Photos by G Lokey : on the map, in Google Earth (KML)

HMS Belfast was launched on 17th March 1938, St. Patrick's Day. It was commissioned into the Royal Navy 5th August 1939. At the outbreak of war it formed part of the 18th Cruiser Squadron based at Scapa Flow and was constantly on patrol in northern waters as part of the Navy's efforts to impose a maritime blockade on Germany. On 21st November 1939 she hit a mine while leaving the Firth of Forth and three years were to elapse before she was fit for duty. She finally rejoined the Home Fleet in November 1942 as flagship for the Tenth Cruiser Squadron on Arctic convoy duties. She spent most of 1943 on these duties and towards the end of that year she was involved in the Battle of the North Cape when the mighty German battle cruiser Scharnhorst was eventually sunk. In March 1944 she left Scapa Flow with a force of battleships and aircraft carriers. Their objective was the last surviving German heavy surface unit, the battleship Tirpitz, moored in a seemingly impregnable fjord in Norway. Forty bombers and eighty fighters were launched by the carriers and the Tirpitz was hit by 15 bombs and was incapable of putting to sea for several months. It was eventually finished off by 617 (Dambusters) Squadron in November 1944. The Belfast was involved in D Day 6th June 1944 and then went to the Far East, later took part in the Korean War in 1950 and returned home in September 1952. Belfast sailed for the Far East and spent the years 1959-1962 'showing the flag'. She was finally 'retired' 24th August 1963 and would have probably have headed for the scrapyard but it was decided to save her and she was brought to London and opened to the public on 21st October 1971, Trafalgar Day!

This is one of two replicas, the other being at St.Mary Overie Dock, Southwark, London. Unlike the other replica which has travelled over 140,000 miles and, like the original, has circumnavigated the world, this replica has been permanently moored here.

This is one of two replicas, the other being in Brixham Harbour. This one was was launched in 1973 and like the original has circumnavigated the world and has travelled over 140,000 miles. It has been berthed here in St. Mary Overie Dock in Southwark since 1996.

Some funny old cropping going on here as our hero's head missing from "album" photo until it is "clicked" on!!!

"Not selected for Google Earth", I wonder why not? Methinks our Naval history is not going down well in some quarters!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Much obliged mate.

This medieval church was formerly at Llandeilo Tal-y-bont in West Glamorgan and is the Museum's latest building being opened by the Archbishop of Canterbury in October 2007.

Recreated in 1992 this village features three roundhouses identical to those occupied by our Iron Age ancestors. The round dwellings are based on the excavated remains of actual buildings. The stone-walled house is based on one found at Conderton, Worcestershire. The first wattle-walled house is based on one from the hillfort of Moel-y-Gaer, Flintshire, and the the large house, with its roof supported on posts, on remains excavated at Moel-y-Gerddi, Gwynedd. All three are roofed with straw and the site is defended by a palisade and ditch. Inside the houses are weaving looms, fire-dogs, corn querns and other everyday utensils of the Celts. Most of these Iron age ancestors were farmers but they would hunt wild boar, deer and different kinds of birds to add to their food store. They would keep most of their farm animals for their produce (milk, eggs, wool) and would slaughter them for special occasions or at the end of the summer so they wouldn't need to be fed through the winter.

Kennixton Farmhouse, circa 1610, is a typical farmhouse from Gower, South Wales. The eye-catching blood-red walls were thought to protect against evil spirits like the berries on the rowan tree and the carved figures just inside the front door.

............And their mutts!!!!