Albion Heart profile picture

Albion Heart

..Coming Home To A Place Called England ..

About Me


The making of this page has been deeply inspired by Sam, who alone created 'The Albion Chronicles' a vast internet site about England, her traditions and heritage. His Chronicles are a labour of deep love, and it is Sam's love for his country which inspired me to look deeper into Albion, and to realise all I have been missing for so long, in so very many ways....I will always be grateful to him for that.
THE ALBION CHRONICLES - Volume 1
THE ALBION CHRONICLES - Volume 2
Many things on this page have also been inspired by Steve Knightley's powerful song 'ROOTS' which you can hear playing, and the video of which you can now watch below.
'ROOTS'is an inspirational song about England, about all that we have lost, which we have allowed ourselves to lose, through our apathy. It's very much about our loss of identity as well, for it seems that as a nation, we no longer seem to know who we truly are anymore.
I hope that much of what you find on this page will also inspire you to go out there and find all that is good about England once more, and that in your own way, you'll help to bring about a change in this country, for it needs each and every one of us to pull together to change things for the better....and believe you me....I know we can do it..together!
Lizzie :0)
So...welcome to this site about England and to a voyage into Albion's Heart.
"This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England" - William Shakespeare
Here you'll find a deep love for England, her music and traditions, her history, her people and her beauty. You'll find many of her folk singers too, along with her musicians and dancers. Here can also be found some of her poets, writers and artists, her scientists, heroes and heroines, her knights and highwaymen, together with information about her folk clubs and festivals too. Not forgetting, of course, her ancient woodlands, varied wildlife, stately homes, castles, outstanding gardens and SO much more.
So, get ready to take your own journey of discovery and amazement to what makes England such a beautiful country. For this site is A JOURNEY INTO ALBION where you will find a treasure trove of wonders, which may at times take your breath away, for England has so many sparkling jewels to offer..and when you find some of those jewels, pass them on to your children.
If there is anything about England which you would like to see added to this page, please send me a message and I'll be very happy to see what I can do.

My Interests

Please copy and paste the addresses below, if you wish, as 'google' links no longer open on Myspace, for some reason.
THE NATIONAL PARKS AND NATIONAL TRAILS OF ENGLAND
THE NATIONAL TRUST
ENGLISH HERITAGE
TONY HOWELL'S STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHS OF ENGLAND
ALBION'S MUSIC
AN ALBION SUNRISE
ENGLISH GARDENS - Down The Garden Path
http://down.the.garden.path.googlepages.com/
ALBION'S IMAGINATION
http://albions.imagination.googlepages.com/introduction
SIR PETER SCOTT
LONDON CALLING
http://2lo.londoncalling.googlepages.com/
OLAUDAH EQUIANO
WILLIAM WORDSWORTH
THE WORDSWORTH TRUST AND DOVE COTTAGE
WILFRED OWEN
FIRST WORLD WAR - WOMEN POETS
RUPERT BROOKE
CHARLES DICKENS
THE COPPER FAMILY
THE CELEBRATIONS OF MAY
THE COTSWOLDS - MALVERN - AND THE VALE
http://the.cotswolds.malvern.and.the.vale.googlepages.com/
WAT TYLER AND THE ENGLISH PEASANT'S REVOLT of 1381
THE BLUE STOCKING MOVEMENT
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
THIS ENGLAND
THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ST GEORGE
ALONG THE DOWNS - The old routes and roads of England
http://along.the.downs.googlepages.com/
THE COTSWOLD WAY NATIONAL TRAIL
HENRY MAYHEW
MAYHEW'S 'LONDON LABOUR AND THE LONDON POOR'
JOHN MOORE
WILLIAM BLAKE
THE ART OF JOSEPH TURNER
THE LEVELLERS
JACK-IN-THE-GREEN
MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS IN ENGLAND
FOLK VENUES IN AND AROUND BRIMINGHAM
EDWARD BURNE-JONES
THOMAS GRAY - ELEGY IN A COUNTRY CHURCHYARD
CECIL SHARP
WILLIAM MORRIS
GERARD HOFFNUNG
ROBIN TANNER
NEIL GAIMAN
GILES
THE PETITION OF RIGHT 1628
OLIVER CROMWELL
KING CHARLES 1st
THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR
ENGLISH CASTLES
THE MUSEUM OF ENGLISH RURAL LIFE
ENGLISH HIGHWAYMEN
ENGLISH PIRATES
THE KNIGHTS OF ROYAL ENGLAND
THE DIGGERS
ENGLISH INVENTORS
ENGLISH SCIENTISTS
THE NEW FOREST
ROBIN HOOD
A.A. MILNE & POOH BEAR
JOSEPH ROWNTREE
CHARLES CAUSLEY
THE CANALS AND WATERWAYS OF ENGLAND - TALES FROM THE TOWPATH
SAMUEL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR
STORYBOOK ENGLAND - Children's Books
AN ENGLISH JOURNEY AFLOAT
SIR JOHN BETJEMAN
ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL
RUPERT BEAR
THE PICTURESQUE BEAUTY OF WILLIAM GILPIN
BILL MITTON - SALFORD POET
MORRIS DANCING

I'd like to meet:

Anyone who loves England and her people, that is England's people of all colours, all faiths and all backgrounds. Also people who realise that England, as a nation, perhaps needs to re-discover who She really is. We must never forget the worst of our past, (no country should ever do that) but we also need to remember that there was a lot of good in there as well.
And it is the best from our past which we now need to bring out again, into our present, thus enabling us to build a strong, inclusive and compassionate country for the future. A country that knows where she came from and where she is going.
And so to the song which is having such a big influence on many people, and which has been such an inspiration in the making of this page.
'ROOTS' written by Steve Knightley, performed by Phil Beer and Steve Knightley who are SHOW OF HANDS
'ROOTS' - THE VIDEO
'ROOTS' by Steve Knightley:
"Now it's been twenty-five years or more
I've roamed this land from shore to shore
From Tyne to Tamar, Severn to Thames
From moor to vale, from peak to fen
Played in cafes and pubs and bars
I've stood in the street with my old guitar
But I'd be richer than all the rest
If I had a pound for each request
For 'Duelling Banjos' 'American Pie'
Its enough to make you cry
'Rule Britannia' or 'Swing Low'
Are they the only songs the English know?
Seed, bud, flower, fruit
They're never gonna grow without their roots
Branch, stem, shoots - they need roots
After the speeches when the cake's been cut
The disco is over and the bar is shut
At christening, birthday, wedding or wake
What can we sing until the morning breaks?
When the Indian, Asians, Afro, Celts
It's in their blood, below the belt
They're playing and dancing all night long
So what have they got right that we've got wrong?
Seed, bud, flower, fruit
Never gonna grow without their roots
Branch, stem, shoots - we need roots
Haul away boys let them go
Out in the wind and the rain and snow
We've lost more than well ever know
Round the rocky shores of England
And a minister said his vision of hell
Is three folk singers in a pub near Wells
Well I've got a vision of urban sprawl
It's pubs where no one ever sings at all
And everyone stares at a great big screen
Over-paid soccer stars, prancing teens
Australian soap, American rap
Estuary English, baseball caps
And we learn to be ashamed before we walk
Of the way we look and the way we talk
Without our stories or our songs
How will we know where weve come from?
I've lost St George in the Union Jack
It's my flag too and I want it back
Seed, bud, flower, fruit
Never gonna grow without their roots
Branch, stem, shoots - we need roots
Haul away boys let them go
Out in the wind and the rain and snow
We've lost more than we'll ever know
Round the rocky shores of England"
And below are yet more lyrics to another truly inspirational song about England, the English and St. George, which you can hear right here on Gez's Myspace page And whilst you're there, read his blog about the song and his reasons for writing it.
'Song for Saint George' written by Gez
It was this time last year when they told us to hide
To hide our St. George Flag away
"Take them down from your windows, they litter our streets
If you don't, they'll be much hell to pay
And we'll fine you if you choose to, so it's best you choose not
It's worse than the Union Jack
For St. George is dead and buried
We suggest you sit down, shut up, and please don't answer back
Just sit down
Just sit down
Just sit down
No, don't stand your ground"
On St. George's Day morning I want to run through my street
Find its Bank Holiday with her parties so sweet
Send my love to my country, be proud of this place
See the flags flown from windows, with a smile on my face
But I fear Monday morn' we'll regret we were born
In this country of green promised land
And we'll trudge off to work with no pride in our heart
And no love for our own countrymen
Oh the Irish - St. Patrick, The Welsh - David's Day
The Scottish - St. Andrew I'm told
Celebrated by all who arouse one and all
Old St. George has been left in the cold
Don't sit down!
Don't sit down!
Don't sit down!
Just stand your ground!
On St. George's Day morning I want to run through my town
Find its Bank Holiday with my neighbours around
Send my love to my country, be proud of this place
See the flags flown from windows, with a smile on my face
I know is I'm small, yet I try to stand tall
For my country on St. George's Day
Raise a glass to Old England my neighbours and friends
So they know that he's not gone away
I'll run with my flag in the cool winter spring
Through the fields and the streets of this land
You can take Old St. George from our windows and doors
In my heart there remains an England
You can take Old St. George from our windows and doors
In my heart there remains an England
You can take old St. George from my windows and doors
In my heart there remains an England
This is a short video of THE DEMON BARBERS A group of young people who are blowing the dust off English folk music and dance. They are packing out our festivals, attracting masses of young people and they are doing sensational things for English Traditional music and dance!
THE DEMON BARBERS ROADSHOW .. .. ..
Here is another brilliant song about England, written by Maggie Holland....'A Place Called England'...and you can hear her singing it right here:
MAGGIE HOLLAND
A Place Called England by Maggie Holland:
"I rode out on a bright May morning
Like a hero in a song
Looking for a place called England
Trying to find where I belong
Couldn't find the old flood meadow
Or the house that I once knew
No trace of the little river
Or the garden where I grew

I saw town and I saw country
Motorway and sink estate
Rich man in his rolling acres
Poor man still outside the gate
Retail park and burger kingdom
Prairie field and factory farm
Run by men who think that England's
Only a place to park their car

But as the train pulled from the station
Through the wastelands of despair
From the corner of my eye
A brightness filled the filthy air
Someone's grown a patch of sunflowers
Though the soil is sooty black
Marigolds and a few tomatoes
Right beside the railway track

Down behind the terraced houses
In between the concrete towers
Compost heaps and scarlet runners
Secret gardens full of flowers
Meeta grows the scent of roses
Right beneath the big jet's path
Bid a fortune for her garden
Eileen turns away and laughs

So rise up George and wake up Arthur
Time to rouse out from your sleep
Deck the horse in the sea-green ribbons
Drag the old sword from the deep
Hold the line for Dave and Daniel
As they tunnel through the clay
While the oak in all its glory
Soaks up sun for one more day

And come all you at home with freedom
Whatever the land that gave you birth
There's room for you both root and branch
As long as you love the English earth
Room for vole and room for orchid
Room for all to grow and thrive
Just less room for the fat landowner
On his arse in his four-wheel drive

England is not flag or Empire
It is not money it is not blood
It's limestone gorge and granite fell
It's Wealden clay and Severn mud
It's blackbird singing from the may-tree
Lark ascending through the scales
Robin watching from your spade
And English earth beneath your nails

So here's two cheers for a place called England
Badly used but not yet dead
A Mr. Harding sort of England
Hanging in there by a thread
Here's two cheers for the crazy Diggers
Now their hour shall come around
We can plant the seed they saved us
Common wealth and common ground"
And here are some of the English, dancing their 'roots'off, on a warm Summer's Day at WIMBORNE FOLK FESTIVAL 2006
HUNTER'S MOON MORRIS:

And.... WITCHMEN PAGAN MORRIS - WHERE PAGAN MEETS MODERN
.. .. ..

Music:

THE ENGLISH MUSIC FESTIVAL
MOSELEY FOLK FESTIVAL
SIDMOUTH FOLK WEEK
CROPREDY FESTIVAL
OTLEY FOLK FESTIVAL
ENGLISH COUNTRY MUSIC WEEKEND
RIDGERIDERS
WATERSON CARTHY
COOPE BOYES & SIMPSON
TRIPLE ECHO by Coope Boyes & Simpson
http://triple.echo.coope.boyes.and.simpson.googlepages.com/h ome
CRUEL RIVER - By Steve Knightley
http://cruel.river.googlepages.com/home
FAITH FOLK & ANARCHY
http://faith.folk.and.anarchy.googlepages.com/home
ASHLEY HUTCHINGS RAINBOW CHASERS
http://ashley.hutchings.rainbow.chasers.googlepages.com/

Movies:

SOME CLASSIC FILMS OF ENGLAND
AMAZING GRACE - This is the story of William Wilberforce. The most amazing Englishman, who eventually ended the Slave Trade. A story of faith, conviction, compassion and humanity. We can't recommend this film highly enough, it's wonderful!

Books:

UNDER THE GREENWOOD TREE - by Thomas Hardy
http://underthegreenwoodtree.googlepages.com/
LARK RISE TO CANDLEFORD - Flora Thompson
THE COUNTRY DIARY OF AN EDWARDIAN LADY - Edith Holden
THE ILLUSTRATED JOURNEYS OF CELIA FIENNES - by Celia Fiennes
http://what.celia.sees.googlepages.com/
ENGLAND THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY by John Lewis Strempel
ALBION THE ORIGINS OF THE ENGLISH IMAGINATION - by Peter Ackroyd
http://albions.imagination.googlepages.com/
THE PROGRESSIVE PATRIOT - Billy Bragg
CIDER WITH ROSIE - Laurie Lee
WUTHERING HEIGHTS by Emily Bronte
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS by Kenneth Graeme
LONDON -THE BIOGRAPHY - Peter Ackroyd
IN SEARCH OF ALBION - Colin Irwin
THE GERVASE FEN NOVELS - Edmund Crispin
ENGLAND my ENGLAND - Gerry Hanson
NEVERWHERE - by Neil Gaiman
http://neverwhere.london.below.googlepages.com/
COUNTRY PEOPLE - AN ENDANGERED SPECIES - Tony Hodgson

Heroes:

TALES OF THE FALLEN
LEONARD CHESHIRE
THE LEONARD CHESHIRE FOUNDATION
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE
MARY SEACOLE
WILLIAM WILBERFORCE
VERA BRITTAIN
ELIZABETH FRY
HENRY BLOGG
EDITH CAVELL
JOHN LILBURNE - 'FREEBORN JOHN'