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,

Big Butterfly Count

 

I am sure many of you take part in the Summer Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count.  I usually try and do 4 or 5 each year in the garden.  I did try once to do one at Packwood but there were that many "white" butterflies about I lost count.

I've done two so far this year and with the weather the way it is I suspect I won't do anymore this summer.

The first was on the 25th July and I saw the following

Large White x 2

Gatekeeper x 1

Speckled Wood x 1

Red Admiral x 1

Comma x 1

The second I did on 29th July and spotted

Red Admiral x 1

Comma x 1

Small White x 2

You might know just after I'd started the sun went behind the clouds!

I might try and do one at the caravan if we visit while the count is still running. Edit Just realised it finishes this weekend so that won't be possible :(

The last few strawberries picked from the garden.

We have a lot of Cat's Ear plants on the first lawn.

We have quite a few scabious in the mini wild flower "meadow" - worryingly though I haven't seen any Knapweed this year or many Wild Carrots and usually we get loads.

Cut and Come Again Lettuce

Potatoes are growing well after being "earthed up".  David has grown the vegetables this year like last year as to be honest B has completely lost interest in the garden due to what is happening next door and the fact that we shall have to move. 

While looking for some sort of box to send D's laptop back for repair I found a storage box under the bed full of Teddies including my Aston Villa bear!

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 wishes to use one I would be grateful for an email first - thanks)