Kenilworth Castle

Most of the castles we've visited have been, in not downright small then at least compact. This place is really huge. It is spread out over acres and has many different structures in it.

Assumption of our Lady - III

In the shade of one of the many trees that surround the church, we find this 19th century graffiti adorning the wall.

Assumption of our Lady - II

 

Even though Ashow is a small town largely passed over by the 20th century, it was clearly home to some well-to-do families. there are many significant grave stones in the church yard.

Assumption of Our Lady, Ashow

In the small village of Ashow, about 2.5 miles southeast of central Kenilworth, we find this little gem of a church. It is a Grade 1 listed church that dates largely from the 12th century.

St. Peter and St. Paul Church - IV

There are other stained glass windows here to enjoy. This one, above, is quite nice. Since it is clear here that the lamb holds a special place in Christian mythology, the wool merchants here must have felt a particularly close connection to their religion.

St. Peter and St. Paul Church - III

 

The real stars of the church are the brasses embedded in the floor. The one above (excluding my feet, of course) is in memoriam to John Fortey who rebuilt much of the church using his fortune accumulated in the wool trade. If you look closely, you can see that one foot is on the back of a sheep and the other is on woolpack. Aligned on either side of John is a row of medallions. These are his woolmarks. This is the image he would stamp on the canvas wrapping of the woolpacks he sold, his trademark.

He began work on the church before his death and left 300£ fo the completion in his will. He also left 10 shillings each to 80 poor maidens to fund their marriage and fourpence to each prisoner in Gloucester Castle.

St. Peter and St. Paul Church - II

Naturally, windows come and go, so there is very little remaining from the original installations. This one is all clear glass.

St. Peter and St. Paul Church, Northleitch

'Tis but a small town, yet the church is so large. Northleitch with a population of just over 20,000 has pretty special church. It has been called by some the "Cathedral of the Cotswolds" (to be sure, several of the churches here seem to have also acquired this moniker). There are many special things to see here.

St. John the Baptist Church - IV

A modern church, filled with carpet, cushioned seats, and heating and cooling presents a much more comforting scene than this austere place of worship. You've really got to want to worship to engage in this place on a cold winter's day.

St. John the Baptist Church - III

St. Catherine's chapel has a particularly interesting section of fan vaults above it.

St. John the Baptist Church - II

Although it is showing its age, this is quite an ornate pulpit for a parish church. This grade 1 listed church displays styles spanning the entire time from the 12th century to the present.

St. John the Baptist Church, Cirencester

One of the first things you notice in most of the parish churches we visited in the UK is that the space is used in many ways that are different from the original plan. Here, in St. John the Baptist Church, we see the baptismal font and lovely tomb just below the amazing stained glass window alongside a totally odd-seeming church model and show-and-tell board. Somehow, it feels out of place.

Royal Shapespeare Theater

We made a couple visits to the Royal Shakespeare Theater while in Stratford-upon-Avon on our house sit. This night was by far the best we've seen. On this evening we saw Richard III and a fine production it was.

St. James Church and the Almshouses

These stone structures fill the countryside with buildings that are all of a similar style, even if they are built with different styles. The look of aged stone is similar no matter the century, 13th or 19th.

St. James Church - III

At the rear of the nave is a large stained glass window. Below it is a set of altar hanging, the oldest in the country still in the original church.

St. James Church - II

This church is filled with surprises. It is a grade I listed building that is large but not huge and stylish but not fancy.

St. James Church, Chipping Campden

Two paths diverge by a road... or some such thing. Immediately in front of you is the gate to the old Campden Manor and in the distance to the left sits St. James Church.

Moreton-in-Marsh Continued

Moreton-in-Marsh is a busy town with lots of traffic up and down the main drag. This vintage car caught my attention partly because it was unusual and clearly very well maintained. Once I had the image, however, the really curious thing is the part that hangs down well below the floorboards toward the front. It appears that the car could only operate on very flat, level roads. I don't know what this is all about.

Moreton-in-Marsh

Wandering through the Cotswolds, we find the delightful little town of Moreton-in-Marsh. On High Street, we find The Bell Inn. A curious place with a few rooms and a pub that serves no food.

Stratford-upon-Avon

Like any town, it filled with quirky people doing curious things. Here, they just do it in the street.

Stratford-upon-Avon

We finally arrived at our next house sit in Stratford-upon-Avon, the home of the renowned bard. September is a bit off the high season so while there were plenty of people, it wasn't packed.

Tintern Abbey - III

In our last installment on the Abbey, we say goodby to the interior spaces and head back outside.

Tintern Abbey - II

 

From Wikipedia,

Among subsequent visitors was Francis Grose, who included the Abbey in his Antiquities of England and Wales, begun in 1772 and supplemented with more illustrations from 1783. In his description he noted how the ruins were being tidied for the benefit of tourists: "The fragments of its once sculptured roof, and other remains of its fallen decorations, are piled up with more regularity than taste on each side of the grand aisle." ..... Grose further complained that the site was too well tended and lacked "that gloomy solemnity so essential to religious ruins".^[33]

We, among the current flood of modern-day tourists, find the "tidying-up" to be just right.

Tintern Abbey

Some may recall the name Tintern from the poem of Wordsworth, "Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey, On Revisiting the Banks of the Wye during a Tour. July 13, 1798". Even with the poem to move us, the Abbey is an amazing place.

Goodrich Castle - II

In the chapel, to the right side, is a niche called the sedile. This is the place where the priest sat when not engaged in his priestly duties during a service.

Goodrich Castle

Today we visit a castle near the English-Welsh border called Goodrich Castle. While it does not appear to be in such great shape compared to, for example Bodiam Castle, it is one of the better preserved medieval castles in the UK. I'm sure that part of the reason that it is in worse shape is the fact that it is about 200 years older than Bodiam. Then there is that pesky Civil War that was unkind.

Gloucester Cathedral - VI

Today, we conclude our visit to this wonderful church with more views of the stained glass and incredible stone carvings.

Gloucester Cathedral - V

Elizabeth Williams died in childbirth when she was just 17 years old. The baby probably survived for a short time as it is dressed in what is called a chrysom - a christening gown indicating baptism

The Latin inscription on the epitaph reads....

Elisabeth speaks, "Husband, you carved in marble here your wife; Thus you'd ensure her immortality. But Christ my hope and trust was, all my life; So God forbids that I should mortal be". July 4th 1622

Wife of W.J. Williams Youngest daughter of Dr. Miles Smith Bishop of Gloucester (source)

More amazing stained glass, vaults and ceiling fans.

 

Gloucester Cathedral - IV

The St. Andrews chapel is filled with wonderful paintings and frescoes.

Gloucester Cathedral - III

Everywhere you look there are magnificent stained glass windows and ceilings that are amazing.

Gloucester Cathedral - II

The ceilings have great detail in them. I could stand and look at them all day.

Before we go any further, let me just wish everyone a Happy New Year! It was a heckuva year we just had. Here's to a better year in '23. ..... Wow, it really looks odd written that way. My Dad would have been 104 this year. One day, there will be someone say such a thing about me.

All the best to all my followers. Take care and stick with me. More photos from England to come and then there are plenty to see from New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Do forget that there are still photos from Alaska to process and post. Always something. Poo tee weet.

Now back to gaping at those ceilings...