It must be Autumn in 2010

Autumn is a beautiful time of year despite the imminent threat of Winter round the corner. Some years we have masses of colour, but in others, the leaves are off the trees before we can appreciate them. Here are a few images taken in 2010, and mostly in close proximity to where we live, starting with some leaves.

Leaves still on the trees, and below are some that are on the ground.

Steps

This is the time of year that we see the most fungi, although they can be spotted at varying times in the year.

The reasonably common Fly Agaric (Aminita muscaria)

Another common one, the Shaggy Parasol (Macrolepiota procera)

Perhaps we don't see these quite as much, the Crested Coral (Clavulina coralloides)

The Brett with reflections of the autumnal colours.

Mist - beautiful, but a hazard if you are on the road!

More reflections on the Brett

Drips of moisture on the Rose hips

The local church of St Andrews with autumn colours.

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Tetbury - a very quick visit

The Cotswolds are certainly an area we must explore in the future. We stopped overnight, at the Snooty Fox, and then travelled on next day. Too short - must come again!

Tetbury is an historic market town in the heart of the Cotswolds, featuring a 17th century market hall and some lovely Jacobean and Elizabethan buildings. The first written record of Tetbury occurs in 681 AD, when Ethelred of Mercia gave 15 acres of land near 'Tette's monastery' to the abbey of Malmesbury. Who Tette was, we do not know for certain, but we do know that a woman of that name was abbess of a monastic settlement at Wimborne around this time. It is possible that the current church of St Mary the Virgin was built on the site of an earlier Saxon monastic settlement.So, plenty of history for me to get my teeth into.. But for now just a few images.

In much the same way that Big Ben is an icon of London, or Arlington Row is an icon of Bibury, the Market Hall is the icon of Tetbury. Located in the centre of town at the confluence of several streets, the 2 storey Market Hall is an attractively restored pillared building which dates to 1655. Over the years it has seen service as a marketplace, fire station, and gaol. The cupola on top was added to mark Queen Victoria's Jubilee, but apart from that the Market Hall is much as it would have been over 350 years ago, and it is still the site of regular events.

The picturesque old cottages of Chipping Steps

The spire of St Mary the Virgin is the 4th highest in England. The earliest suggestion of a church on this site dates to a charter of Ethelred, King of Mercia, in 681 AD. Ethelred granted 15 acres of land near a place identified as 'Tette's monastery' to the abbey of Malmesbury. Of that first monastic church there is now no trace, but tradition suggests that it occupied the same site as the current church, on a level mound at the southern edge of the town.

The Saxon church was replaced around 1160, and a tower and spire added in the 14th century. The spire reaches 186 feet, making it the fourth highest in England. The medieval church was, in turn, damaged by storm in the late 17th century. The church fell into a state of severe disrepair that was only reversed when an act of Parliament allowed the church to be demolished, saving only the tower and spire, which were spared. 

The tower did eventually begin to list to one side, and in 1891 it was torn down and rebuilt using the same stones. The current building was built over the years 1777 - 1781 under the direction of Francis Hiorne of Warwick, who designed a lofty and spacious building incorporating a very tall nave with much shorter ambulatories to the north and south. 

So, quite a story to this magnificent building.

One of the gargoyles adorning the church. Plenty more to see here then!

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The Bridestones, Rievaulx and Hutton-le-Hole

Over a couple of days we explored a few places in the area, as we were new to North Yorkshire. What a fabulous county!. There is so much history and amazing and varied history up this part of England. I think we need longer than our week Anyway, off to Dalby Forest to explore, with one particular place in mind

The Bridestones - a series of "outcrops of millstone grit rocks and boulders which are ½ a mile long. Amongst these rocky outcrops are a number of odd-shaped formations that have been caused by weather-related erosion over thousands, if not millions of years. One huge boulder in particular, known as ‘The Great Bridestone’ is fantastically shaped at its base, looking like an up-turned bottle, as if it might topple over at any moment. There are a number of myths and legends associated with The Bridestones, many of these going back to the mists of time. More recently, perhaps, there are a number of local traditions that have become connected to the place and its many, strange-shaped rocks and boulders."

A great walking area in the Dalby forest. Follow the link above for a more information about this Ancient Site. 

One of the most picturesque of the villages in the National Park lies in a natural hollow or hole, hence its name. I believe the current name only dates back to the 19c. A clear moorland stream, Hutton Beck, splashes and winds its way through the pillowy mounds that form the village green, traditionally cropped by the local sheep. A really pretty place to wander which we did for an hour or so, before continuing our explorations 

Rievaulx Abbey ruins are magnificent, and I find it amazing that so much of this gigantic site has survived through the centuries. 

Rievaulx was the first outpost of the Cistercian Order in the North. At the height of its prosperity under Abbot Ailred, it was one of the greatest Cistercian houses in England. The main monastic buildings, including the abbey church, survive well and retain important architectural evidence of the changing wealth of the community. 

In particular, the abbey church contains the earliest large Cistercian nave in Britain and is older than any now surviving in France. (above) 

From the time of St Augustine's mission to re-establish Christianity in AD 597 to the reign of Henry VIII, monasticism formed an important facet of both religious and secular life in the British Isles. Settlements of religious communities, including monasteries, were built to house communities of monks, canons (priests), and sometimes lay-brothers, living a common life of religious observance under some form of systematic discipline. It is estimated from documentary evidence that over 700 monasteries were founded in England. These ranged in size from major communities with several hundred members to tiny establishments with a handful of brethren. They belonged to a wide variety of different religious orders, each with its own philosophy. 

Shrine to Abbot William, first abbot of Rievaulx (1132-45) 

William was a Yorkshire man who responded to St Bernard’s call to join his Cistercian community at Clairvaux, which he called the earthly Jerusalem. William became one of Bernard’s leading men and officiated as secretary of Clairvaux. William was chosen by Bernard to lead the community at Rievaulx, Clairvaux’s first daughter-house in England and the Cistercians’ outpost in the North. He led the new colony of monks from France to Yorkshire, where they established a new community in 1132. William was greatly admired for his devotion and abilities, and consolidated monastic life at Rievaulx. Following his death he was celebrated as a saint and buried in Rievaulx chapter-house. A new shrine was built to accommodate his remains c. 1250, along the western wall of the chapter-house; remains of this can still be seen. 

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Staithes - quaint and quiet

With its higgledy-piggledy cottages and winding streets, Staithes has the air of a place lost in time. Once one of the largest fishing ports on the North East coast, this coastal hamlet is now a well-loved base for exploring Yorkshire's cliff top paths and discovering the delights of rock pooling and fossil hunting on the small sandy beach. Unfortunately, we arrived when the tide was out, which rendered the cliff top `picture postcard` view, a bit of a damp squid!!

A couple of views from the beach showing the village, as well as some of the boats moored near the harbour.

One of Staiths`s great sons was James Cook (1728-1779), born in the village of Marton near Middlesbrough and later apprenticed to a draper in the small fishing harbour of Staithes (11 miles north of Whitby). He fell in love with the sea and his time in Staithes is remembered in the Captain Cook and Staithes Heritage Centre. Later he moved to Whitby and became a trainee with a local shipping firm. Later, he joined the Royal Navy and was rapidly promoted to a command. 

It is as Captain Cook that the world still knows him – the man who charted the coast of New Zealand and the eastern coast of Australia and who was one of the greatest surveyors as well as one of the finest sailors and explorers of all time. He learned his craft in Whitby vessels trading to the Baltic and two of the vessels he used on his long and perilous voyages – ‘Resolution’ and ‘Endeavour’ were built in Whitby. 

The usual quaint village street from this part of the world, so lovely to walk and soak up the atmosphere.

One of the usual lovely photos that everybody takes is from the cliffs looking down on Staithes. However, for us today, the tide was out! So, not much of an image I am afraid.

One of the points of interest I find in these old villages, is the variety and quirkiness of the windows and doors. Staiths being a prime example. 

We might have missed the tide, but it was a pleasure to stroll the village and the beach and just soak in the peace and tranquility.

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Whitby and the famous ruined abbey

Today we planned a trip to Whitby - a place we have not previously visited. Situated on the east coast of Yorkshire at the mouth of the River Esk, Whitby has a maritime, mineral and tourist heritage. Its East Cliff is home to the ruins of Whitby Abbey, where Cædmon, the earliest recognised English poet, lived. The fishing port emerged during the Middle Ages, supporting important herring and whaling fleets, and was where Captain Cook learned seamanship. Tourism started in Whitby during the Georgian period and developed with the arrival of the railway in 1839. Its attraction as a tourist destination is enhanced by the proximity of the high ground of the North York Moors national park and the heritage coastline and by association with the horror novel Dracula.

The earliest record of a permanent settlement is in 656, when as Streanæshealh it was the place where Oswy, the Christian king of Northumbria, founded the first abbey, under the abbess Hilda. The Synod of Whitby was held there in 664. In 867, the monastery was destroyed by Viking raiders. Another monastery was founded in 1078. It was in this period that the town gained its current name, Whitby (from "white settlement" in Old Norse). In the following centuries Whitby functioned as a fishing settlement until, in the 18th century, it developed as a port and centre for shipbuilding and whaling, the trade in locally mined alum, and the manufacture of Whitby jet jewellery. 

Today though I believe its mainstay is tourism. We spent a pleasant few hours wandering the compact town and harbour, and then trudged the 199 steps to the top of the East cliff to see the abbey ruins and St Mary's Church. 

Looking toward St Mary`s Church across the harbour and with the same photo in B&W. The gull was very obliging as he sailed into the side of the image.

A very `touristy` pirate boat sets out to give you a tour of the area.

The small harbour entrance.

Not sure what this monument represented, but possible workmen in the shipbuilding industry? 

So, near the start of the 199 steps ...

Then nearer the top, looking down toward the harbour.

Then to St Mary`s church at the top. The original building was from the Norman period. The nave and transept have 19th-century galleries accessed by internal and external staircases and a three-decker pulpit (Below) which was installed in 1778 and altered in 1847. It retains its 18th-century box pews, some of which are inscribed, "For Strangers Only", and north of the chancel arch is a Jacobean pew. 

What a pulpit and gallery!

Love the Box pews, especially the notice on these ones. 

The Church of Saint Mary is an Anglican parish church and was founded around 1110, although its interior dates chiefly from the late 18th century. The church was designated a Grade I listed building on 23 February 1954 The church graveyard is used as a setting in Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula. However, he was not lurking about when we visited!

Then onto the magnificent Whitby Abbey ruins. In AD 657 Abbess Hild founded a monastery for men and women at Whitby, on land given by King Oswiu. It was Whitby’s first monastic site and became one of the most important religious centres in the Anglo-Saxon world. 

In 664 Whitby hosted a landmark meeting, known as a synod, to decide the date of Easter. By opting to follow the Roman Christian tradition rather than the Celtic one, it was crucial in determining the direction of the English church. The monastery was then abandoned following Danish raids in the 9th century but the Benedictine monk Reinfrid established a new community on the site in 1078. It was suppressed by Henry VIII in 1539 and its ruins are the ones we see on Whitby headland today. The vast shell of the abbey church is a magnificent example of English Gothic architecture.

You can only imagine the splendor of this enormous building when it was at its peak. What most people don't appreciate is that these massive buildings symbolised the collosal wealth of the Church during this period. No wonder Henry wanted some!

A great place to visit and lots of things to see. Well worth a visit.

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