Some Old Ruins

Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire was a victim of Henry VIII's wholesale destruction of monsteries. The ruin has remained for nearly 400 years because it was too far away from the nearest town to be easy to rob out. Only the lead from the roofs went.

Eynsford Castle is in Kent, near Lullingstone Roman Villa. It's a free, open site with lovely ruined walls to clamber over.

Whitby Abbey in Yorkshire was a very important monastery in the 7th and 8th centuries when the Roman Catholic Church was involved in internal debate between different factions. If Whitby had won the case, monks and priests would have been able to continue to marry, as they had up to that time.

Old Sarum in Wiltshire was a fortified town with a Norman cathedral. In about 1200 the decision was made to move the town to a site in the water meadows nearby, and the town of Salisbury with its beautiful Gothic cathedral was purpose built from scratch to a plan. Stonehenge is nearby.

Lullingstone Roman Villa in Kent is a stunning place, complete with mosaics, hypercaust and bath house. Years ago a teacher friend took some schoolboys there, and was horrified to see one pick up a 2000-year-old Roman sandal and snap in in half.

Linlithgow Castle is between Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland. It was the childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots. It used to be a great place to explore, but I believe they've made it "safe" now.

Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire is another victim of the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and like Rievaulx it was too remote for the heavy stone to be removed for other building work.

Rochester Castle, with the Cathedral. The castle is Norman (11th century) . It was held by rebels against William II in support of his uncle Bishop Odo (no, not Deep Space 9). The castle was besieged in the 13th century by King John, and probably fell into ruin as a result of an assault by one of his siege engines.