A very old friend of mine who
served as the personal chef to the Rothschilds, the Duke of Bedford, and the
Marlboroughs of Blenheim Palace has since retired in the village of Northleach,
one of many small and picturesque Cotswolds’ villages. He also makes a pretty
wonderful tour guide, condensing Northleach, Hampnett, Minster Lovell, the
Slaughters, Burton on Water, and a rather unique village café/shop in Sherborne
run by two Mancunian women – in the space of five hours.
The danger with all this is a surfeit
of pictures, so I’ve cheated with Northleach. Suffice it to say it has, like
many medieval wool towns a large and impressive church. I found it a bit
soulless inside – the pews being replaced by small chairs and cushions but the
history and brasses are well worth a look here.
About a mile farther down the road
is the tiny village of Hampnett. What you see is what you get.
St Georges Church being photobombed by a tree.
The church was originally called St Matthew's but was renamed St George's in 1771. It dates to 1125 but has a C15th tower and South Porch.
The Chancel is Norman with some
interesting additions—other than the apples. In 1871 the Reverend William Wiggin took it upon
himself to decorate the interior with highly detailed mock medieval stencilled artwork. Byzantine meets Gothic you might say. His parishioners were far from
impressed, collecting money to have all of it whitewashed. Fortunately, I’d
say, they failed
We carefully followed instructions.
Entering the church was liking walking into an orchard. The smell was sweet, and intense.
Apples strategically placed. Beats incense.
The C12th roof is divided in four
parts by vaulting ribs within which are the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John
Stairs made by and for elves leading to a tiny vantage point.
Part one of the tour ends here. The sky verged on the apocalyptic at times but in the space of five hours it changed again and again. The glories of an English late summer. The final post will be next week and then - I promise - no more churches. For a time at least.
2 comments:
I'm stumped. What's with the apples?
I guess it's because we have nothing so old here in the states. It seems incredible for anything to survive so many centuries.
The apples may have been a harbinger of Harvest festival - or something equally pagan 😀 Ref old churches they are a miracle and should be good for a time yet unless the bats see them off. Bats are protected and you're not allowed to get rid of them even in church's. Some churches have nets to catch the highly corrosive droppings
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