Bury St. Edmunds

(St. Edmundsbury Cathedral)

Today we had the privilege of visiting a nearby town--Bury St. Edmunds (they call it simply Bury, pronounced like the word berry). We had a really fun time, and we already can't wait to go back when the Abbey Gardens and the Appleby Rose Garden are in bloom.

Bury's biggest claim to fame is the Abbey, which was largely destroyed in the 16th Century. It was previously a pilgrimage site to the remains of Saint Edmund, a king who was killed by the Danes in 869. In this photo you can see some of the ruins of the Abbey. There are even places where apartments have been built into the Abbey ruins (not pictured). These ruins are spectacular!

The St. Edmundsbury Cathedral is central point of interest. The parts of the Cathedral/Abbey compound that are original have been there since the 11th Century, like this Abbeygate which is 900ish years old! Pictures don't do it justice; it's breathtaking.

Being inside the cathedral was incredible; it's beautiful, with many stained-glass windows and an organ that sits high in the building so the sound penetrates the entire place (maybe even to the soul, I didn't calculate precisely). The ceilings are high and beautiful, and the whole experience of being inside is indescribable. Again, the photographs just don't adequately convey the beauty.

We also had the chance to enjoy local fare at the Queen's Head Pub. Here is a photo of our meals: steak and ale pie with chips and peas; and potato and leek soup with french bread. We're sure you've heard the rumors that English food is horrible, but we would like to report a very delicious meal today!

Another "important" feature of Bury is that it is home to Britain's smallest pub--the Nutshell (the pink building in the photo).

We also happened upon a bakery, where Jacob was drawn (magnetically, it seemed) to purchase a loaf of bread, which we are both enjoying tonight.



On an unrelated note, we're happy to report that we both passed our driving tests yesterday, so we'll soon be driving on the left side of these roads! Stay tuned to English Patience for future reports of our adventures!