La Platte Mare, Guernsey, United Kingdom

La Platte Mare is a simple megalithic chamber with a single capstone dating back to the Chalcolithic or Early Bronze Age (2500 - 1800 BC). Early drawings show that some stones have been disturbed. Traces of a surrounding circle of stones 5m in diameter are no longer visible. One stone has a curved row of 12 cup marks though only 7 are visible above ground. A few metres away are the remains of another possible cist or chamber.

References:

Prehistoric Jersey

Prehistoric and archaeological sites in United Kingdom

User Reviews

Alwyn Whittaker (3 years ago)
This place is amazing, amazing good value food, amazing staff. Can't wait to get back.

Richard COX (3 years ago)
Great restaurant, pool and garden. Excellent accommodation. Good golf course and all situated alongside Vazon Bay on the West Coast. Highly recommended.

Steve The Techy (3 years ago)
Had lunch here on the side of the pool. Cannot fault the service or the food. Nice and relaxing time. Only complaint was that Twinkle the cat was not around.

Andy Linehan (3 years ago)
I have lived within spitting distance for a quarter of a century and have eaten here far more than 100 times. The menu has always been imaginative and the service good. Today we found the menu to be boring and the portions small. The food was acceptable but no more. The service certainly was not acceptable, had to ask several times for the wine list then we were half way through the main course before a bottle arrived. At no time were we offered bread and after trying to attract attention for a quarter of an hour, I had to go to the till to get the bill. Now at home before dark, having a few slices of gache as still hungry.

trish s (3 years ago)
Fantastic day using spa having lunch and chilling by the pool. Beautiful grounds. Great service

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

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Historic Site of the week

Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba

The Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba, also known as the Great Mosque of Córdoba and the Mezquita is regarded as one of the most accomplished monuments of Moorish architecture.

According to a traditional account, a small Visigoth church, the Catholic Basilica of Saint Vincent of Lérins, originally stood on the site. In 784 Abd al-Rahman I ordered construction of the Great Mosque, which was considerably expanded by later Muslim rulers. The mosque underwent numerous subsequent changes: Abd al-Rahman II ordered a new minaret, while in 961 Al-Hakam II enlarged the building and enriched the Mihrab. The last of such reforms was carried out by Almanzor in 987. It was connected to the Caliph"s palace by a raised walkway, mosques within the palaces being the tradition for previous Islamic rulers – as well as Christian Kings who built their palaces adjacent to churches. The Mezquita reached its current dimensions in 987 with the completion of the outer naves and courtyard.

In 1236, Córdoba was conquered by King Ferdinand III of Castile, and the centre of the mosque was converted into a Catholic cathedral. Alfonso X oversaw the construction of the Villaviciosa Chapel and the Royal Chapel within the mosque. The kings who followed added further Christian features, such as King Henry II rebuilding the chapel in the 14th century. The minaret of the mosque was also converted to the bell tower of the cathedral. It was adorned with Santiago de Compostela"s captured cathedral bells. Following a windstorm in 1589, the former minaret was further reinforced by encasing it within a new structure.

The most significant alteration was the building of a Renaissance cathedral nave in the middle of the expansive structure. The insertion was constructed by permission of Charles V, king of Castile and Aragon. Artisans and architects continued to add to the existing structure until the late 18th century.

Architecture

The building"s floor plan is seen to be parallel to some of the earliest mosques built from the very beginning of Islam. It had a rectangular prayer hall with aisles arranged perpendicular to the qibla, the direction towards which Muslims pray. The prayer hall was large and flat, with timber ceilings held up by arches of horseshoe-like appearance.

In planning the mosque, the architects incorporated a number of Roman columns with choice capitals. Some of the columns were already in the Gothic structure; others were sent from various regions of Iberia as presents from the governors of provinces. Ivory, jasper, porphyry, gold, silver, copper, and brass were used in the decorations. Marvellous mosaics and azulejos were designed. Later, the immense temple embodied all the styles of Morisco architecture into one composition.

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