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Week 11. June 16, 2003 |
Hi,Max has broken a tooth, so we went to Westbury-on-Severn to see if he could get an appointment with a dentist. Noon Monday was the result. I visited their 13th century church, and looked for graves with inscriptions before 1800. This view is from the North Porch looking towards the Clock Tower. History has this area occupied by the Romans and a thousand years later by the Normans, and another thousand years brings us here! Tomorrow we go to Sweden. Our friend Michael the Taxi driver is colecting us at quarter to 5 so we can catch the 6.30 bus. We have to be at Heathrow two hours before departure at 10.20, due to the high security measures in use. Bertil expects us at Gothenberg at 13.20 their time.
May God smile on you today, | |||
The Chapel of St Mary was built in 1273, the Tower was added about 1290 as a garrison or watch tower when the area was subject to raids by the Welsh. The wooden broach spire 45 metres tall was added during the 14th century. The church and tower were occupied during the Civil War 1642-46. The spire was damaged in a storm in 1662, and the present wooden shingles were put in place with copper nails, in 1937. Two scratch sundials can be found on the south west wall of the tower, the other showing the seven times of the priest's canonical offices. The chapel became a school, and was demolished in 1862, leaving the gable lines on the tower.
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The tower houses a peel of six bells, and has a clock on the west side, with new works made in 1845. The old clock movement believed to be made about 1715 is displayed near the New Victorian Font at the back of the church.The old font features a plain octagonal bowl on a pillar carved with the arms of Elizabeth I and dated 1583. This font is used for baptisms today, | |||
Tombstones do not survive the weather except under unusual circumstances. The entry porch contains part of a possibly 13th century stone coffin discovered when the chantry Chapel of St Mary was demolished in 1862. The table coffin top protects inscriptions for two infants died in 1775 and 1776. | |||
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The two buildings of this complex are showing their age. Notice the sun-dial on the corner of the tower, in place for time to be consulted as you leave the church.
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