Return to Pewsey Vale

I recently mentioned that I'd paid a visit to Marden in the vale of Pewsey and that it has a very sweet parish church. So, to prove how pretty - I went back taking my camera with me.

The little parish church of All Saints was built circa 1107, although the tower was built in the 15th century during which time the nave was rebuilt. The earliest parts of the building are the south doorway and the chancel arch, both Norman. 

Over the centuries there has been much repairing and rebuilding of the church due to poor foundations placed upon unstable greensand. 

Obviously the original builders didn't read the parable about not building on sand.

Lintel and fabulous mouldings over the south doorway.

This great wooden door is 17th century, even having its original lock.

Stained glass window, designed and installed in 1958 by Jasper and Molly Kettlewell. Jasper and Molly Kettlewell were stained glass makers and tutors on craft courses (Jasper 1905 - 1977 Molly 1914 - 1999) between them making a number of windows for various churches and in the mid-1960s they directed the first mosaics at Attingham. The Attingham Zodiac

A memorial stained glass window, designed by Molly Kettlewell and installed in 1979. Showing the white horse and rolling chalk downs of the local landscape.

The beautiful and decorative Romanesque chancel arch is one of the oldest parts of the building, built not later than 1120, it's slightly flattened at the top due to settlement of the building.

Mrs Jane Hayward
Who in her long and tedious illness
was calm and resigned
and her death attended
with ablessed prospect
of sincere felicity
Thro the merits of her dear Redeemer
She obtained her release
from this troublesome world
May the 31 1761
Aged 62 Years

After exploring the church of All Saints, Chris and I went for an early evening stroll over Knap Hill, looking out over the vale of Pewsey near to Alton Barnes, and the white horse which was in Molly Kettlewell's stained glass window.

It's so pretty, the meadows along the ridge are covered in daisies, dandelions and cowslips, even though, or I guess because of, the sheep that graze the land. 

It was 7.30pm and surprisingly warm and very calm. A truly beautiful place for a walk to watch the sun set and the moon rise.

The Cotswold Way

This weekend spring most definitely sprung, blue skies, warm sunshine, a soft breeze and a good day for a gentle stroll. We chose to head for Winchcombe on the Cotswold Way so that we could walk another leg of this long distance path. 

The Cotswold Way takes you through some of the prettiest areas in Britain and is a good trail to explore on foot, and after a swift half we set off.

Typical views of the high street.

and typical views of the countryside.

Someone has big ideas for the future, you can just make out in this photo part of the double line of trees that march away into the distance.

Not characteristic fencing for this area (but I guess becoming more and more typical), usually we see dry stone walling as you can just make out either side of the gate.

A stone monument without any information about itself, with a little niche for passers-by to take a rest.

Weathered graffiti, no not Chris, the love hearts from 1877.

Fine view from the monument, and a good place to rest as we're about half way along our walk. We haven't met anyone yet on this stretch of path, but you can just make out some people in the distance I find it amazing (in our small and populous country) that you can walk for a whole afternoon and sometimes not see a soul, even in the distance.

The small Hailes Church stands on the edge of a field, a simple, aisleless chapel consisting of a nave and chancel, built sometime in the 12th-century. Records show that in 1114 William de Tancarville is recorded as giving Hailes Church to the monastery of St. Georges-de-Boscherville near Rouen in France, and  Hailes Church is also mentioned in the records of nearby Winchcombe Abbey, one record providing details of the church built at Hailes between 1139 and 1151.  

Entrance is through a small south porch, it's a small and charming church and contains some magnificent 13th-century wall paintings of saints, coats of arms, and hunting scenes. 

This collection of faded wall paintings, is really quite stunning. Bleached reds and browns depict scenes familiar in the 13th-century. Here a huntsman with a horn to his mouth carries a shield with horns and sea urchins, while his greyhounds race towards a hare crouched beneath the bare branches of a tree. 

St. Catherine of Alexandria.

An elephant?! with wings no less.

Medieval encaustic tiles, worn with years of use, but still the fish and floral motifs are clear. It looks to me as if they have been rearranged over time as no real pattern can be seen.

A rather lovely, and simple Rood screen

From our path we could look across fields to see St. George's church at Didbrook, (circa 1475) It looks fairly close by, but I have used full zoom and in fact it's about half a mile away. The afternoon sun, still pleasant, was loosing its heat and it's easy to tell how early  in the year we are. Hat and gloves are still quite necessary.

This is all a contrast to Saturday spent in London catching up with old friends. I won't say how old, just that we've known them since sometime in the 1970's - gulp.

I don't know what this building is, but isn't the spire fantastic. Just look at the Unicorn and Lion, I feel sure they hold the clue to what this building is about.

One of the great things about London is the mix of old and new

This beautiful green oasis in the centre of Soho square is home to probably the most ostentatious wendy house in the world!

The square is also home St. Patrick's Church a large Roman Catholic Parish church that features extensive catacombs that spread deep under the Square and further afield. I'd like to find out if it is possible to visit them, I'd definitely come for a look around - anyone want to join me?

Around an about

We decided to have a wander, followed by a pub stop, near Burford at the weekend.

Starting at Great Barrington, through Honey Bush (what!) and Sheep Dip following the little river Windrush to the village of Windrush and stopping at a brilliant pub named The Fox for refreshment! 

Then on to Little Barrington, crossing the river at Barrington Mill and back to the Landy waiting patently for us at Great Barrington. 

As you can see we started under blue skies, bryony adorning the hedgerows.

I could hardly believe these daisies are still flowering on this cold November day.

Spindle fruit is the most wonderful colour, the raspberry pink fruit splits open to reveal luscious orange seeds. They look delicious, I wonder if they're edible?

What a tenacious grip on life these trees have. Here at Mill Copse amongst all the tumbled down stone, they perch, splendidly moss covered.

And at the end of an unmade road stands Manor Farm, with these very picturesque out buildings

We discovered this feral apple tree at Windrush Mill, looking wonderfully red and gold but sadly too high for me to reach more than one delish specimen. 


And in any case Chris carries the back pack so I could hardly have persuaded him to join me in a spot of apple scrumping.

Hawthorn berries, called haws, are edible and were commonly made into jellies, jams, syrups and used to make wine, or to add flavour to brandy, rather than eaten fresh. 


And (so my mother once told me) the young leaves taste good in sandwiches!