The Seven Man-made Wonders of England

         Much has been made, recently, about the "New Seven Wonders of the World." Well, I have decided that there are many man-made wonders around the globe, so many that there should probably be a list for each country. So, here goes.

         England is a country with a long history and a number of iconic symbols. These are my choices of the seven most incredible man-made sights in this rich country.
      1. Stonehenge, on the Salisbury Plain, in the county of Wiltshire, west of London. Archaeologists believe the sight dates to the period between 2200 BC and 3100 BC, making this formation about 5,000 years old. There is much folklore surrounding its purpose, but best guesses are 1. an astronomical observatory which predicts and displays the solstices, or 2. a religious site.
      2. Palace of Westminster (Britain’s Parliament Building) & its Clocktower (Big Ben), London.  The British Parliament building is stunning, with its golden color and intricate architecture. It is a huge complex with almost 1200 rooms and its clocktower and bell are recognized throughout the world.
      3. Tower of London, London. This Medieval complex has been a royal residence, a prison, a fortress, a mint, a treasury (the Crown Jewels are still stored here), an observatory, a zoo, a place of torture and execution, etc. It was built in 1078 AD, by William the Conqueror. Famous people who were imprisoned or executed here include Sir Walter Raleigh, Anne Boleyn, and Rudolf Hess.
      4. Tower Bridge, London. This unusual and interesting bridge has become a symbol of London. It dates to 1894 and appears to have solved the problem of a bridge which allows boat traffic, foot traffic and automobile traffic. Its architecture is Victorian Gothic and the elements are operated by hydraulics.
      5. Buckingham Palace, London. The palace is the residence of the Royal Family while in London and contains about 400 rooms. Each day, there is a Changing of the Guard Ceremony which is witnessed by thousands. There is also a Changing of the Horse Guards at the nearby Mews (a sort of garage/stable where the carriages and horses are kept.
      6. Roman Bath, in the city of Bath. This relic of the Roman occupation of England dates to about 70 AD and are adjacent to the more recent Pump Room.
      7. Hadrian’s Wall, in the northern part of England, near the border with Scotland. This 75 mile long structure is another relic of Roman times. The wall was begun in 122 AD and completed by 130 AD. Sprinkled along its length were "forts," basically small communities which provided manpower and services to assist the Roman Army soldiers who were responsible for the protection of the colony (England). One of the largest of the forts was Vercovicium, otherwise known as Housesteads Fort.
      Other sights considered:
         Windsor Castle
         Leeds Castle
         Warwick Castle
         York Minster
         Westminster Abbey
         St Paul’s Cathedral
         Royal Pavilion
         Stourhead Gardens
         Canterbury Cathedral


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