Sunday 4th May a surprise with Portsmouth then Evensong at Winchester Cathedral

We were able to leave this morning around 9.30am, and the weather was sunny with clouds, and as we were going to go to the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, we were hoping for some clear skies. On the way we were passed by a lawnmower doing 65 miles per hour.

What a surprise is Portsmouth, while it is another huge English town, the port area has been redeveloped and we found ourselves in a precinct similar to a DFO, but incorporating new apartments, restaurants and the busy harbour.

Some people were absailing down the tower, not our cup of tea, but we went up to the viewing platform.
There is so much to do and see here, had we known we would have tried to stay in the general area, just to be able to take the time to visit all the sights, but we had a harbour cruise instead, so a rather condensed version.

There was an outside lift but it broke down on the opening day and has never been re-installed

Remember the absailers? Well there was a group inside who were getting rigged up, one poor girl was crying with fright at doing the drop, but it was for charity.  The cost 75 pounds per person.  Everyone on the ground cheers and claps as each person makes it to the bottom.

There is a glass floor to view downward, but I chose to stand near the windows.

Way down to the bottom, there are three viewing floors

 Everyone is catered for here, and being a Bank Holiday there were lots of families enjoying the pleasant day.  For the little people there are small boats to drive.

The harbour entrance was rather narrow, but the inner harbour held the Naval ships and some very old historical ships.

From the water you can see the white hills that still form part of the coast, along with an ancient castle. The commentary on the cruise was quite informative, especially the information about the Naval ships.

Being Sunday that meant we could get a roast.  Funny thing we have seen lots of signs outside pubs advising roast of the day, and in small print Sunday only.  We found The Old Customs House and enjoyed for John a large lunch, I chose the smaller option.  Lovely old building now renovated inside.

It didn't take long to drive to Winchester, and to what I would describe as a quaint little cottage in the back yard of a terrace house.  Quite comfortable reminds me of being inside a boat, and the best part is that we are about 200 metres from the town centre and the Cathedral.  

We visited the Cathedral, and found the Dean's House an extensive building outside the cathedral, where Peter Harnett Jennings, g.g.grandfather would have lived in 1846.

 It is all rather old and quite beautiful, and yes the cathedral is another stunning building but in a different way.  We went to Evensong, in remembrance of an unknown grandfather, to see what his life was all about.  The service was in the Quire, and the choir are reportedly one of the best in the land.

The choir stalls in the Quire

 

 The building is so huge and almost impossible to get a good shot, unless you walk away for a bit.

I was particularly interested in the tomb of King Canute, as he was a great grandfather many moons ago, but his tomb was getting restored.  They had removed his bones, and all that was available to photograph was this magnificent sculpture at the Alter.

Above the white flowers looking to the right the man in the tunic!

 

Also buried in the cathedral, was the man whose name has featured for centuries in the Durnford family around the world.  Edward Montagu and his wife never had another child, and his fortune found its way into members of one of my grandmothers's family The Creaghs.  From then on, probably in gratitude for the fortunes which they inherited, the name Montague has featured.

This town also hosted another ancestor King Arthur and of course William the Conqueror built a palace here way back then.  

Tomorrow the military museums, and the Knight of the Round Tables, as well as other interesting places.

It is a beautiful town, steeped in history, and we certainly have walked in our ancestors footsteps this afternoon.  As John told someone the other day, doing a trip where we are focused on parts of our lives, adds a different dimension and meaning, rather than just having a been there attitude!