A stroll around Kington Museum

 

We had an outing yesterday to Kington.  There was a monthly market on which we wanted to check out.  No sooner had we reached the Museum, than Keith decided he would walk around it. The man outside selling books was also a Museum volunteer, and told us lots about the exhibits. The elephant bones below came from a 47 year old circus elephant who had decided that Kington was the place to bid farewell to the world (as indeed, one also did in Carmarthen where it is buried in the grounds of the old Grammar School).  There was a photo of a younger elephant who used to wander around the town on its own, and gratefully accepted pints of beer or cider from customers at the pub!

Perforated axe-hammer, Bronze Age, found at Staunton-on-Arrow.

On my list to visit - Staunton-on-Arrow church and the motte next to it. Perhaps not till early spring as I imagine it's rather overgrown now, as the notes below the picture suggest.

Neolithic stone axes found in the vicinity of Kington.

A Hornet's nest.  Looks about 3 times the size of the Wasp nest we had here last year. 

A couple of slipper-stirrups. (I will forgive them the term "foot holders" as they are obviously not horsey !)

Front left -skimmer for cream, and in the middle, a log headcollar block for when a horse was tied up in a stall - the rope went from the headcollar, through a ring on the manger, and then threaded through the block.  So the horse could move his head etc whilst still fastened.

A horn drinking cup and a selection of old costrels.  The one in the front is like the cart costrel I have in my collection.

Kingston was once a centre for clock making. At one time, we were told, there were about 40 clock makers working in the town.

Sorry, reading this will be impossible, but it was one of several sheets of photographs showing the Mills of Kington.

I have always been interested in smocks - this was beautifully made and embroidered.  All the details of the extended family are below, and make fascinating reading.

There was a good display of Victorian and Edwardian clothing too.

The back rooms had a good display of Military things and the volunteer and Keith had a lovely chat.  I didn't know there had been two big US Military Hospitals there, which started with soldiers injured at Dunkirk, offering treatment, rest and recuperation and continued throughout the war.  I think I recall they were used for temporary accommodation for local folk after the war too.  Now that site is covered by Industrial units.

I pushed Keith along the somewhat challenging pavements to the Charity Shops, and he then upped and walked across the road and back up the slight hill for a few hundred yards.  I was very surprised that a) he chose to do it and b) he managed very well.  The pavement there is stone setts and rather uneven (not easy for wheelchair pushing!) The last few times we've been out in the park, his neck has seized up the moment he begins walking, but didn't yesterday.  Hurray!  I pushed him the last bit and we walked past someone eating chips. That was FATAL, I just HAD to have some so went in search of the chippy, which was down the street and around the corner.  A reminder of the past with the Capstan cigarettes advertising signs.  Bet they'd be worth something nowadays as in very good condition.

Anyway, chips were bought and eaten, though slightly surprised at price - £3.50!!!  I can remember when they were 6d and a piece of Cod was 9d.  A big bottle of Corona pop was a shilling, but you got thruppence back on the bottle.  I am definitely getting old!  Must still be looking younger though (I am very fortunate with my complexion and not too many wrinkles yet) as yesterday I was taken for Keith's daughter!

It was a lovely few hours out and so good to see Keith more mobile.  The pills must finally be working!

We stopped at the church at Old Radnor on the way back, and it was well worth visiting.  There will be a post in due course.

Oh, and by way of a P.S.  The best thing by far on tv this week was British Comedy Greats about 'Allo 'Allo (the one about Les Dawson recently was also brilliant). Oh, it cheered us up no end.  We loved it when it was first shown, though I remember trying to explain it to the children and failing miserably.  British Farce at its best.

The countryside's the colour of Weetabix

 

We went to Hereford yesterday, to check out Wheelchairs at the Mobility Centre, and bought one which will do grass and gravel (it has Mountain Bike tyres and cost an arm and a leg), but need to go back tomorrow to collect it as it had to be ordered.  We couldn't help noticing how brown and sere it was everywhere - the hot weather has really scorched everything growing.  

        We will have an early autumn - there were drifts of yellow Birch leaves along the roadside and entire golden trees amongst the struggling woodland.  Beeches are turning already, Sycamores dropping leaves and everywhere SO thirsty.  There was some rain on the journey, but not much.  It had passed us by, bar a few drops first thing, but yesterday evening we had a little thunder and then steady rain which the garden greedily absorbed. I should think if I put a spade in later it wouldn't be more than skin-deep dampness though.

            I had intended to go to M&S for a couple of things I needed, and to Doughty's as they have 10% off fabrics at the moment,  but we were late leaving, then got held up in a long line of traffic on the A438, so I did a 3 point turn and headed up the Bredwardine turning and we came in Madley way. When I mentioned getting lunch, Keith realized he'd left his tablets behind and so plans to go shopping were swiftly abandoned (I seem fated not to get a leisurely browse at Doughty's), although I did listen to the siren call of the brown "Eaton Bishop Church" sign I'd noticed on the way in and stopped for a swift round of photos.  Apologies for another church quite so soon (and there should be Pilleth next but I will put that on hold) but this one is worth it for the Medieval stained glass.

Eaton Bishop Church near Hereford, dedicated to St Michael and All Angels.  Pevsner described it as having a Norman W tower with twin bell openings and a later broach spire of "friendly shape". HERE is a video of the church and village which also gives archaeological details.

There was a somewhat heavy-handed restoration in 1885 which removed earlier detail.  The font, however, dates from the 13th C. I don't know how I missed seeing that bucket!

Presumably1887 also, but pleasing Gothic Revival carvings to the Pulpit and as Pevsner doesn't mention the Rood Screen, it is probably the same date.

Looking back, you can clearly see the earlier Norman roof line.

A splendid marble edifice in memory of Lady Irva Keenan Pulley and her husband.

The other splendid memorial, which is to the Sneade family.  Pevsner called the putti "ugly"!

Triple 14th C sedilia in the chancel.

Now for the 14th C stained glass windows.  As you can see, they didn't survive completely intact and broken pieces have been incorporated in the border and plain glass in places. Very little blue was used - the palate was brown, green and yellow.  Pevsner speaks of "the sophisticated, highly emotional draughtsmanship" used in the windows, "similar to Illuminated Manuscsripts".  Probably made in France, but assembled locally.

I am not sure if the lion's head is representative of St Mark.

This depicts the head of Christ.

Christ on the Cross.

The photos of the lower levels suffered from poor light - must go back and try again.  If I have Keith with me, I am always in a hurry to get back to the car.

        This morning I am struggling to stay awake.  I unwittingly inhaled a lot of fine straw dust by driving along with the windows open yesterday. I have been awake, not able to breath well, all night and have had to take one of my extra-strong anti-histamines this morning, which has finally helped. 

        Glad that it is so much cooler now and we have had some rain, with more forecast.  Hope things are more comfortable where you are too, for my UK followers.

Historic Stokesay Castle

 

One of our outings was to beautiful Stokesay Castle. The link provides the history.  It's been years since we last went.  Keith stayed here, and I did a recce as to whether I could get him round in a wheelchair, but it's not terribly accessible - he could step through the doorway of the gatehouse, which has a step-over wooden threshold across it, but lots of stairs inside the Castle itself so not ideal.

The tower and the main part of the castle.  It wasn't too busy, so we were able to wander round at will and not have crowds of folk in the same room.

Now that's what you call a door!  

The main room of the castle with stairs to the right.  Swallows were nesting inside everywhere.

Some of the said Swallows, happy to have such a weather-proof home.

The picture below shows how it would have looked back in the day - very gracious, light and roomy.  The young fledgling Swallows were practicing their flying lessons overhead as we walked round. 

The view through lovely old hand-blown glass.

Inside the tower was this beautiful fireplace and stunning carving.

This little 17th C cradle was beautifully carved and I loved the proper "roof" at one end.  At the end, a really pretty little carved stool too. 

Lots of Swallows nesting and flying about here too.

This was my favourite view out - you can't see any in the photo but there were literally hundreds of House Martins swooping about, or clinging on to the roof or walls.  I have never seen so many together in one place and yet the Guide said there were only half the number that were there last year.  Perhaps he meant Swallows as there were SO many HM's.

Looking across the Shropshire countryside where the harvest had been gotten in early and definitely not needing to go in the drier.

Adam and Eve, who appeared in several carvings.  I was fascinated by what had been carved.

This was the facing the visitors side, and clothed for modesty's sake . . .

Adam and Eve hiding their assets here!!

This looks a bit like a Dragon with a large tongue - or flames - coming out of his mouth.

So, a lovely day out.  If you are planning to visit (RR?) go now whilst all the House Martins are still about.  They were almost the highlight of my day.

Sorry for the lack of words, but I've been up since 5 a.m. and have been hacking back the dead grass (chest high) and Rosebay Willowherb (even higher) in the orchard and I'm tired now.

Keith has had a haircut outside in the sun, but insisted on staying out longer and probably got dehydrated, although I plied him with ice-cold water and he's drunk more than usual.  He got up the steps onto the lawn too and had a walk up and down, but was careful not to overdo it.  Yesterday he hadn't been so good.  Lack of confidence on very slightly uneven surfaces again - he's completely fine on a flat floor inside a building.  Lawn is ok though, which is good.