26 July 2014

Somerset..........

 
Frome - in Saxon times this was an important place, and to me it still is.  Here St Aldhelm built a monastic house, Athelstan King of Wessex had a royal council, and poor old King Edred died.  It is a perfect base for accessing the rest of beautiful Somerset (and the cider is great too!).....
 
 
 
 
 
 
Frome bridge was built in 1667 and is a rare example of an English bridge with buildings on it.....
 
 
 
The George Hotel, Frome .....
 
 
Medieval Cheap Street where an ancient leat channels spring water down the centre of the pavement .....
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A wonderful day spent in Glastonbury, first stop - The Tor!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Looks like Mildenhall but with scenery! 
 
 
 
Showing just how high The Tor is .....
 
 
 
 
 
I wonder if THE 'W. Churchill' was responsible for this?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Glastonbury Abbey ..... England's cradle of Christianity, providing sanctuary, tranquillity, history and heritage in one special place.  The Abbey is the resting place for three Saxon kings and not forgetting King Arthur.  A crying shame that 'orrible 'enry ordered its destruction!  Shame on him!
 
 
 
 
 
The Abbot's Kitchen .....
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
King Arthur, Queen Guinevere and Cindy ye peasant .....
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The herb garden ....
 
 
 
 
Medieval floor tiles ....
 
 
 
13th century monastery doors.....
 
 
 
 
The Glastonbury Thorn ... the original thorn grew on Wyrral Hill and took root from the staff planted there by Joseph of Arimathea.  Thank goodness many cuttings were taken from the original as this was sadly vandalised some years ago.
 
 
 
 
 
Ivythorn and Collard Hills from Street ........
you will think I'm obsessed by The Tor, and you'll be right!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
And next, off to Cadbury Castle at South Cadbury, which is an iron age hillfort said to be THE Camelot!!  How fab is that?!
 
A slight hitch in that these looked suspiciously like cows even to a townie like me!!! 
 
 
 I was a bit 'concerned' (my boss always used to say that when she was terrified!), but they, bless them, moved away as we walked towards them.  On our way back along the path, I was ready for them this time - only to find they had, thankfully, moved on .......
 
And wow, was braving the cows worth it ...YES!  What a view ... nearly as good as that from the Tor......
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sunflowers at Castle Cary .....
 
 
 
Nunney ... what a lovely village, and it has its own castle and everything!  The castle was built in 1370 by John de la Mare....
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Surely not Wilkie Collins????
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wells Cathedral and its green..........
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On this occasion I don't know any politicians or writers called .....
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Bishop's Palace....
 
 
 
 
 
Views through the heat haze - a result of temperatures over 30 degrees centigrade (how I love to be able to say that in England!!) - from the road below Maesbury Castle.....
 
 
 
The pretty village of Bratcombe .....
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
After I took this photo I realised I was being attacked by ants!  What with cows guarding Cadbury Castle, and then ants protecting the churchyard - a very dangerous business is taking photos.
 
 
 

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