penshurst church

it's a porcupine

the motto translates as "whither the fates call"

the view from the porch at penshurst church

 

whilst the lads donate generously to the bookmakers' pension funds at towcester races, i potter over to stoke bruerne for a nosey ...

sunlight reflected beneath the canal bridge at stoke bruerne

 

a misleading signpost at stoke bruerne

 

a bit of canal tradition at stoke bruerne on the barge named sculptor

 

on a barge called the red indian at stoke bruerne

 

an old boat lift at stoke bruerne locks

 

a happy butterfly

 

a happy fly

 

if only old men's beards were so neat and tidy

 

the church at stoke bruerne

 

stoke bruerne tower and waterspout

 

post-modern window in stoke bruerne church

paid for by the widow fisher ... the virgin wears red, as she would have been shown in medieval times ... the (my-little-) unicorn might only be tamed by a virgin ... the chinese fish represents the interests of the late mister fisher, who loved chinese art ... the dragon reminds us ( it says on the explanatory text displayed nearby ) that evil is ever present ... gosh !

 

what was the grand entrance to easton neston, is now the grand entrance to towcester race course

 

easton neston gates ... what did the urns signify, if anything ?

 

i have no latin ... can anyone translate ?

 

detail from the easton neston gate

 

croggan late coade ... i believe the formula for coade stone was lost and never re-discovered

all four foot eight of mavis ferguson-butler blocking out my light at clodock church

The guidebook to the church tells an interesting story as to how Clydawg became a martyr.

'Our crowned Prince Clydawg, now King or Ruler of Ewias, was out hunting one day (according to the Book of Llandaff) and amongst those hunting with him was one who was jealous of his relationship with a lady friend.

In his jealousy he killed Clydawg.

On the day of his burial the two oxen carrying him refused to cross a ford and the yoke between them broke.

He was buried, therefore, near the bank of the river.

Such an act of murder made Clydawg, because of his godly life, a martyr'.

A Celtic 'Llan' or church was set up around his tomb and later a wooden church would have been built on the site, to be replaced with a stone church sometime in the 11th century.