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Bardon Mill

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Introduction This afternoon, I am reporting on a recent trip entailing an overnight stay at the village of Bardon Mill. View of Bardon Mill with pottery chimney on right    Information on Bardon Mill  Bardon Mill is a small community (pop 452) ) in Northumbria, northern England. I recently stayed there for one night in context of a visit to nearby (about 3 miles away) Vindolanda . Latter is site of a Roman military garrison dating from around AD80.Although close to Hadrian's Wall Vindolanda was never physically integrated within the famous wall. The village of Bardon Mill impresses as a prosperous small community. I assume the designation 'mill' in the name refers to an ancient mill of some sort, possibly a water mill. Below is a portfolio of images which I obtained in course of a walkabout in the pleasant autumnal evening. Farming Landscape   Remembrance Display    Landscape view at sunset  Another autumnal landscape vista   Unusual bl...
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Tewkesbury, England

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 Introduction This afternoon I am posting information on the English Cotswolds town of Tewkesbury (parish pop 10700).  Landscape view of Tewkesbury and abbey.    Information on Tewkesbury   Name is derived from 'Fortified place of a man called Teodec'. This is an Old English name from the first millennium. Important 12th century abbey sits at the heart of the town.This building is open to visitors. Located close to the rivers Avon and Severn which cause regular flooding. Benefits from good road, rail and air communications. Birmingham airport is about 50 miles to N.E., Bristol Airport is 60 miles to S.W. whilst nearest railway station is Ashchurch, about 2 miles distant. The town centre is populated with fascinating old architecture and many independent speciality shops. Within range of popular Cotswolds sites such as Chipping Norton , Bibury and  Bourton -on-the- Water . Interesting architecture styles   Cattle on early morning stroll along b...
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Tewkesbury Abbey, England

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 Introduction This evening, I am posting information on Tewkesbury Abbey which is located in the Cotswolds region of England.  Landscape view of Tewkesbury Abbey   Information on Tewkesbury Abbey This post follows a recent visit to the abbey which was in context of a display at the abbey focused on the Bayeaux Tapestry .   Tewkesbury is about 120 miles NW of London and is situated near Cheltenham and Gloucester.  The Norman (French) invasion of England took place in 1066. Shortly after, in 1102, Robert Fitzhamon (an incoming Norman) founded a new Benedictine monastery at Tewkesbury. Monks were recruited from Cranborne in Dorset, 110 miles to the south. As will be evident from the images herein, a magnificent Romanesque church was built for the community. This reflected the wealth, ambition and religious devotion of the Norman world.  Abbey Interior   The great arches, massive columns and soaring tower expressed power, faith and permanence.In add...
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Bayeaux Tapestry

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Introduction I have just returned from a 650 mile round trip to view the famous Bayeaux Tapestry a facsimile of which being on display at Tewkesbury Abbey in the English Cotswolds. In fact the tapestry is an embroidery but in this report I will use the description of tapestry as this is in common use. Tewkesbury Abbey    Information on the Bayeaux Tapestry  The cloth comprising the tapestry is nearly 70 metres (230 feet) long and 50 cm (20 inches) tall. It depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England led by William, Duke of Normandy (France) and the transforming Battle of Hastings in 1066. Due to the length of the tapestry the presentation of it has been split into two sections-hence two videos below.  Basically, the underlying story of the tapestry centres on a dispute over succession of the English monarchy. The kingship should have passed to William of Normandy on death of Edward the Confessor but Harold reneged on his oath of allegiance to Wil...
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