Most years just before Easter I visit a local churchyard to see the display of wild primroses. My usual destination is St Giles, Packwood, where, if you time it right, there is a stunning display with a carpet of primroses covering the churchyard. Unfortunately, I had forgotten Easter was early this year and discovered that, although a few clumps were already flowering, it was too early for the main display.
Behind the fence is Packwood Hall which is next to the church. The hall, now privately owned, dates back to the 17th century and has a moat. Edith Holden of The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady fame visited there on 24th February, 1906, and picked a bunch of snowdrops from the church and was shown a lamb by the farmer at the hall.
St Giles
St Giles dates back to the 13th century and is dedicated to St Giles, the Patron Saint for beggars and the lame, and today the church is always left unlocked allowing it to be used as a place of refuge for those in need.
Sara Ford from nearby Packwood married Michael Johnson at this church in 1706. Their son Samuel was to become a famous literary figure and dictionary author.
A lovely feature of this churchyard is that, although the area near recent graves is kept tidy, the area where the older graves are located is left to its own devices and nature has taken over with ferns, brambles, ivy etc. scrambling over the ancient tombs and gravestones. It is a real haven for wildlife and over 100 species of wild flower have been recorded here.
A few clumps of snowdrops, now past their best, remain and Lesser Celandines are starting to flower - sprinkled over the grass like golden stars.
Celandines also known as Pilewort have been used to make an ointment to treat haemorrhoids. Local names for this harbinger of Spring include Golden Guineas, , brighteye, butter and cheese, cream and butter and starflower. In the Language of Flowers this plant stands for "joys to come" referring to its appearance so soon after Winter. It was William Wordsworth's favourite flower and he asked for it to be engraved on his tombstone. Unfortunately the stonemason carved a Greater not Lesser Celandine!
I couldn't see any violets yet and just a few clumps of primroses were starting to flower.
In folklore Primroses are a symbol of youth and it is thought they are lucky in love and marriage
A memorial to Graham Baron Ash and his parents who once owned Packwood House before the latter passed it on to the National Trust.
This gravestone has some interesting carvings. Cut flowers can symbolise a life cut down in its prime and a hand with a pointing finger can imply divine presence. I'm not sure what the ears of wheat signify.
This tombstone always fascinates me- it makes you wonder if you leant on it or pushed it would it give way and open and entrance to the Burdett vault!
And this is the vault behind.
A blocked up priest's door
A few more old tombstones and graves.
Sundial on the Tower
This a mass or scratch dial. Centuries ago a stick was inserted in the hole to act as a primitive sundial or clock so that the time of masses could be calculated.
The Tower of Atonement
Nicholas Brome from nearby Baddesley Clinton who committed two murders - his father's killer in 1471 and, as mentioned in the past, the priest of Baddesley Church in 1483 when he found him in the parlour "chocking his wife under ye chinne". His atonements for evil deeds included arranging for the construction of the tower at St Giles.
On the way home I drove past Packwood House to see if the roadside daffodils were yet flowering. Again, I was too early - some are out but many of the plants still contain buds.
If I get chance I will return.
Garden Frogs
Garden frogs spawned last week starting on the 13th March although we are a little worried about the effects of below freezing temperatures at the weekend.
10 comments:
Our frogs spawned in February and the frogspawn has been frozen solid several times, but I don't know how viable it is now. They have been back and a few more eggs have been laid, but only time will tell.
What a fascinating churchyard to explore. You have made me want to go exploring some of the Welsh ones again. Watch this space - when it's warmed up a bit!
Bovey Belle - Thank you. Ours have only spawned that early twice! Usually mid to late March. I think if spawn has sunk below surface it is more likely to survive freezing temps but if still at surface more worrying - though eggs at bottom may survive.
I do look forward to seeing some of your Welsh churchyards when it gets warmer.
What a lovely post, and your photos are stunning..
Lovely little church with plenty of history, I like the scratched dial, not seen one of these before and could be easily missed. Was it high up ?
I do like the stone in front of the vault, interesting they put it there too as like most vaults they are big enough to see.
As far as I can tell, Wheat... represents someone who lived to a ripe old age, a person who was able to fulfil their life’s potential.
How lovely to have some frog spawn too, I have read some where it can survive quite low temperatures, and if it stays cold they don't hatch to the following year ! (might be wrong)
Had hoped the frogs that hatched in my little pond would come back this year, but nothing at all.
Amanda xx
Amanda Peters - Thanks so much. The scratch dial was quite low down (about head height). They can be hard to spot - I think there is possibly another one at that church (or am I thinking of Berkswell??) but have never seen it.
The vault sign is interesting - am not sure if the vault is just the big tomb or whether it is more like a room you can enter. If I ever see anyone at the church I will ask! There again next time I will brave the undergrowth and walk round the tomb and see if I can see an entrance.
I went up and looked at the frogspawn yesterday - it looked fairly healthy - will be interesting to see if any tadpoles emerge!
Still time for your frogs to return - we have had frogs spawn here up until the end of March in past years.
PTES survey stuff has arrived in post (how quick was that!!!) - will let you have more details when I have read it.
Amanda Peters - Thanks so much too for info re: wheat.
I was looking at photos of our garden and pond from this time last year and the pond was teeming with frogspawn and there were at least ten frogs in there. This year, nothing so far, I think the late winter cold weather has been detrimental to the frogs, or maybe they have found better lodgings in a pond elsewhere! The church and churchyard are fascinating as are the sundials. I like that the church is open for refuge. Interesting information about the lesser celandines and primroses:)
Lovely photos, a shame the flowers weren't out in full but it is a good excuse to go back! I just noticed my first Celandines flowering this morning.......spring finally! Fingers crossed for the frogs!
Rosie - Thank you and don't give up on your pond and frogspawn. Here they have spawned late in March in some years so perhaps yours are just late spawning due to cold weather.
I will go back inside the church one day and try again to get photos. It is very dark in there and difficult to get decent pictures.
Pam - Thank you - yes I will try and go back if time in a couple of weeks. Celandine just seem to be starting to flower here too.
Hi Timothy! you look well wrapped up! you need a twitter account :)
I've never been to that church..... I assume near to Packwood House? BTW have you tried the second hand book shop at Baddesley?
Pete Duxon - Thank you and hello from Timothy - he says he might surprise you and pop up on Twitter one day..........
Yes, St Giles is about a mile from Packwood - if you google map it is just off Glasshouse Lane. Lovely little churchyard - haven't been in the church for a few years but a church warden told me sometime back it was always open. If you click on St Giles in my labels list - you will see a lot of posts on church (all very similar!!) but one of the earlier ones has photos from inside. Ignore first post it is St Giles Sidbury! Yes, I know the second hand bookshop at Baddesley well and purchases have been made - when I am on my own!!!!!!
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