Another Short Trip to Herefordshire - Part 2: Pudleston

After looking round the exterior of the church and the churchyard we went a wander round the small village where the houses were widely dispersed so it turned into a lovely walk along the lanes.


The East Lodge to Pudleston Court (I couldn't see the house from the road). The Court was built by J T Brearley of Liverpool 1846/7 for Elias Chadwick, a cotton trader from Wigan.

Mile a Minute taking over an outbuilding roof.

In the centre of this photo you might be able to make out clumps of mistletoe. So many trees in Herefordshire have mistletoe.

Horsetails growing on the grass verge.

Field Bindweed

Village Hall which had a past its best little wildflower meadow and bench in front. There was also an apple tree covered in apples (we resisted the temptation to pick a few!).

Out of focus sloes - it was windy!

Berries on Lords and Ladies

I always struggle to distinguish between Black Medick and Hop Trefoil unless I can see the seeds but I have a feeling this is the former.

Elderberries

This pig was snorting and grunting at us.

I planned to drive back via Bockleton and see if I could spot Upper Swingle Wood nature reserve but we spotted a one lane gated road signposted to the village where the caravan park is so we missed it turning off too early. It was a lovely quiet lane with only a few farms and cottages although I was praying I wouldn't meet anyone coming the other way! It came out opposite St Leonard's church. It would be a good place to walk in the future although I am not sure I fancy that long uphill walk from the caravan site to the church - I would be worn out before even walking along the lane!



Later that afternoon we went for a walk down to the pool at the caravan site.

Good to see a log pile

Lots of thistle seedheads and we have seen Goldfinches feeding on them.

Owl nest box in the meadow

Ash Keys

B cleared more of the little garden - only narrow but we did find a mint plant which has given me an idea of planting more herbs such as thyme and oregano and perhaps a lavender plant which would all be good for bees when in flower.

Hydrangea

Timothy needs to stop having a glass of wine with his meal!

We brought home 9 cooking apples from the little tree. B made an apple pie last night and I will make either a charlotte pudding or a Sussex apple pudding with the rest. They are quite tart so have to add quite a bit of sugar!

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

Another Short Trip to Herefordshire - Part 1: St Peter's, Pudleston

We popped to Herefordshire for a few days this week.


It was raining heavily on Wednesday when we left home.

Luckily yesterday was a lovely day - dry and sunny although a bit windy!


Pudleston is a small village only about 10 minutes drive away so we went to have a look at the church and for a walk around the village.


St Peter's, Pudleston

Another mounting block by the church gates (which were thankfully wide open!) :)

The church building is interesting. The tower was built c1200 and has a Norman West Door. Parts of the chancel are 13th century but the rest of the church is of much later date and dates from the 19th century and also the Woodyer Restoration of 1856/7. A spire rises on the tower from a truncated pyramidal roof.

The churchyard was quite manicured although there were some lovely yew trees.

Yew with a seat!

West Tower and

sundial.

South Porch

The church as you can see is now open again for private prayer. Some churches are making it clear they are open for casual visitors and church crawlers as well as for prayer. To be honest I was quite tempted to grab the hand sanitiser and disposable gloves and have a peek inside to see what Woodyer had done to the church as some of the stained glass and a few monuments sound interesting. But as B was with me I decided it wasn't fair and in any case am I yet ready to go inside buildings? Still it is close enough to return to.

In the field next door to the church were a couple of beautiful ancient oak trees.

Norman West Doorway of 2 orders - outer arch with lateral chevron and a restored (although to me it looked very weathered!) tympanum. The hood mould has dart foliage decoration which was a motif used by the Herefordshire School of Romanesque carvers on the West doorway of Leominster Priory.

Lichen on gravestones

War Memorial

I did read in one book on Herefordshire churches that the original font from the church was now in the churchyard but it was something I failed to spot.


We had a walk round the small village but I will leave that until Part 2.


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