Marlow on the River Thames - April 2015

Enjoying Easter - April 2015

We journeyed down to stop with our Son in Staines-on-Thames over Easter.
The weather was lovely and we got out and about.

We got the train into Charing Cross - to go and see Sondheim's 'Sweeney Todd' done by English National Opera with Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson. It was the Lincoln Centre production brought over from New York and was absolutely excellent!

The photo is of Lord Nelson's Column, Trafalgar Square, where we sat in the afternoon sun!

We also visited a favourite riverside park of ours - here at Marlow.

This photo is of a lovely riverside property opposite the park 

 

The famous view downstream to Marlow Bridge 

 

Old timers taking a scull - what you do when living near the River?!

Marlow Rowing Club - where the great Sir Steve Redgrave rowed

The view of Marlow weir with the Mill complex in the background - looking downstream

 

The white building is the old Mill, with the mill race flowing out in the back left corner - now lovely duplex apartments

This is the view upstream (in hazy midday sunshine) - we intend to come this way next year 2016 on our big summer cruise!

Watching a fine cruiser come through the lock - there wasn't a Lock Keeper there, so the crew worked the gates and paddles themselves - 'self service'!

Filling the lock

Next downstream was this large cruiser

In one of the nearby gardens, I spotted these bee hives in the classic WBC design.

 They were invented by and named after William Broughton Carr in 1890, and are a double-walled hive with an external housing that splays out towards the bottom of each frame covering a standard box shape hive inside.

 

There was plenty of bee activity on the warm Spring afternoon 

 

Here I am looking up at the 'big man' - Sir Steve is an inspiration for rowers and sports people

 

Family enjoying the afternoon sun in the park

Wells Cathedral Visit Mar 2015

Last week, whilst in Somerset, we went over to the City of Wells - the smallest city in England! The main purpose was to visit the delightful Wells Cathedral, set in the cathedral close with the green in front.
We stopped for tea and cakes on the café and spent a splendid long afternoon looking around. Having bought a photographic ticket, we were able to take many photos.

The icing on the cake was waiting til the Evensong and participating in an age-old religious ceremony going back to medieval times - sung by the excellent Vicar's Choir.

Here are some photos:

The gatehouse to the Bishop's Palace - we will have to visit here again and do in here ...

 

Having parked our motorvan - Chris patiently waits outside the Penniless Porch c1450(where the City's beggars plied their trade)

 

Through the Gate to view the magnificent frontage of Wells Cathedral

Built between 1175 and 1490 - on the site of an earlier 705 Abbey Church

In the Early English Gothic style - this west façade has about 300 hundred surviving statues

 

Looking through at the inner cloister courtyard

 

The ornate painted roof of the Nave

 

This photo shows the Astronomical Circular Clock dated from about 1325 - the second oldest medieval clock in Engalnd

Looking east, past the High Altar to the Lady Chapel

The magnificent East Window

We had the privilege of participating in Evensong seated here

Following some subsidence of the central tower, these 'scissor' stone supports were erected

After Evensong, we emerged to this glorious view at sunset!

For detailed information about Wells Cathedral - see this link

 

West Mendip Hills - Murvi Rally Mar 2015

Last weekend we took our newly acquired Murvi Motorvan down to Cheddar for the Murvi Owners Club AGM Rally. As 'newby' owners we were intrigued by the enthusiasm for this particular motorvan fit-out and found the group welcoming and informative. We picked up many tips and answers to our questions.

Happy Murvi Owner

Murvi Vans everywhere!

Our home for the week

 

This is a new area for us and so the opportunity to walk/run over the Mendips.

On a lovely day, I took the uphill paths direct from the Cheddar Bridge Touring site where we were and headed south up to the top overlooking Cheddar Gorge.

Here is a selection of photos taken.

Early daffodils

One of the many disused limestone quarries - this one at Black Rock

 

Worked out slag from the Victorian lead mining at Velvet Bottom (!)

Old pits from the lead ore extraction - here at Blackmoor

To my surprise, this pot-holer suddenly appeared. Apparently, this is a capped entrance to a limestone cave system

 

This whole area around Charterhouse was an important lead mining area from Roman times until the 19th century. The remains of old lead workings can be seen around Velvet Bottom and Ubley Warren which are covered with 'gruffy' ground, a local name for uneven mined ground. The area contains worked-out mineral veins known as 'rakes', black glassy slag heaps, round stone-lined 'buddle' pits used for washing the ore, smelting plants, old flues and a complex network of dams and leats.

Although hard to identify, this looking at a Roman Fortlet established during the 1st century to protect the local lead (and silver mining)

Spring gorse flowers

Signs of lead mining

 

Locally called a 'rake', where the lead ore seam has been worked

Signs for the times

After heading south, I reached the southern edge of the West Mendips at Westbury Beacon.

This photo is looking up to a tumulus on the top - the highest point here at 272 m (892 ft)

Looking over to my next climb on the edge

You've guessed - an airfield is here on the top

 

The gliding club

Coming in to land

Looking down through the haze to Cheddar - with the reservoir behind

Back down in Cheddar at the Market Cross which dates from the 15th century.

In the 16th or 17th century it was enclosed with a hexagonal arch structure. It was rebuilt by Thomas, Marquis of Bath in the 18th century

Enjoying a pint of Butcombe Real Ale - after my 13 mile walk with 2300ft of climb

 

A lovely sunset through the surrounding campsite trees - rounds off a great day!