Weekend in Herefordshire - Part 2: Local Walk and St Leonard's, Hatfield.

Sunday


Timothy settling into his new home from home.

D bought us a clock for the caravan. I don't think it is easy to hang items on caravan walls! so B improvised with a piece of wood wedged across the gap above the fire and attached the clock to that!

Caravan in its new location. Quite secluded as there is a hedge to one side and then just five caravans further down the hill. The one next door will be empty shortly for a while as the owners there have bought a new caravan which has been located further along the row.

On Sunday morning we went a local walk along the lane to the small village of Hatfield.



View as you walk along the caravan park drive.

Just at the end of the drive is a sign for a bridleway which is something to explore in the future.

In the distance in the centre of the photo is the area where the caravan is situated.

A Peacock butterfly decided to land on my trainer.

The lanes were quiet - we didn't see a soul and just a few cars and a tractor passed us.

St Leonard's Church, Hatfield.

The chancel is 13th century and the western part of the nave with its bell turret is 14th century and was weather boarded in 1903. Part of the south wall is 17th century having been rebuilt after the nave wall collapsed!

The Early Norman Nave's North wall has herringbone masonry with a tympanum decorated with a trellis pattern.

The front part of the churchyard was kept neat and tidy but at the rear of the church there was a beautiful "living churchyard" where grasses had been left unmown and wild flowers flourished. It really was delightful and very tranquil and peaceful. There were many bees and Meadow Browns flying around.

The open timber West Porch is partly 14th century.

The church was open for private prayer and there was a bottle of hand sanitiser to use. I would have loved to go and have a look inside and it looked deserted but I didn't partly because I don't think being open for private prayer is the same as wandering around taking photos! and to be honest I am still very reluctant to go inside any building (or shop).

B and E had gone to explore the village apparently the Old School House there is for sale!


When they returned we walked back to the caravan.


Distant view of a Comma.

We left at about 4.30. We did make a detour initially as years ago when she was at primary school E attended a 5 day outdoor activity residential course at Bockleton Hall and she was keen to see it again. We failed to find it! although there was some sort of fete on in the village with deckchairs and teddy bears outside the cottages and bunting everywhere. The traffic was fine on the way home and it took about 90 minutes after the detour!




All photos taken by me with the Pansonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera.