Land of Tradition (1950)

• 61%
• 1950
• Documentary

The "land of tradition" referred to in the title of this Traveltalks series entry is England. The first place we visit is Runnymede, the water meadow in southeast England where King John is believed to have signed the Magna Carta in the year 1215. Next is Windsor Castle, one of the principal residences of the British monarch, and the town of Windsor. Another British tradition is horse racing at the Ascot Racecourse, where we see the ladies in the latest fashions and track bookmakers taking bets. The second half of this short focuses on the country's Christian heritage as seen through its buildings. These include the cathedrals in Lincoln, Wells, and Salisbury, and the abbey at Glastonbury. In contrast to these is the Stonehenge monument, the last stop on the tour. According to narrator FitzPatrick, who is seen walking among the large stone slabs, the Druids built this monument about 2100 BCE and celebrated religious ceremonies, including human sacrifice.