Monday, November 20, 2006

on a barge called the red indian at stoke bruerne

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an old boat lift at stoke bruerne locks

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a happy butterfly

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a happy fly

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

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the church at stoke bruerne

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stoke bruerne tower and waterspout

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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 !

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

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

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i have no latin ... can anyone translate ?

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detail from the easton neston gate

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

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Sunday, November 19, 2006

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.

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stormy weather over southwark bridge

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mister butler's lamp

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a red bull in herefordshire ...

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... master of all he surveys

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clodock churchyard lettering (one)

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clodock churchyard lettering (2)

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clodock churchyard lettering (3)

The script reads :

How short is life how sure is death Our days alas are few
This mortal life is but a breath; Tis like the morning dew

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interior of the church at clodock

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the vicar of clodock demands cash instead of kind

tucked away in a dark corner of clodock church ... set in stone ... the vicar repudiates the old tithes and the courts award him cash ... he must have been rarther unpopular ... and he can't have been short of cash if he could afford this carving extravaganza

to read the text for yourself, click once on the picture for an enlargement, then again on the enlargement icon when it appears at the bottom right corner


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this article has been published subsequently ...



... and furthermore ...

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... and was this symbol of peace meant to fit on the top ?

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