A Wander Round Brecon

We were in Brecon today, so I got to have a wander round, camera in hand.  Here's the start of my walk, close to the Indoor Market (just behind me).

This old building obviously has a different use in a former life - looks like it was a warehouse of some sort.

This is St Mary's church with its Perpendicular Buckingham Tower.  

A statue of Wellington (and Carmarthen's General Picton gets a mention on the back.

The Old Shire Hall became the Brecon Museum, still currently closed for complete renovation and extension.  It was meant to re-open last November I think, then it was April, now - who knows?

I have forgotten the name of this wonderful house.  Will have to try and find out which it is in the morning.

The old Mill on my way down towards the Canal and below, the not quite finished extension to the Museum.

Down by the Canal, this old building was ruinous back in the 1990s, when the Canal Basin was constructed (the canal once went a little further and ended in the builder's merchant's yard.) This was probably a sort of weights and measures office for goods on the canal boats.  Lots of ducks about today, some canoeists and a couple of narrow boats and others.

Beautiful cottages and floral displays.

I walked back along by the river, where this old house overlooks it, and below, this beautiful piece on a cottage wall.

I crossed the road to photograph this plaque.  I never knew that the bridge dated back to Elizabethan times (plus update).  Just shows how bad flooding can be on this river (the Hondu).

Below is the lovely Castle Hotel with a little bit that remains of the Castle.  The house behind that tree was for sale recently, but whoever bought it must have good flood insurance . . .

Looking back towards the town from the bridge, and below, some pigeons having their Sunday ablutions.

Above: looking back towards the Beacons , and below, our reason for being in Brecon - we were doing the Militaria Fair.

It knows how to rain here

Well, I am guessing it rained right across the country today.  I got soaked when we ventured into town this morning - me in search of Goat's Milk Yoghurt (didn't find any) and to do some forgotten banking.  I had rising damp from being splashed by the water underfoot and my shoes are still drying out, whilst my sopping wet socks went straight in the laundry basket.  At least I had a dry jacket in the car so could hang up the wet one over the back of the seat.

I made a big vat of vegetable soup today, with some spicy beans in it, and lots of dark green cabbage.  All in the name of anti-inflammatory food.  I casseroled two big chicken breasts and added half of one of those, still hot, to a bowl of the soup which I had as my main meal tonight.  I am still feeling stuffed.

A work in Progress.  I know they look a bit haphazard, but they aren't finished yet and when trimmed will be the front and back for a Lynette Anderson bag I am making. I will do feather embroidery along the joins. There is a fold-over flap which will have an embroidered design and a bit of applique.

Every time I sat down on the sofa today I was surrounded by/covered in cats - the two tabbies, Theo and Ghengis both wanted my lap, whilst Alfie sat on my shoulders and purred.  Little Whale was a queue of one outside Tam's bedroom door, but was disappointed as I didn't let him in - he was wet!

I had the dentist again yesterday, for another round of canal root treatment - they have been cleaned out again and filled and the old crown has a temporary filling again.  We shall see if it all settles down - if not, then the toof will be out.

Some sea air

I had to see my asthma nurse this morning, and afterwards we went on to little Llansteffan.  Fortunately the tide was WAY OUT and the views fabulous.  As we often do, the outward walk was along the beach, down towards Scotts Bay, and then back along the cliff top.  Wish I could have stayed all day but Keith has a job to finish here.  Words aren't necessary - just enjoy the scenery.

I would have liked to walk right around into the river mouth overlooking Laugharne, but Keith needed to get back.

Looking across to Pembrey and then Rhossili Downs and Worms Head.

The end of the road - where the Cockle Pickers drive on to the beach, I assume.

Wonky Churches - part II - Cwmyoy

Cwmyoy Church nestles beneath the red sandstone of Hatterrall Hill.  HERE is a link to a page which shows details of the landslip and some far better photos of the church than I took!!  You can see on the left, another ancient preaching cross.

Lovely old carved heads  ("cusped" according to Coflein).  The window is probably 14th C.

Inside the porch was this beautifully-carved memorial to Joan Prosser (the old "ff" was "ss" in those times and there were Prosser memorials inside the church too).  She died on the 25th January (which year?)and was the daughter of Richard Gundy.

Above and below: there were a number of unusual decorated plaques on the walls.  Perhaps they are connected with the Prosser family? as there is the memorial to Joan, which also has beautiful carving?

The stoup, set into the wall in the porch.

The doorway into the tower.

There is debate whether this a "weeping chancel" where the non-alignment of the nave and chancel was deliberate with the nave represented Christ's body in death, and the chancel his head, inclined to the right.  That said, the rest of the leaning angles must surely be down to the landslip.  We felt quite drunken whilst walking around in here!

This probably started life as a wayside or preaching cross before being brought into the church. It dates to the 11th or 12th C.  The representation of Christ on the cross is quite rare but as this was close to Llanthony Priory, it would have been on the Pilgrimage route to St David's (and Offa's Dyke passes close by).

It has had an interesting life, as it was buried (probably during the Reformation) and not discovered until 1861, when it was dug up on a local farm.  It 1935 it was placed inside the tower.

In 1967 this was stolen and turned up for sale in an antiques shop in London. Fortunately it was spotted by the Keeper of Sculpture from the British Museum and rescued.

A sad memorial to a little 3 year old daughter, Joan Williams, and below, her mother and namesake, Joan.

The same family also lost two daughters named Mary, one 8 years old and the other just 14 weeks.  Hard times then.

A tilted window . . .

There were many old memorials in the churchyard, and a lovely memorial walk with words carved into the flagstones.

Looking out of the window today (heavy rain and strong winds), I'm glad we went out when we did!

A day of Wonky Churches

We had to go to Hay on business yesterday, and after a quick lunch we went up to Hay Bluff.  It's been a while since our last visit and it was just the day for stunning views . . .

Looking across to Pen-y-Fan . . .

Heading downhill towards Capel-y-Ffin. Once upon a time this lane (single track with passing places) would be choc-a-bloc with tourists driving the other way, but it was really quite quiet yesterday. I mentioned it to Keith and he said it's probably down to the price of petrol.  We were fortunate to only meet folk coming the other way right beside a passing place!

The Rev. Francis Kilvert described the wee church of St Mary the Virgin as "squatting like a stout grey owl amongst its seven yew trees."

The view back up the valley.  There are always some flowers here in a vase.  It is a tiny church, some 26 feet by 13.

Then tomorrow, just a little taster of Cwmyoy .. .

I said it was wonky!!

A few wildflowers from Snowshill, Gloucestershire

Some photos of wild flowers taken on our visit to Snowshill Manor. A view across the fields along the pathway from the car park to the house.

Bellflower - probably Creeping  I think.  A plant which doesn't grow here in Wales.  A joy to see it again.

I know this as Rose Mallow - think it's a washy version of Common Mallow.

I didn't get the leaf for this, but it was in a damp ditch so possibly Hemlock Water Dropwort.

Wild Carrot.

Common Knapweed.

Purple Loosestrife.

White Campion.  Something which used to grow in our garden when I was growing up in Hampshire, but here in Wales we only have the Red Campion and at the seaside in Cardiganshire, I've found Sea Campion (which is also white).

Field Scabious.

Along the way we saw Chicory growing on the verges (we don't get that in Wales either).  It's a plant I love and which brings back happy memories of walks along a stretch of the old Somerset & Dorset Railway near Blandford, when staying with friends of ours.

Looking across to the side of the house . . .