Where in Ware is the Grotto?
Aug. 30th, 2003 03:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kybearfuzzBeen looking around the sights of Ware. Had lunch and went shopping. Still didn't buy anything. British fashion for the young leaves a lot to be desired. Ugh! I've never had this trouble souvenir shopping before.
The hotel had to put me in a single bed (twin size bed) room. They had a wedding with a horde of guests staying over, so my double-bed (Full or Queen size bed) wasn't available. I'm no baby when it comes to hotels, but my single dorm room in college was about this size. With all my luggage, turning around in the room took some effort. A claustrophobic person would have had some issues here. They stated it was only for the night and would be changed later today. Eh... it happens.
I did find Scott's Grotto. It's named for John Scott, an 18th century English poet, who had the grotto built. It was started in 1734 and finished in 1764. Ever heard of him? Probably not, I hadn't either. The tour guides said he was only somewhat successful, but must have gotten some money to build this sight. There endth the history lesson.
What the heck is a "grotto"? I had to ask the tour guides that same thing. Essentially, it is a place that Scott had built to goof off! A grotto is a folly of sorts. It was a place for him and his buddies to have fun in and nothing else. So basically, it had no real purpose.
It's actually a very interesting place, or I wouldn't be writing about it. Unless it stunk, or was boring, in which case, this would turn quickly into a rant. This place is actually a stone facing that has tunnels that burrow into the hill behind it, creating a small maze of corridors and stoned rooms with little to no light in them. Now the kid in me found this exciting. It's very dark, narrow corridors, you tour with a flashlight, it's kinda spooky. Love that. In fact the small kids that were there were laughing their way through. It was the mom who was a bit nervous.
The little rooms have small alcoved seats made into the wall. I can imagine having a table in that room, torches lit, having a couple of brews and playing a game of poker. As you go around, the rooms are decorated with ornate sea shells. This city is a river port (small river though) that connects to the Thames. So as his sea bearing friends went out, they would gather and bring all types of shells back to decorate tunnels and rooms. There are conch shells, fan shells, etc, around every door facing and ceiling. From an engineering standpoint, it really is impressive. Took tons of photos.
Okay, I'm one of the most boring people on the planet obviously. My brother, the golf-master jock, would hate this place, I thought it was cool. Mr. Scott also had a summer home built above the grotto. Now before you think this was a large house, it's nothing more than a one-room structure on a stone setting. It's about the size of a large gazebo, but apparently that's what they looked like at the time. So I donated 3£ for the tour and got my obligatory book to go with it.
Not sure what I'll do the rest of the day. I found out today that the train fare to London, round-trip, is only £7, so I may hop a train tomorrow and go see Her Majesty.
The hotel had to put me in a single bed (twin size bed) room. They had a wedding with a horde of guests staying over, so my double-bed (Full or Queen size bed) wasn't available. I'm no baby when it comes to hotels, but my single dorm room in college was about this size. With all my luggage, turning around in the room took some effort. A claustrophobic person would have had some issues here. They stated it was only for the night and would be changed later today. Eh... it happens.
I did find Scott's Grotto. It's named for John Scott, an 18th century English poet, who had the grotto built. It was started in 1734 and finished in 1764. Ever heard of him? Probably not, I hadn't either. The tour guides said he was only somewhat successful, but must have gotten some money to build this sight. There endth the history lesson.
What the heck is a "grotto"? I had to ask the tour guides that same thing. Essentially, it is a place that Scott had built to goof off! A grotto is a folly of sorts. It was a place for him and his buddies to have fun in and nothing else. So basically, it had no real purpose.
It's actually a very interesting place, or I wouldn't be writing about it. Unless it stunk, or was boring, in which case, this would turn quickly into a rant. This place is actually a stone facing that has tunnels that burrow into the hill behind it, creating a small maze of corridors and stoned rooms with little to no light in them. Now the kid in me found this exciting. It's very dark, narrow corridors, you tour with a flashlight, it's kinda spooky. Love that. In fact the small kids that were there were laughing their way through. It was the mom who was a bit nervous.
The little rooms have small alcoved seats made into the wall. I can imagine having a table in that room, torches lit, having a couple of brews and playing a game of poker. As you go around, the rooms are decorated with ornate sea shells. This city is a river port (small river though) that connects to the Thames. So as his sea bearing friends went out, they would gather and bring all types of shells back to decorate tunnels and rooms. There are conch shells, fan shells, etc, around every door facing and ceiling. From an engineering standpoint, it really is impressive. Took tons of photos.
Okay, I'm one of the most boring people on the planet obviously. My brother, the golf-master jock, would hate this place, I thought it was cool. Mr. Scott also had a summer home built above the grotto. Now before you think this was a large house, it's nothing more than a one-room structure on a stone setting. It's about the size of a large gazebo, but apparently that's what they looked like at the time. So I donated 3£ for the tour and got my obligatory book to go with it.
Not sure what I'll do the rest of the day. I found out today that the train fare to London, round-trip, is only £7, so I may hop a train tomorrow and go see Her Majesty.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
hi, mark
Date: 2003-08-30 01:44 pm (UTC)...just looking at your journal.
I am a friend of Don (Hylandr) here in Buffalo.
You must be close to my parents in Florence, KY.
Take care. Be well.
-MARK "Fuzzy"
in Bflo, NY
Re: hi, mark
From: