It is always important to place emphasis on the adjective ‘reputed’ when referring to events where no written documentation remains – if, indeed, any documentation was ever made in the first place.

This is particularly true of the ancient inns of England, Scotland and Wales and the countless claims that many make with reference to famous visitors centuries ago. That said, while a few are almost certainly the work of fertile imaginations, there’s more than a metaphorical grain-of-truth to the vast majority.

Of course, the further one travels back in time the harder it becomes to substantiate such claims. A historic icon such as Charles Dickens, for example, was extremely well travelled, and accounts if his having stayed at hotels and inns throughout the UK are easier to verify by virtue of them being from little over a century and a half ago. Travel back to the 1600′s or further and the waters become a little cloudier. Continue reading →

The property industry has been very gloomy in the last couple of years since the economic downturn, however this is not the case now for some savvy developers who are building green villages and towns which do not cost the earth to live in.

The concept is called New Urbanism and there are around ten such communities across the country so far following the same principles.  The philosophy began in the 1980′s in America and encourages small settlements of a few thousand people to live in a community with a “centre” to it and a number of schools and facilities.  Public transport is encouraged as is walking when you can and cars are discouraged, the idea is that schools and work places are within five miles of your home. Continue reading →