Leading Visitor Attractions 2018: English Heritage

The figures for Leading Visitor Attractions in 2018 have been published. The top English Heritage sites are:

• Stonehenge [20]: 1,555,868 [-1.7%]. 2017: 1,582,532 [+14.5%]
• Dover Castle [95]: 365,462 [-3.8%]. 2017: 379,740 [+13.9%]
• Osborne [112]: 304,927 [-1.3%]. 2017: 308,861 [+16.1%]
• Tintagel Castle [135]: 230,584 [-6.3%]. 2017: 246,039 [+7.1%]
• Carlisle Castle [158]: 177,247 [+285.4%]
• Audley End House and Gardens [160]: 170,042 [-5.1%]. 2017: 179,167 [+8.1%]
• Clifford’s Tower, York [163]: 154,701 [+0.4%]. 2017: 154,135 [+5.1%]
• Whitby Abbey [165]: 147,566 [-11.3%]. 2017: 166,362 [+9.6%]
• Kenwood [171]: 131,126 [-8.6%]. 2017: 143,490 [+6.8%]
• Wrest Park [172]: 128,980 [-5.9%]. 2017: 137,131 [+10.3%]
• Carisbrooke Castle [174]: 125,664 [-0.7%]. 2017: 126,584 [-0.3%]
• 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield [176]: 123,870 [+0.5%]. 2017: 123,220 [-10.6%]
• Eltham Palace and Gardens [180]: 110,034 [+0.5%]. 2017: 109,501 [+12.5%]
• Kenilworth Castle [181]: 110,012 [-6.8%]. 2017: 118,090 [+9.3%]
• Housesteads Roman Fort [182]: 109,675 [+0.9%]. 2017: 108,660 [+6.5%]
• Walmer Castle and Gardens [184]: 103,905 [-4.7%]. 2017: 109,005 [+18.8%]

Overall English Heritage seems to have been attracting fewer visitors during 2018.

Eltham Palace © David Gill

Castle Rising: signage

Castle Rising © David Gill

Castle Rising was placed in State Guardianship in 1958. There is a single Ministry directional sign left in the village.

Castle Rising © David Gill

Castle Rising © David Gill

Binham Priory: church

Binham Priory from the west © David Gill

The nave of the priory church at Binham remains in use.

Binham Priory, nave © David Gill

Parts of the south aisle lie outside the present parish church.

Binham Priory, south aisle and northern part of cloister © David Gill

Binham Priory © David Gill

The choir and presbytery lie to the east of the present parish church and are now in a ruinous state.

Binham Priory © David Gill

The north and south transepts are clearly marked.

Binham Priory, south transept © David Gill

Binham Priory © David Gill

Binham Priory © David Gill

Binham Priory, night stairs in south transept © David Gill

The night stairs are located in the south transept. These led to the dorter.

Binham Priory © David Gill

Binham Priory © David Gill

The foundations of the late 11th century building are marked out in the north aisle.

The Lady Chapel may have been located on the north side.

Binham Priory © David Gill

Glastonbury Tribunal: guidebooks

(1973)

The Glastonbury Tribunal was placed in State Guardianship in 1932. C.A. Ralegh Radford prepared the first guidebook in 1953. This continued in print as a paper booklet until 1971. The format contains a History followed by a Description. Plans of the ground and first floors are printed in the centre.

(1971)

It was then transformed into a foldout card guide (1973). This format was adopted for other sites: Hetty Pegler’s Tump, Reculver, Hardknott Roman Fort, and Y Gaer Roman Fort. For Glastonbury two pictures were added to enhance the guide.

 

Helmsley Castle: signage

Helmsley Castle © David Gill

One of the Ministry signs has been used at Helmsley Castle in Yorkshire. Variants of this include ‘Out of Bounds’ (Berwick upon Tweed), ‘No Access Beyond This Point’ (Dundrennan Abbey), ‘Private’ (Hadrian’s Wall; New Abbey Cornmill),  ‘No Admittance Without Ticket’ (Saxtead Green), and ‘No Admittance to Abbey This Way’ (Easby Abbey).

There was a ‘No Exit’ sign at Framlingham Castle.

Helmsley Castle © David Gill

Goodrich Castle: guidebooks

1958 (5th impress. 1967)

Goodrich Castle was placed in State Guardianship in 1920. The first official guidebook was prepared by C.A. Ralegh Radford, with a new edition in 1958. It consists of a history, with a section on periods of construction, then a description. A plan of the castle was included inside the guidebook at the start of the description.

1958 (9th impress. 1975)

The revised DOE blue guide has the foldout plan inside the back cover.

1993 (repr. 1999)

The English Heritage guidebook was prepared by Derek Renn (whose other guides included Framlingham Castle, Old Sarum and Shell Keeps). This starts with a tour of the castle, walks along the river Wye, and a history of Goodrich. A plan of the castle is placed in the centre of the guide.

Tintagel Castle: guidebooks

Tintagel © David Gill

Tintagel Castle was placed in State Guardianship by the Duchy of Cornwall in 1930. C.A. Ralegh Radford prepared the first guide 1935, with a second edition in 1939. It is introduced with a summary, followed by a history, periods of construction of the castle, and then the description. A foldout plan is placed inside the back cover. The later MPBW guidebook had an additional plan of the island inside the back cover.

1939 (2nd ed., 10th impress. 1962)

1939 (2nd ed., 14th impress. 1969)

The English Heritage guidebook was written by Brian K. Davison. It contains three sections: Tour and Description; History of Tintagel; the Legend of King Arthur. A plan of the island is placed inside the back cover.

1999 (repr. 2002)