Nantgwyllt church, Elan Valley

 

Looking across the Garreg-ddu Viaduct to the Foel valve tower from the church.

Nantgwyllt Church dates from 1903, when the building was completed.  It replaced a much earlier church which was buried beneath the reservoirs when the valleys were flooded to provide water for Birmingham.

The font was plain but stylish. I disturbed a young family with their daughter and family dog, who were cleaning the church as there is to be a wedding there this week.

The apse, light and functional.

These four sculptures were designed by the architect for the entire project, Stephen W Williams, and depict himself, water engineer James Mansergh, Secretary of the Water Department Anthony Lees and 

Alderman Lawley Parker, Chairman of Birmingham City Council Water Committee. All those whiskers!

One simple but beautiful stained glass window.

More attention to detail with these sculptures dividing the nave and the apse.

This memorial to Thomas Lloyd was salvaged from the old church and dates back to 1782.

A further memorial to John Pickering, who sadly only made it to 37 years of age.

 

This homily was on the lecturn.

HERE is a link to more information about the church and photographs of its surroundings.

Worst photo ever - Wall Butterfly.  Guess who left the camera on scenery?!!

Out for a drive . . . Claerwen Reservoir

 

I have been very tired and down the last couple of days.  The sun was shining, so Keith and I went "out for a drive" - just like my parents used to do on a Sunday afternoon in summer.  We went to the Elan Valley, so I could go into the little church that was built above the Reservoirs (will post that later in the week).  Then we drove up to the reservoir we haven't been to yet, Claerwen.

This is a good way away from the Elan village, so when they built the reservoir they perhaps had temporary accommodation up there?  Or went by horse and cart daily.  It's quite a big reservoir and high up in the hills. The road stops with a car park, but off-road vehicles and riders or walkers can carry on using tracks which led into the distance.  I now want to explore on foot.

A fairly remote place to live, especially in winter.

Panorama to show the approach and valley/hills towards the lower reservoirs.

It's as old as me!

This is on the top of the bridge strut, showing the streams which feed into the reservoirs.

On the way back down, we just had to stop for photos of the river as it poured over the rocks and boulders.

Tea was simple tonight - same as last night, chicken curry for me and lamb casserole/veg/mash for Keith.  Just reheated in the Popty-ping.  Tomorrow the old sink unit is coming out so it will probably be something quick like cheese on toast for tea!

Lovely to see the Bell Heather starting to bloom today, and the acidic yellow of Birdsfoot Trefoil, with Meadow Cranesbill, Common Mallow and  masses of Ox-Eye Daisies and Buttercups on the big verges near Newbridge-on-Wye.

St Michael and all Angels, Moccas

 

This was easy to find. Take the B4352 between Hereford and Hay-on-Wye and turn towards Moccas village on the lane which is split by a war memorial.  Then left across Moccas House parkland (though the aged sign is very worn). The church is on the left before the lovely 18th C house, seat of the Cornewall family.  The Apse has original windows.

It is built on the site of an 8th C monastery founded by St Dubricius and is an example of an early 2-cell Romanesque church, using local tufa stone, and with great similarities to Kilpeck church and probably built by the same masons. Please visit THIS site for more information, especially about the stained glass and its links in neighbouring Gloucestershire.

A very special 12th C church, although sadly the Norman tympanums are no longer there.  The South entrance had the Tree of Life and the north doorway a goat in a scrolled background, both sadly lost to erosion, although antiquarians could still identify them in the 18th C. The porch was added in the 14th/15thC, and some of the original chamfered plates survive although the timber is modern.

A very plain, I assume Norman, font.

This amazing organ was designed by Gilbert-Scott Jnr. in Victorian times, and painted by Thomas Kempe.

There was no obvious light switch so the church was rather gloomy.

Beautifully designed and worked kneeler.

Above and below: beautiful wooden carvings.

Effigy and tomb believed to be that of Roger de Fresne, who died in 1375.

I confused myself with which glass was in which wall, so go to THIS LINK which will give you the information. Once again I was in a hurry as Keith and I had been to Hereford Hospital for more scans, and he was tired and just wanted to be back home.

Right, having done some research, I am pretty sure this is the Kempe window.  A post today on Facebook by the Friends of Friendless Churches states that "it is pretty easy to spot a window by Charles Eamer Kempe.  His figures wear wistful gazes, are draped in damask, drip with jewels and pose under fecund Gothic arches.  Also, usefully, he often signed his windows with a golden wheatsheaf - a device derived from his family's coat of arms." No wheatsheafs here but wistful gazes aplenty!  It was in memory of one of the Cornewall family.

Poor girl, and what a dreadful shock for the family.

It can't have been easy to work the lettering across the marble folds.

Moccas Court behind the trees.

Finally, just to show the invalid is very relaxed now:

Happier

 

He says he looks a right plonker in it, but he can cope with this.  The kitten size (small) was just right for him.  It's up to 7lbs.  He is a small cat with a tiny head.

Not too much detail - it's closing nicely now and the other two small bites out of sight have closed right up.  Ghengis is much happier with this collar and so am I!

The kitchen is progressing - units all in now bar the sink one. That's saved for Monday.  Worktops on and shelving in.  I ordered the tiles last night but very nearly didn't when I found out that delivery was just short of £100!  They came within a cat's whisker of losing the order. Keith said not to spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar but I shall NOT be recommending the company to anyone now.

    Many of the new roses are blooming - The Lady of Shallot shakes her orange petals and glows on the bank.  Gardening is sporadic - every day seems to have rain along at some point - it was like April showers all day yesterday.  I can't push my luck with the pollen either - though the stronger antihistamines have been a game-changer.

    Meanwhile I have lost my creative side - I had intended to write, and learn water colour painting, and sew more when we got here, but that's all gone to pot with caring for K.  It upsets me that the beautiful little descriptions I used to write down in my commonplace book have totally disappeared from my mind - they just don't happen any more.  I can write in a statement of fact fashion and that's all. The times they are a-changing.

    I may go in search of a church today.  We will see.

Outside the front door Lili Marlene puts on a show.

This is NOT a happy cat . . .

 

Ghengis, who after a grooming session in the sun this morning, suddenly revealed a great gash down his ribs, so he hadn't gotten away unscathed after the feral tom attacked him a couple of days ago.  Vet suitably horrified, Ghengis very stoical and treated but HATES the collar poor boy, and is going to have a very stiff neck from looking at the ceiling all the time.  All the other cats are now suitably terrified of the Space Cat in their midst!  Hope he heals soon.  P.S.  Tam found me a soft "Elizabethan" cat collar to replace this so that will arrive tomorrow.

Meanwhile, my kitchen now looks like this . . . or rather it did this morning, before the new base units were put in place.

I'll show before and after pictures when it's done.