Temple Balsall - Part 1: A Wander

 

D and I took advantage of a rare dry day recently to re-visit Temple Balsall.  I do love that area as it has such a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere and is steeped in history.  With churchyards and churches, historic buildings, a brook and a pool, a wildflower meadow, a hidden walled garden, wildflowers, birds and butterflies what more could you want?

Temple Fields Natural Burial Ground does much to encourage biodiversity and earlier in the year the meadow there is full of wild flowers, butterflies and grasshoppers.  Sadly, it was a bit past its best in August so we didn't walk round it this time.

Instead we walked across the lane to the lychgate leading to the cemetery which is a war memorial for those who lost their lives in World Wars One and Two.

I am always pleased to see churchyards/cemeteries which allow flowers to thrive in and around the older graves.

Having walked through the cemetery you emerge by the Solihull Green Man Trail.

We carried on along the Bread Walk which passes a little stream.

Temple Balsall takes its name from the Preceptory of the Templars which was founded there c1150.  The Knights Templar were disbanded in 1312 and their estates were taken over by the Hospitallers who held them until the Dissolution in 1541.

The Old Hall was encased in brick in the 19th century. The interior has hidden remains of an aisled late 12th century hall which belonged to the Preceptory.

Two sisters who were grand-daughters of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, bequeathed money to the area.

Lady Anne Holborne (d1663) left money in her will for the church to be repaired and to fund a minister there.

Lady Katherine Leveson (d1674) endowed the school and the hospital there.  

The restored church was used by the parish and the almswomen next door.  The hospital is now known as Lady Katherine Housing and Care.

The Almshouses

Temple House built in 1760.

We walked past the almshouses and Temple House to the pool where we saw some mallard - juveniles?

We walked past the almshouses and walked round the churchyard and walled garden which I'll write about in the next post and then returned along the Bread Walk past the Old Hall and through the Cemetery to where we had parked the car.

An interesting little snippet of information on this grave stone - I am assuming it may be Harry Williams who co-wrote with Jack Judge "Its a long long way to Tipperary"???

We called into Oakes farm shop on the way home to buy some local beer and D stocked up on his favourite tipple a bottle of Mr. Fitzpatrick's cordial!

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera

I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wants to use one I would be grateful for an email first - thanks.

Reference: "Buildings of England Warwickshire" by Chris Pickford and Nikolaus Pevsner, Yale University Press,

Water Orton - St Peter and St Paul and the Methodist Chapel and First Signs of Spring in the Garden

 

The flat that E has just bought is situated in the North Warwickshire village of Water Orton.  It is a place I know quite well as its not far from home but I thought I would go for a little wander there the other day while B was busy decorating E's flat.  She hasn't yet moved in as she has been buying the big items of furniture she needs. 

Water Orton was originally called Overton meaning "settlement on the Tun". At the end of the 16th century the name Water Orton appeared.  It was for many years a very small village but the coming of the railways and the building of a station meant it expanded in size quite rapidly.

The exterior of St Peter and St Paul, Water Orton's Parish Church

The church was built in 1878/9 by Bateman and Corser in the Decorated Gothic Style.  The spire was removed from the tower in 1987. Pevsner thinks the church is a "poor job architecturally" and to be honest I do tend to agree with that comment.  The ground for the church was given by a Captain Digby and his wife laid the foundation stone in September 1878.

I didn't go in the church and as D was with me I didn't check if it was open.

This is the Methodist Chapel built 1868 which is fairly close to the village church.  There is polychromatic brickwork and pointed windows by the entrance.

I also went to check out a cottage built in the 1800's which is currently on the market.  I do like the chimneys seen in the photo below but I think the cottage is overpriced as it is a semi detached and I have vowed never to live in another semi after what is happening with the rebuilding work in the house next to ours.  Also I would prefer to move further away and feel it wouldn't be fair on E to follow her to the same village.

The Digby  - we nearly held our wedding reception here many many years ago!

Vesey Bridge over the River Tame was built around 1520 by Bishop John Vesey of Exeter who came from nearby Sutton Coldfield.  I don't have a photo of the bridge so these are two paintings B did some years ago when he attended an art group in the church.

Placed in the bridge stonework there used to a stone panel depicting St Gabriel which came from the Chapel of St Blaise, Sutton Coldfield.  I have seen the panel which is now located in Curdworth Church for preservation.

This is an ancient stone cross or preaching cross located in the churchard in Old Church Road. It could be C11th or C12th and certainly existed when Overton village was given a licence to hold services in their newly constructed Chapel of Ease in 1346.  The chapel was demolished and a new church was build in 1887. I am not sure why but 100 years later this church was demolished too and the new one seen above was built in a different location.

Signs of Spring in the Garden

A snowdrop is now flowering :)

More Wild Primrose flowers are appearing.

Male and female hazel catkins

A few buds are appearing on cyclamen and buds on Camellias.

Primula

Seedheads - we leave these in the herbaceous border and elsewhere and don't remove them until the Spring as birds like the seedheads and insects can be hibernating in the stems or seeds.

Worryingly E tested positive for covid yesterday.  So far she is fine and just feels as though she has a cold.  To be honest with her working with the public we are lucky to have escaped it for this long although I do know she is very careful.  She is keeping to her room and wears a mask when she has to emerge so one can but hope no-one else catches it!

I hope everyone is staying safe and well.

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wants to use one of mine or my son's I would be grateful for an email first - thanks.

Reference:
The Buildings of England Warwickshire by Chris Pickford and Nikolaus Pevsner  Yale University Press 2016.

Water Orton Warwickshire In Times Past by C W Green