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somerset & gloucestershire

 

We photographed Stonehenge from outside the enclosure on the way down to stay at a B&B in Priddy

slimbridge

mandarins

Chiloé widgeon

Ringed teal

Goldeneyes

Insipid flamingos - they need some shrimp

Red breasted goose

Cinnamon teal

Rosybill

White-cheeked Pintail

 

Possibly a Paradise shelduck

Ring-necked duck

Spindle berries

Black headed Swan

Red admiral butterfly

Spindle berries

Slimbridge

tewkesbury

 

Fine tree

National Trust Medieval Shop

Tewkesbury Abbey

wells

 

Bishop's Eye

Pennyless Porch

Chapter House

Figures on the West Front of Wells Cathedral

West Front

North Wells

Chain Gate

Builders' Leftovers

From Green

Pink House

Bishop's Palace Moat

Palace wall and moat

Palace Gatehouse

Cloisters

winchcombe

Motte & Bailey Fenny Castle

We did not visit Winchcombe on the same holiday as Wells, but the pictures are here

During Anglo-Saxon times, Winchcombe was a chief city of Mercia favoured by Coenwulf; the others being Lichfield and Tamworth.   Subsequently, during the 11th century, the town was briefly the county town of Winchcombeshire.   The Anglo-Saxon St. Kenelm is believed to be buried in the town.

During the Anarchy of the 12th century, a motte-and-bailey castle was erected in the early 1140s by Roger Fitzmiles, 2nd Earl of Hereford for the Empress Matilda, although the exact site of this is unknown;  It has been suggested however, that it was to the south of St Peter's Church.

In the Restoration period, Winchcombe was noted for cattle rustling and other lawlessness, caused in part by poverty. In an attempt to earn a living, local people grew tobacco as a cash crop, despite this practice having been outlawed since the Commonwealth.   Soldiers were sent in on at least one occasion to destroy the illegal crop.

 

St Peter's

Courtyard

Cornucopia

Nerines

Gargoyle

Lichen

Gargoyle

Inside the church

The scanning process lost the golden weather vane

From the Museum

PJ's foot's stuck

Cheddar Gorge

Not too near the edge

We went home via the Cotswold Wildlife Park enjoying the tropical pools