Until yesterday we had never been to Southwell (I believe it is pronounced Suthall). It is only about an hour away, but we tend to adventure in different directions.
We will definitely be going back.
Apart from having the Workhouse, which is definitely a worthwhile place to visit, if you get the chance, the town itself is absolutely gorgeous.
The middle of the town is a glorious mix of houses from original Tudor half beamed buildings to Regency grandeur and lovely Victorian shop fronts. The shops are quite chi chi, with little interiors boutiques and pottery shops, delis and the like, and it seemed to be bustling when we arrived late yesterday afternoon.
The jewel in the crown though, has got to be the Minster.
I did not even imagine it would be there. Southwell is not a particularly large place, and the Minster dominates everything. It is, I read up, an outstanding example of Norman and Early English architecture.
It has two towers which are unique in England and which are known as Rhenish caps. Locally they are called Pepperpots.
The original church is supposed to have been founded in 627. The earliest parts still remaining are bits of Saxon floor, and Saxon stone which was reused in the current configuration when they began rebuilding the church in the 12th Century.
We didn’t get to go inside, because we arrived rather late, but we definitely have plans to go back and have a proper look around. It is a stunning building and I am agog to see what it is like on the inside.
In the meantime we consoled ourselves with tea and cakes from a superb tea shop/deli called: ‘The Old Theatre Deli’. The cakes were superb. The coffee was top notch and the service was wonderful. I was particularly delighted that all the cakes were served on mis matched, vintage china.
Be still my beating heart.
It is pronounced Suthull, although the kids I knew from there who went to our school were so posh they called it South-well and got mercilessly taunted for it.
Px
Always good to know these things. Definitely don’t need a kicking for mispronunciation!
that cake looks awesome… what is it?
Bronxbee
It was lemon and lime cheesecake and it was sharp and creamy and the base was crumbly and sweet and it was absolutely delicious.
To have a minster of that size and grandeur, the town must have been of some importance in its past. Looking forward to hearing about the next visit.
I am going to wait until the weather is a little more tolerable but hopefully it won’t be long before we get a revisit.
It’s the chapter house carvings that it’s most famous for – ‘the leaves of Southwell’. Lots of green men faces, and various beasts from piglings to dragons, all mixed up among the foliage.
Noreen
I was pretty sure I could rely on you and Keith to have the skinny! Thank you. It sounds fabulous.
Oh wow, that cake looks devine!
Bev
It absolutely was.x