I have been to Tewkesbury just once, on a coach trip probably 50 years ago, so I don't remember anything about it. As it is only 13 miles from Malvern, it made sense to drive that little bit further and visit it.
I was looking for the "facilities" and wandered round the back. Didn't find the cafe/toilets, but I am glad I went astray as this beautiful architecture was too good to be missed.
I will assume this is the base of an old font. The stone on top looks to be sandstone and the base limestone. Both have found a new way to serve anyway.
The beautiful octagonal font, beautifully carved and with an ornate cover. It incorporates an early 8th C sandstone base. The font is probably basalt.
What an amazing brass lecturn - that must take some polishing.
Early carvings which have been saved.
The carvings and fan-vaulted ceilings were quite breathtaking.
An amazing survival of Medieval (14th C) stained glass. The knights are Robert Fitzroy, Gilbert de Clare, Hugh Despenser II and Robert Fitzhamon. The latter founded the Abbey in 1087. Robert Fitzroy (d.1147) was the eldest - but illegitimate - son of Henry I. He took for his wife Mabel, the daughter of Robert Fitzhamon. The Gilbert de Clare pictured was either the 5th Earl of Gloucester (d. 1314), one of the guarantors associated with the Magna Carta and he is buried in the Chancel or else the Gilbert de Clare who was the 8th Earl of Gloucester and associated with the expulsion of Piers Gaveston, Edward II's "favourite". Hugh Despenser the younger met a sticky end. He married Gilbert de Clare's sister Eleanor and was another favourite of Edward II, and detested by his wife Isabella. When she and Roger Mortimer (a name well known in these parts) seized power and deposed Edward, Hugh Despenser was tried for treason and found guilty, and subsequently hung, drawn, quartered, castrated and his head struck off in Hereford market place on 24th November 1326. Many thanks to Knights of Tewkesbury for this information. Please visit the interesting site to learn more. N.B. Been doing more research and found out that Hugh Despenser tghe Younger held many lands in Wales, including being the Keeper of Dryslwyn Castle (which was our local castle when we were at Ynyswen). It was in Cantref Mawr (as was Ynyswen) and that area was under his total control.
Other early stained glass.
More later in the week. I had a nice evening out on Friday at the local History Society talk about the Army on Sennybridge Range/Epynts. Then last night friends and I went to the cinema to see Mr Burton. It was brilliant, and I really enjoyed it and the lad that played Richard (Harry Lawtey) really seemed to get under the skin and persona of Richard and his voice and mannerisms were amazing. Toby Jones played his teacher Philip Burton and Lesley Manville was Ma Smith. Afterwards, they had invited the writer Tom Bullough and director Mark Evans to talk about the making of the film and there was a Q&A session. Do try and get to see it.
Right, now out to the garden, and later on I am off to auction and then grocery shopping afterwards. I hope you had a lovely weekend. I had Tam & Rosie here overnight on Saturday and then all day yesterday and we went to the garden centre. I had promised Rosie her own watering can (a pink elephant!) and her eyes lit up when she saw a childsize dustpan and brush (she's always using mine!) and she picked it off the display and handed it to Tam!! Of course, that went home with her too. I may have bought a few more plants though I mostly went for Cosmos seeds and a well grown Clematis to replace a small Morrisons one which snuffed it. I also bought Clematis feed (didn't know they needed special feeding so no wonder they have failed here.) I've lost half a dozen including a well grown to start with Clematis montana rubens - they normally thrive and take off. I got Samaritan Joe yesterday.
Wonderful, thank you, it’s simply beautifully magnificent or magnificently beautiful. We always used to make time for a visit to the abbey after the Hereford, Monmouth and Worcester rowing regattas I used to compete in back in the 80s and early 90s so probably a bit later than your coach visit. We would visit with the children when holidaying in the Cotswolds and K and I once had a wonderful weekend staying in a knitter’s cottage on St Mary’s Lane, Tewkesbury owned by the Landmark Trust. When she was a teenager she and I would often have a girls weekend while S and T went off mountain biking in the Brecon Beacons or cycling the Ridgeway.
ReplyDeleteS has been so up and down, which is the nature of Parkinson’s of course and which I am very used to but flummoxes those “who know nowt” as my lovely bro-in-law said the other day. But he’s now on the list for Intermediate Care when a place becomes available. He is still very wobbly and needs two of us to get him standing. I took him out in a hospital wheelchair yesterday and we sat in a sunny courtyard until his btm started hurting. He weighs 51kg or 8 stones so no padding. Equipment, which was ordered mid-April after a home visit by the Neurological Rehab Therapists, is being delivered this week. The OTs and physios are impressed with him though as he still has good muscle memory from cycling - and say he will come home to me. The hospital admission is the result of the chest infection which caused him to continually collapse and it has been a real learning curve as I didn’t realise that an infection which could be brewing for months could so severely impact the take up of the levadopa and with such devastating consequences. He has been really poorly, and we’re now on day 24 in Hospital. II will be buying a thermometer for our medicine chest and weighing scales so I can keep an eye on his weight and a comfortable reclining chair has to be is an essential piece of home kit!
You did go a bit mad at the festival, but as you say, why not! And the winters are long and dark and being creative is so important to our wellbeing. I’ve been making EPP one inch hexagons with the Liberty charm pack I bought in the January sale of my local sewing shop (who also stock Rose and Hubble fabrics). I now have 18 flowers comprising seven one inch hexagons each. No idea what I’m going to do with them but the therapy has been lovely - and portable!
I’m having a rest day today. I’m really tired and run down and (eye infection, sore throat) and I need to take better care of myself. I also had a basal skin cancer punch-holed out of my forehead on Friday, I was allowed to remove the bandaging this morning and it looks ok, just two dissolving stitches and a neat scar I hope. Although I long ago ceased to be vain about appearances and am just happy to be alive and generally fit and well. Look after yourself BB, and take care especially during all those epic drives. Sarah x
PS I use K’s childhood dustpan and brush in the greenhouse and they live in an old basket with the child-size hand tools.
I am glad I have encouraged such happy memories of yours to the surface again. Staying in that knitter's cottage in Tewkesbury must have been wonderful. I am looking forward to going back again to explore properly.
DeleteI am sorry that S is so up and down. The fact that the Dopamine doesn't work in certain situations is ghastly as it's what is needed so to allow mobility. I hope that he improves once he is home and having more nourishing food all the time, and able to sleep well - Keith found being woken at 6.30 a.m. was the worst thing for his Parkinsons because he just didn't have enough sleep.
You are right, winters are long and dark but I will have plenty to do now! Your one inch hexagons must look so pretty (how I wish you had a blog so I could see!)
You are bound to be feeling tired and run down after S's long hospital stay and the worry about his health. Worry too about the basal skin cancer spot. At least is removed now. I am under the specialist for a red "mark" in the middle of my nose, and have to go back every 6 mths to get it checked.
Made me smile to think of that childhood dustpan and brush still being in circulation!
Beautiful Abbey photos. I don't remember it at all except knowing that that was where I got the big Duck Company bamboo duck - odd thing to remember. Oh and we weren't allowed to park in one of the carparks because we had the transit campervan - and had to park way out of the town centre.
ReplyDeleteSmall people love to help when they aren't big enough and then once they are they seem to go off the whole idea of helping with the cleaning!
I'm always exhausted reading about everything you fit into a day.
What a shame you couldn't park close to it - I was amazed that I just drove in, right to the car park beside it (but I could see it over the buildings).
DeleteSmall people do indeed love to help. We will have to try and keep her trained!
There seems to be such a lot to do here.
What a glorious cathedral, stunning is the only word I can think of. I see you are busy as ever, Rosie is so sweet and seems to know what she wants.
ReplyDeleteStunning it is. I had to take things easy today but am usually always on the go. SO many different jobs with my name on them. Rosie certainly does know what she wants, and learns SO quickly. She watched me slide open the greenhouse door, and 5 minutes later she did it herself, to close it! How smart is that for not quite 14 mths?
DeleteSuch a glorious cathedral. I would love to see it in person.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
We have some wonderful Abbeys and Cathedrals here (not to forget wee small churches with amazing history attached to them). Glad you enjoyed the post Jackie.
DeleteGlad you managed to go to Tewkesbury - I found the abbey superb. Could have spent all day there. There is also a lovely little museum for John Moore the country/nature writer not far from the abbey.
ReplyDeleteI will return - if only to look for Green Men, see what I missed this time, and have a look around the town. Perhaps the next time I get away early from Malvern fleamarket. I will look out for the John Moore museum too. Thanks for the heads up.
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