I have NEVER seen this on a tombstone before. Didn't half make me do a double take! I will assume it was a note to incline the reader towards getting their spiritual house in order before it was too late.
Kilvert was only Curate here for a year before leaving. He didn't even get to live in the Rectory as that was occupied by someone else, so he had to rent rooms in the village of St. Harmon. This village was on the old Mid-Wales line which came up from Rhayader through the beautiful Gilfach valley (now a Nature Reserve, and where Tam and I did a walk back in May I think). I imagine he did a lot of walking in the Elan Valley (before it was flooded) but the diary he wrote when he was at St Harmon was burned by Mrs Essex Hope, a relative, along with many others (originally there were 22, only 3 survived). Apparently "they were too personal" . . .
Above and below: I wasn't drawn to this bleak countryside - bleak in July - imagine it in January . . .
Water levels have dropped a fair bit . . .
Wild mountain Thyme. I am singing the words to that Folk song in my head - we used to sing it at Folk Club in Wareham, Dorset, SO many years ago now. A link to the Corries singing it is highlighted above.
Beautiful Dog Roses (we have the white ones growing in our hedge here).
We left home in HOT sunshine and were expecting the same weather for our stroll along the reservoir! Fortunately it held off.
Above and below: this drystone walling a LONG way up. No wonder they had a hospital in the village, with plenty of customers (eye problems especially, I understand - chips from stone flying off and giving injuries.) Note: dry stone walling UNDER that long length of boulder . . .
Above and below: cottages in Rhayader. We popped into the Charity Shop, an Antiques Shop and then bought some oranges. Won't be darkening THAT shop's doors any more - 4 medium Naval oranges and 4 good Manderins . . . £4.40 please. Hay prices!
I like the Roman roadside memorial which says something like, 'So I am now, so you shall be, so you are now I once was' (but better). People still use it - well they did in the 17th century anyway.
ReplyDeleteThat rings a bell. I dare say there are some very unusual ones out there but this one jumped out and grabbed my by the throat rather!
DeleteI suppose people are quite reluctant to face death, but this Covid business has changed all that for some.
DeleteWell, I hope I don't go just yet Tom - too many books to read, gardening to do and curtains to make!!! I think the Victorians really had death thrust down their throats, in those days before operations (Kilvert died aged 39 in 1879, it is believed from a burst Appendix). Some 5 or so years later, this might have been successfully operated on (as due to Lister, germs were recognized and dealt with).
DeleteSo many children died in infancy, women died in childbirth, hospital treatment was so dire that hospitals were often a pathway to an early demise as cleanliness was unknown. TB and brisk contagious diseases were common -but then I'm sure you know all this. My g.g.grandmother lost her 3 children (her entire family) in the space of a week back in the 1860s . . .
I don't seem to come back to look at responses vetted by comment moderation. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteI have to moderate them or else I get no end of spam. Adverts for Viagra Tom? Or other unwanted nuisances of that ilk.
DeleteGoodness, that dry stone walling! What on earth is the purpose, unless to retain the hillside above? I'm with you, btw, on comment moderation. It's a sad but necessary evil in today's world of blog spammers, and I do it to protect my readers from the often offensive things we put up with.
ReplyDeleteI know - it gave me vertigo to just look at it! I am guessing it's to retain the hillside above it but there are signs saying beware of falling rocks!
DeleteAt the moment I'm having a Cricket spammer - 4 posts from him I had to delete this morning. That's why I have to moderate, so sorry Tom, but needs must. If it's not cricket then its ones about Baby-Boomers which I find very annoying.
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting post. Thanks for the pictures where Kilvert was curate. I've heard of such stark messages on gravestones but I haven't seen that one either!!!
I just love dog roses and wild thyme :)
By the way I checked the Radnorshire museum - it is about one and a quarter hours from the caravan. So do-able if I manage to overcome my reluctance at using public toilets atm!!!! I need to really so we can travel further and explore more of Herefordshire, the Borders and that side of Wales!! Son realised recently how close the Brecon Beacons were!
Glad that Llandod is doable from the caravan. I have a long-distance bladder, which helps things, but wear a mask in a public loo if I absolutely HAVE to use one (e.g. there isn't a convenient hedge nearby!!) and don't use the blower to dry hands, but keep a towel in the car - and of course, use hand gel when I get to the car because of this stupid business of having washed your hands, you then have to touch a dirty door handle to get out!
DeleteBrecon Beacons not that far indeed and some lovely drives and places to explore over that way.
ps totally agree about moderation. I've always used it due to spam and some of those odd looking links that are sent which look most unsafe, plus some are unpleasant. This morning I had six from the same person all about cricket!!! All deleted!
ReplyDeleteYup, had the same one. MOST annoying.
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