Herefordshire in November - Part 4: Leominster

 

On Friday we popped into Leominster so B could look round the hardware shops etc for a rake. To be honest if I had known how long it would take I would have gone and had a proper look round the interior of the Priory instead.

Some of these photos may be familiar from previous trips but I've tried to find a few new places to photograph.

This sculpture by the car park is a replica of a Ryeland Sheep. Leominster once prospered as the centre of the wool trade and Ryeland sheep were valued to highly that they became known as Leominster Ore. Queen Elizabeth I liked the wool and was given a pair of stockings.

This is a very good model shop and D bought a jigsaw to complete at the caravan.

Ugh - miniature Christmas Trees sprayed with some horrid fake stuff.  I must admit I don't understand why plants and flowers covered in spray and glitter are sold. Surely they are beautiful enough in their own right.

I had quick look round Rossiter's books and this time gave into temptation and bought a Logaston Press book on the geology of Herefordshire.

We ended up walking up to a small nursery still no rakes! One of these days I would like some chips from this fish and chip shop.

B and D wandered off in search of another hardware shop and by this time I had had enough and walked back to the car just stopping off in an Art Gallery to treat myself to an Angela Harding Advent Calendar.

I spent some time checking the river for Kingfishers - no sign this time but I did have a brief sighting of a Dipper.

B did manage to find a cheap lawn rake but in the end we went back to B and Q to buy a rake for the garden. He is trying to clear the back of the small garden and the soil is hard work hence the need for a decent rake. I don't think the soil is out and out clay and I am hoping the book below will give me a clue as to what soil type we have!

We came home on the Saturday. Hopefully we can return a couple of times before the end of the year before we have to close it down for two months.

I hope everyone is staying safe and well.

All photos taken by me the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone would like to use one I would be grateful for an email first - thanks).

Herefordshire in November - Part 3: St Faith's (exterior), Dorstone Motte and Bailey and Village

 

After we left Arthur's Stone I did consider a trip to Hay on Wye but then decided that needed a day to itself so we decided to visit the nearby village of Dorstone.

Dorstone was called Torchestone in the Domesday Book but the name was changed to Dorstone due to its proximity to the River Dore.

St Faith's

was rebuilt by Nicholson and Son 1881/90 re-using medieval parts.

The Medieval West Tower was truncated for structural reasons in 1950.

The large oak porch dates back to 1889/90.

I am not quite sure what the ghostly light is on the right as I don't remember it being sunny during the visit.

D spotted these shells which I said were a symbol of St James and pilgrims. Anyway a google search suggests St Faith's is on the Golden Valley Pilgrim Way which is a 59 mile trail and takes in orchards, castles, churches and holy wells.

Different members of the Powell family served as rectors of the church for around 300 years from 1633 to 1953.

While we were looking round the churchyard I noticed a couple leaving  the church and when I tried the door to have a look round the interior it was locked or at least appeared to be locked - sometimes these big old doors can need  a bit of a shoulder shove!  According to the website it should have been open. A lesson to be learnt there perhaps to go inside the church before exploring the exterior!

Dorstone Motte and Bailey Castle

I knew there was a motte and bailey at Dorstone and D does love his castles! So a short walk along a footpath and we were there.  It once had a shell keep but presumably the remains of this have long since been buried. But the motte and dry ditch remain.

It is unusual in that it once had two baileys.

It was probably founded by the de Brito family, one of whom was Richard de Brito one of the knights who murderedThomas Beckett. The castle would have protected a vulnerable valley route into Wales and it was later the main holding of the Solers family.

Either Richard de Brito or his family founded a chapel on the site of the present day of church as an act of expiation for the murder of Beckett.

The Pandy Inn which dates back to the  C12th was closed at lunchtime as was the village shop. Fortunately I had brought a flask of tea and some sandwiches which we ate in the car.

Dorstone Standing Stone on the village green had a sundial added on top in 1812.

Record shot of a Red Kite - we saw many on the Thursday. The nearer you get to the borders the more you see.

Plants in Walls

*D

*D

*D

*D

I stopped off on the way back to get some photos of the view towards Bredwardine

*D

*D

I got D to take this photo of the Red Lion Hotel in Bredwardine as I don't think I managed one when I visited Kilvert's church earlier this year.  Francis Kilvert, the Victorian diarist, was vicar of Bredwardine church between November 1877 and his premature death in September 1879.

*D

We stopped off at Monklands Dairy Cheese Shop on the way back to buy some cheese. Friday we stayed closer to Hatfield and just had a walk round Leominster which I'll cover in the final post.

I hope everyone is staying safe and well.

Photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera and those marked *D were taken by my son with the Canon SX50HS bridge camera.  (I don't particularly rate most of my photos but if anyone wishes to use one of mine or my son's I would be grateful for an email first. Thanks).

Reference:  Buildings of England Herefordshire by A Brookes and N Pevsner. Yale University Press

Website: britishpilgrimage.org