of London became a national fascination. Each of 888,246 poppies represented a soldier killed in World War I. As the blanket of red engulfed the Tower approaching Remembrance Day, the crowds gathered—in a response that Historical Royal Palaces termed “overwhelming.” More than 5 million people came to see the amazing display, called “Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red.” All political leaders’ echoed the popular call for an extension, and, though disassembly of the installation began the day after Armistice Day, a part of the display remained in place through November. The poppies were subsequently sold for £25 each, raising £15 million for military charities.

Clacton-by-the-Sea, Essex

Political History in Clacton

Nick Farage of upstart UKIP strikes a populist chord with voters.

OCTOBER’S PARLIAMENTARY by-election in Clacton produced an earthquake on the British political landscape. The UKIP party (United Kingdom Independence Party) won their first seat in Parliament. Tory defector Douglas Carswell beat all comers to win the seat for the rising right-wing party. Standing principally on a platform of restricting immigration and getting the UK out of the European Union, UKIP is attracting voters from both Conservative and Labour parties—and relegating the hapless liberal Democrats to a struggle for significance.

Cleese Named Britain’s Most Influential Comedian

A study commissioned by Gold to mark the launch of Monty Python: The Meaning of Life confirmed that John Cleese was regarded the most influential British comic of all time. In addition to his fame in Monty Python, Cleese starred in the iconic series Fawlty Towers. Finishing second and third in the voting were David Jason (Only Fools and Horses) and Rowan Atkinson (Blackadder, Mr. Bean).

STEVE PARSONS/PA WIRE

Flood Alert Yet Again This Winter

After last year’s wettest winter on record, the Met Office has again warned the country of impending soggy months. The outlook for increased risk of milder and wetter than average conditions through the winter months comes as dull and dreary conditions throughout the island in November were accompanied by flood threats from Devon to Yorkshire.

General Synod Approves Women Bishops

Meeting in London in November, the General Synod of the Church of England formally ratified the change to canon law. After years of contentious debate in the Church, the historic change came quietly, with an overwhelming show of hands. The removal of this stained-glass ceiling comes 20 years after women were first ordained in 1994. They now make up roughly a third of the C of E clergy.

STEVE PARKIN/PA WIRE

Bird Flu Strikes from the Continent

When the World health organization advised that an “unpredictable” strain of bird flu had migrated to Britain from Germany and the Netherlands, the Government’s response was swift. At the largest breeding duck farm in the country, in Nafferton, Yorkshire, some 6,000 ducks were culled that had been destined for restaurants and supermarkets such as Tesco and M & S.

Bishop Auckland

Big Plans at Auckland Castle

Eight-foot paintings of Jacob and his 12 sons by Spanish painter Francisco de Zubabáran hang in the dining room—as they have since 1756.

LONG THE SEAT OF POWER for the Prince Bishops of Durham, the medieval summer residence retains the offices of the Diocese of Durham. the castle itself has only been open to visitors for a couple of years. Plans are well in the works, however, to gather here the greatest collection of religious art in Britain, and among the best in Europe. The old Scottish Gallery will be transformed, and an art deal is already in place with Madrid’s Prado.

Seaton, Devon

Record Discovery of 22,000 Roman Coins

This copper coin from the hoard (front and back) was minted by Constantine in ad 332.

A BUILDER out foraging with his metal detector in East Devon uncovered a record-breaking hoard of roman coins. Dating from the 4th century, the copper alloy coins, now known as the Seaton Down Hoard, took archaeologists three days to recover from the burial site. During that time, finder Laurence Egerton slept in his car on the site to guard his treasure. Though the hoard is officially “treasure” and will be eligible for museum acquisition, Egerton is entitled to claim half the proceeds.

THE TRUSTEES OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM

Chatsworth, Derbyshire

Dowager Duchess of Devonshire’s Farewell

LAST OF THE FAMOUS MITFORD SISTERS, Deborah Mitford, the dowager duchess of Devonshire passed away at age 94. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were among the hundreds of mourners at her funeral. Some 600 estate and domestic staff lined the route as the cortege made its way from Chatsworth house to st. Peter’s Church, Edensor.

Chatsworth estate workers join the Royals and old aristocracy in paying homage to the popular Dowager Duchess.

Downton Abbey the “Perfect” TV Drama

According to researchers, Downton Abbey has been found to match the formula for the perfect TV episode. While American fans are eagerly waiting season five on PBS in January, studies at Bournemouth university’s media school found that our favorite costume epic contains just the right blend of drama, comedy, shock and surprise, action and romance.

WWW.EVERETTDIGITALNY.COM

JOHN ROBINSON/PA WIRE

View the Heather in Bloom

Landscape Photographer of the Year awards gave top honors in a number of categories that depict Britain’s iconic countryside and cityscapes. John Robinson’s photo, capturing the beauty of the North York Moors at sunrise, was honored as the photo most likely to encourage people to visit Britain. It’s hard to argue with the judges.