1922 Europe Journal, Part 26: England

   Thank you to everyone who has following along on this journey so far - we have almost come to the end. I'm running a few days behind - I was at a resort/campground this weekend with no Internet or WiFi (it was actually very nice to get out and do fun family activities and connect with friends). You will not want to miss the images I have for the last blog post about the trip - coming later tonight or tomorrow. :)

Sunday, August 20, 1922 - London

“Woke up at 7:00 and called R. for 7:00 mass. She made 8:00 all right. I got up about 9:00. We couldn’t get into the dining room before church, so went without breakfast. It was paid for, too. Went to church at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The restaurant and grill room were not open here when we returned, so we went to a little restaurant nearby for lunch. This afternoon we have been sleeping. R. is still at it. We are looking forward to tomorrow when we can get into the American Express office and get mail and money.”

[For more than one thousand four hundred years, a cathedral dedicated to Saint Paul has stood at the highest point in the City. Frequently at the centre of national events, traditions have been observed here and radical new ideas have found expression under the iconic dome. This was the first cathedral to be built after the English Reformation in the sixteenth-century, when Henry VIII removed the Church of England from the jurisdiction of the Pope and the Crown took control of the life of the church. The three hundred year old building is therefore a relative newcomer to a site which has witnessed Christian Worship for over one thousand four hundred years. This brief history looks at just a few of the individuals and events which have shaped the history of St Paul’s Cathedral.]

Monday, August 21, 1922 - London

“Got to American Express shortly after 9:00. Went to the mail department first. We all faired very well. I got 10 letters. Our Paris suitcase was there, but the Interlaken one wasn’t. Made arrangements for the trip for the p.m. and one to Stratford on Tuesday. It took us a good share of the morning to read our mail and tend to the other things.”

“At 2:30 in the p.m. we started on a trip around the city. Visited the monument erected by Queen Victoria to Albert. Stopped at Buckingham Palace, but visitors are not admitted. The next stop was at Westminster Abbey. It was very crowded and we couldn’t take as much time there as we would have liked. The poets’ corners was very interesting. Also saw the place where the coronations take place. All of the kings and queens of England are crowned there. Princess Mary was married there, too. The original coronation chair with the Stone of Scone was pointed out. The stone was brought from Scotland and tradition says that the Kings used to sit on it at the time of coronation. It is said that it is part of the stone on which Jacob slept. In the evening, we went to the theater - saw the musical comedy Sally. It was nothing wonderful.”

Tuesday, August 22, 1922

“We started for Stratford at 9:10 this morning. Had a 2 hour and a half ride by train. When we got there we found a man with a Ford who took us around. Went to the Anne Hathaway cottage first. Next we visited the Shakespeare House - that has been changed at various times. For a number of years, it was used as a butcher shop. Since it has become public property, it has been restored and is as much like it was in Shakespeare’s day as possible. We then went to the church where Shakespeare is buried.  It is on the banks of the Avon River. He is buried in the church and there is a memorial statue over his grave. Here also were the record books containing the records of his baptism and death. In the churchyard we saw the bench on which Longfellow used to sit. It overlooks the river.  Had lunch at the Arden restaurant. It is just across from the Memorial Theater. Got back at 5:00. Went to the American Express. L. got her long-looked-for cable. In the evening we went to the theater. Saw the first act of Shall We Join the Ladies - a new three act J. M. Barrie play. Also saw Galsworthy’s Loyalties. They were fine.”

Stratford on Avon - not quite sure why they snapped a vertical shot instead of a horizontal?

Shakespeare's House

Anne Hathaway's Cottage