You never know what you will discover when you take a walk. I have passed this place many times to pick up my grandson from nursery but never stopped to look in detail at this old hotel.
For today’s #wednesdaywalk initiated by @tattoodjay I did stop and take a walk along the road to get a better view of this ancient old hotel. Join in the challenge check out Jay's rules page
Hotel front elevation view
When I start to write a new blog. I do a little research to make the post a bit more interesting and relevant to the images that I have captured. This added value helps the reader (you) get a better understanding of the context of the photographs.
Hotel rear elevation view
It is often the things that we pass by every day that can produce the most amazing facts. For me, something has to catch my attention and this cute pink building certainly did that.
This is the Stukeley country hotel in the village of Great Stukeley north of Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. It sits on the west side of Ermine Street which was built in the 1st century A.D. by the ancient Romans. The road linked London to Lincoln.
The curve you can see in the road in the first photo is a very recent addition to the street scene. Up until a few weeks ago that curve wasn’t there at all and the road was dead straight. (Adding this curve was a bad idea because now most of the traffic has to stop and turn right to continue up the old Ermine street.)
To think that here I was standing on a road that has been in use for at least 2000 years and probably longer. That simple fact alone was mind-blowing to me.
The Romans of course were great builders of dead straight roads for this simple reason. To be able to move troops fast from one part of the country to another to subdue the wild tribes of the regions.
Country roads
The side benefit of this road building was that it helped with trade and collecting taxes of course.
As you can see from the photo it is painted in a pretty shade of pink which has been a popular colour in this part of the country for many years although mostly in the Suffolk area.
The current hotel dates from the 16th century but legend has it that there has been a building on this site for many years before the current hotel.
There is even a rumour that Dick Turpin (1705-1735) the infamous highwayman, poacher and horse thief patrolled along this route.
So next time you go for a walk take a bit of time and look around you. You never know what you may discover right under your nose.
Have you noticed that the Daffodils are up very early this year?
More posts on Cambridgeshire
Historic St.Ives
1930’s Vintage Garage
Harvesting the wind
Thatched Cottage
Sunset on the lake HDR
| Category | (Architectural photography)
| Camera | (Canon 70D)
| f stop | (f/5.6)
| Exposure time | (1/250)
| ISO | (100)
| Lens | (Canon 50 mm)
| Location | Photographed in Cambridgeshire | |
Beautiful daffodils, lucky you! Mine are still hidden deep under the snow. Isn't it amazing when you start to look at the history that happened right in your own backyard? Of course yours is much more ancient history than anything I have here but I am still always surprised when I find out new things that happened here in the past.
Thanks Mel, I suppose it's a question of time scales and use cases.
The roads meant that people continued using a particular route over time.
If you check out the old routes near you I'd bet you find similar stuff from the 1600's maybe?
Maybe undocumented native American trails, but my area was not 'settled' until the 1800's. The rivers were the early roads.
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It is an interesting building to ponder upon. The history and stories that must have gone under its eaves and tiles. Love these old building where wings and addition were added without having to get council approval. Makes for distinction and whimsy. Thanks for taking us along on your Wednesday Walk, loved the daffos at the end. We should be getting ours any day. Bright and sunny but brisk in Vancouver:)
Hey Pryde, good to hear from you. Can you imagine the number of people that have stayed in the hotel over the last 400 years? If the walls could talk? haha
The random additions on the back right of the building look 18th century and yep no planning to worry about.
We had a few days of record breaking sunshine (21 c) and kick started spring but now it has turned very cold again? !tip
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The Pink is hard to miss, it is mind blowing ot think how long that road has been there
What a cool Post
Thanks for joining Wednesday Walk !tip
Thanks Jay, I've driven past this hotel for months and it literally was your wednesday walk that got me to stop and take a closer look. So glad i did. It is a fascinating little slice of history. !tip
It really does have such interesting history and I am glad the walk Challenge inspired you to find out and share with us the history
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I’d love to take a country road to this place! Nice job capturing this architecture. Steem on :)
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Thanks JC, it is a very pleasant walk in this area. Not to hilly but enough to get you puffing and some great buildings.
I wonder how many movies or books the hotel has been mentioned in. For some reason I think at least one of each, since the name was so familiar, but a quick google search did not mention any. I wish we had early daffodils popping up, but if they are they would have to be mutant 3 footers to push through the snow.
The Dick Turpin connection is quite interesting. I may do a deeper dive on this notorious character. There have been a few films about him.
The daffs are very welcome after the winter but they are very early this year? !tip
There was even a TV Series for him 79-82, Not sure if I ever heard of him, but may have seen the TV series or an episode or two, really can not remember.
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Hello @molometer I cannot wait to see flowers outside again.
That is wild a road with so much history and then you were standing there.
It was an interesting thought for sure. Imagine how many people have passed that place or even stayed there overnight?
I like the front of the hotel with the two windows jutting out from the roof. The pink color certainly catch’s the eye.
Thanks for the history on your walk and the daffodils are wonderful to see. I won’t see them here for awhile yet. 🥶
The pink colour is very common in this region for buildings of this era so they do stand out.
Imagine being a weary traveller on the road and then seeing this place on the hill in the distance. It must have been a very welcome sight.
A superb Wednesday Walk post @molometer LOVE those gorgeous daffodils.
The daffs are up very early over here and a very welcome splash of colour after the winter.
They are so beautiful and we don't get to to see them very much in our area and that is why I appreciate them so much. 💐
Howdy sir molometer! that is a very historic and interesting area! I like the looks of that old hotel, think if those walls could talk! lol.
what a beautiful walk