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White Horse at Hackpen

Wiltshire is seemingly full of those hill figures called white horses, carved out of hillsides.

As we were passing close to one on the way up from Bath I decided to detour a little and photograph one.

It was the one at Hackpen:-

A White Horse (Hackpen)

Closer view, actually a bit too close:-

Hackpen White Horse, Closer View

Church of St James, Avebury, War Memorial

The Church in Avebury village is dedicated to St James:-

Church of St James, Avebury

Since it was open we decided to take a look inside. It has an ornate rood screen:-

Rood Screen, Church of St James, Avebury

Part of interior:-

Interior, Church of St James, Avebury

On display was part of an oak bell-frame dated 1636:-

Inside Church of St James, Avebury

Avebury’s War Memorial consists of two plaques inside the church, one for each World War:-

War Memorials Inside Church of St James, Avebury

 

Avebury (iii)

Ramparts at Avebury:-

Rampart Ditch, Avebury

Avebury Rampart Ditch

If you follow the path round you come to the outer circle of stones complete with grazing sheep:-

Standing Stones and Sheep, Avebury

Sheep and Standing Stones, Avebury

Standing Stones and Rampart, Avebury

Standing Stones from road:-

Standing Stones  at Avebury from Road

Inner circle of stones with people communing with the spirits of the past:-

Circle of Stones, Avebury

Inner Stone Circle, Avebury

Avebury (ii)

Some of the large stones at Avebury.

We were amused to see some of the people at the site hugging the larger stones as if they actually were portals to the past or of some spiritual significance. To the people who erected them they probably were; but in the end nowadays they’re just stones:-

Individual Stone, Avebury

 

Large Standing Stones at Avebury

 

More Stones at Avebury

 

Large Standing Stones at Avebury

Standing stone and rampart:-

Standing Stone and Rampart, Avebury

 

Avebury (i)

I had noticed that Avebury wasn’t far from the direct route back north from our trip to Bath etc so made sure to visit the site on the way back up.

We parked in the National Trust car park and walked to the Henge. I didn’t realise until after we returned and travelled on that it is the main road which actually cuts through the site.

Welcome Board :-

Welcome Board, Avebury

The site is extensive and consists of several stone circles and earthworks.

Stone circle from “avenue” into the site:-

Avebury Stones

Stone Circle at Avebury

Avebury Stones

Closer view of inner circle:-

Avebury Standing Stones

Looking back to ‘avenue’ entrance:-

Avenue of Stones at Avebury

Showing part of Avebury village:-

Standing Stones and Village, Avebury

 

 

‘Avenue’ from rampart:-

Avebury, Rampart Ditch and Standing Stones

Atworth War Memorial

Atworth lies on the A 365 in West Wiltshire. I couldn’t help noticing its War Memorial as we passed through, and of course stopped to photograph it. It turned out to be a repurposed clock tower originally erected to commemorate Queen Victoria as the longest reigning UK monarch, which the plaque here notes. Note Great War 100th anniversary bench:-

Atworth War Memorial

Great War dedication. The cartouche also lists the names of those who served in The Great War:-

Great War Dedication Atworth War Memorial

Second World War Dedication, below the depiction of Queen Victoria.  This Roll of Honour for those who served begins with the name of one serviceman killed. Note Second World War memorial bench, complete with dove of peace:-

Second World War Dedication, Atworth War Memorial

In a small cemetery beside Atworth War Memorial lies the grave of Driver A R Brown, Royal Army Service Corps, died 6/6/1917, aged 22:-

War  Grave, Atworth

Bathford War Memorial

Bathford is a village a few miles north of Bradford-on-Avon, where we stayed during our trip to Bath, Wells etc.

We stopped for a look around on pur way back north.

In the grounds of St Swithun’s Church I found its War Memorial, a cross surmounting a pillar on a square base with gabled edges:-

War Memorial, Bathford

Dedications to both wars:-

Bathford War Memorial Dedications

Other names for both wars:-

Names, Bathford War Memorial

Names, War Memorial, Bathford

 

Great War names:-

War Memorial, Bathford, Great War Names

In the churchyard there was one war grave of Second Lieutenant E C Guillebauld, Worcestershire Regiment, 3/6/1915, aged 32:-

War Grave, Bathford

Midsomer Norton War Memorial

Midsomer Norton is a little further north than Stratton-on-the-Fosse. We were intrigued by the name and its similarity to a certain TV murder mystery series but Midsomer Norton is not twee nor quaint in the way the villages on that TV show are.

Its War Memorial is a cenotaph situated on a footbridge over the River Somer running by the main street:-

Midsomer Norton War Memorial 4

War Memorial, Midsomer Norton

Great War names Andrews-Purnell:-

Great War Names Midsomer Norton War Memorial

Great War names Rogers-Woods. Second World War names below:-

Names, War Memorial, Midsomer Norton

War Memorial Stratton-on-the-Fosse

We passed through Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Somerset, on our way back north from Glastonbury. Its War Memorial, a pillar surmounted by a lantern cross, lies on the corner of the main A 367 road through and Church Road.

War Memorial, Stratton on the Fosse

Stratton on the Fosse War Memorial

1914 – 1918 to the glorious memory of (names):-

Stratton on the Fosse War Memorial, Great War Names

1914 – 1918 on whose souls may God have mercy:-

Great War Names, War Memorial, Stratton on the Fosse

1939-1945 dedication and names:-

1939-1945 Dedication, War Memorial, Stratton on the Fosse

Safe return dedication. In thanksgiving to God/ for the safe return of those/ who from this neighbourhood/ went to the Great Wars/ 1914 – 1918 and 1939 – 1945:-

Safe Return Dedication, War Memorial, Stratton on the Fosse

Art Deco in Glastonbury

Only minor deco but a bit surprising to see any at all.

The stand out was Boots. The tiles are classic deco:-

Glastonbury Art Deco

Earthfare has rule of three in upper windows which are possibly Critall. I suspect this is a former Woolworths:-

Art Deco Shop, Glastonbury

Children’s Hospice South West is very minor deco:-

Art Deco Style Glastonbury

 

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