I've had my nose to the grindstone just lately, so I gave myself a day off today.First and best, I went to visit a friend for couple of hours.Here is Lily, her rather beautiful dog, sometime friend and partner in crime of Rowan. She is an English Setter, with a definitely aristocratic bearing.
On the way home I took a short detour in Gloucestershire, to Hailes Abbey and the nearby church. I'm on a 'church crawl', gathering information for a talk which I call 'Gargoyles , Ghosts and Gravestones'.It's about our old churches and the history and inspiration to be found in them.So hence, the strange title for this post, I know, but. .that's the list of 'A' list guests invited to a bash of medieval proportions. I'm talking about the consecration of Hailes Abbey in 1251 .King Henry the third, his Queen, 300 hundred Knights and 13 Bishops. . . some party.
There isn't very much left of this, once famous place of pilgrimage; but the few arches and stones that remain, hold so many secrets and stories.There are hills on three sides , birds singing and an atmosphere of complete peace.
The old pilgrims path winds it's way up the hill behind the Abbey, in places, it's cobbled stones pass under long tunnels of twisted Hazel and Hawthorn bushes.
Next to the Abbey is the lovely little church, it has a modest exterior but is full of magic inside.