Nigel's Photo Blog

This evening, I am reporting on a superb country estate and park in Somerset, southern England which is located about 135 miles SW of London.                                                        Family group of Red Deer As far as I am aware the name has no connection with amphibians. The site is owned by a super-rich south African businessman who has lavished huge amounts of money entailing: Construction of a replica Roman Villa dating to around the mid 4th century AD. This seems to have been inspired by discovery and excavation of an actual Roman Villa on the site. No expense seems to have been spared on the new villa which incorporates forensically accurate detail and thus affords a true connection with a high status ...

 This evening, I am reporting on a visit earlier today by wife and myself to the fascinating town of Castle Cary in south Somerset, England. Location is 5 miles NW of Wincanton and 8 miles south of Shepton Mallet, at the foot of Lodge Hill  and on the River Cary, a tributary of the Parrett. More information on local directions. This town should not be confused with Castlecary, a small historic village in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. In due course I will have to research the origins of both names to ascertain any similarity in origin. Castle Cary impressed as a clean and prosperous town with a wide variety of shops with multiple examples of architecture which help to tell the story of the town's development over the last 1000 years. Castle Cary's name owes it's origin to (a) a local Norman castle which no longer exists and (b) the River Cary. Walking through this town (in very favourable weather conditions) brought back memories of Chipping Campden , a similar prosperous t...

  Detail from West front of Wells Cathedral This afternoon I am reprising a tour of historic sites in Somerset, West of England Glastonbury Abbey This was a former monastery founded in the 7th century then enlarged in the 10th century in the 14th Destruction by fire occurred in 1184 followed by rebuilding in the 14th century. At its peak, the monastery complex was very wealthy. Life at the Abbey came to an end in 1539 on orders of Henry VIII with last abbot hung, drawn and quartered as a traitor. Lady Chapel View from High Altar of Glastonbury Abbey Glastonbury Tor  This is a small hill within walking distance of Glastonbury Abbey which rises to a height of 521 feet above the surrounding Somerset Levels. Atop the hill sits St Michael's Tower. The summit of the tower has a long history of  religious activity with the tower representing all that remains of the Church of St Michael which was built on the site in the 14th century. Glastonbury Tor Somerset Levels vie...