Thursday 11 August 2022

A walk around Presteigne

 


We had a leisurely stroll around Presteigne, which has lots of lovely period houses.  Like the  sun dial on the front of this one.  It went quite a long way back too, with the back part half-timbered.  I think this might be Well House, which has a well in the cellar.


I just had to have a photo of this pretty painted front door.  I could do the same to ours, only with Holly (from the name of the house).


The Scallions - a sign which is thought to date back to a Norse word - skallwega, meaning "the way of the skull".



I'm not sure if this is the Rectory, but it leads straight into the Churchyard, so handy for services.


Above and below:  living with the River Lugg on one side of you clearly has its drawbacks.  The garden used to extend several feet beyond the end wall too (Tam found an earlier photo of it).  The entire end of this house is unlivable in.  There was a huge crack up the end wall too.  I think this end house is the former Old Bridge Inn, then there is Tan House and Old Laundry.



The Radnor Buildings show a lovely Arts & Crafts decoration on the walls of clearly one of the older properties in the town.


An unusual embellishment on a building - not sure what used to stand in the alcove.


Above and below: Another very old jettied house in the town, with (below) a supposed Green Man.  Looking at his cap and he looks to be blowing something - or sticking his tongue out! - rather than spewing leaves as normal, I would say not a Green Man.



And opposite, a jolly Gingerbread Man on the top of a downpipe.

Above and below, the oldest property in the town, although it has had different facades attached down the centuries. Gay by the house and Tam crossing the road!



This old house used to be a petrol station back in the 30s and 40s.  A remaining original pump.


It was also a private girls school in an earlier incarnation.  I thought I had taken a photo, but apparently not.

I also thought I'd taken a photo of this house - well, I KNOW I did but it didn't come up with all the others - sometimes the computer chooses to ignore one or two photos, and then I wiped the stash clean so it didn't take forever to load new ones. So, Sir Harford Jones Brydges was a Nabob by the sound of it.  Bet he noticed a big difference if he came back to Presteigne to live.  Worth looking at this LINK to read about him - he held a very important post at a crucial time in history, with Napoleon's expedition to Egypt.  He must have been quite a looker in his youth.


19 comments:

  1. It looks a lovely place to visit, and I'm sure your visitor is enjoying herself.

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  2. We've been around the roundabout at the top of it a couple of times since visiting. Definitely taking Keith there soon.

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  3. What a fascinating place, love the cute gingerbread man
    Alison in Wales x

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  4. What a lovely town. My Dad's cousin who I used to email about family history lived there. Sadly she passed away last year. Gosh will add to places to visit! I agree not a Green Man and I love the Gingerbread Man. Love the new header - I take it you have been to the gorgeous Stokesay Castle?

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    1. It was worth visiting. Nice to have a family connection. Yes, Stokesay Castle is worth visiting more than once - been there 3 times now I think.

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  5. I have seen signs for the town but never been there. Looks like I should as it is very pretty. I can see why the lane is called the scallions as there is church and churchyard at the end. Do we get to see it?

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    1. Of course Billy, that's the next post. Worth seeing too.

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  6. A very interesting walk and beautiful buildings.

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    1. That was before it got really hot too, so it was pleasant strolling in the sunshine, rather than punishing as it is now!

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  7. I do love Presteigne - one of my favourite towns and definitely my favourite of all the Welsh borders.

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    1. Well, I have driven around and near it since moving here, and glad this time we stopped and explored. I love vernacular architecture and it has this in abundance.

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  8. What a lovely place to wander through. I really enjoy your posts about visits in places that surround you.

    God bless.

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    1. Thank you Jackie - glad you enjoyed tagging along on our walk.

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  9. What an amazing town. I loved that little tour.

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    1. It's got a lovely atmosphere and isn't busy and fretting as Builth can be - when one main High Street just isn't enough. Builth is best first thing in the morning.

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  10. I'm surprised Mrs Blackburn gets a plaque when she only ran the school for 10 years! Did she have some other claim to fame perhaps? Usually Head Mistresses lasted 30-40 years and 'died in harness' didn't they?

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  11. That looks like an amazing place. I do love good old architecture, I find it fascinating.

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    1. It was a very relaxed little town - not a lot happening, but an interesting place.

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