Fun on the Funicular...

Bridgnorth is an old market town in Shropshire situated on the Severn Valley. It is somewhat unusual as it is on two levels, called appropriately, High Town and Low Town.

To save shoe leather, and puff, on the 200 steps, which already connected the two levels, a funicular railway was opened in 1892.

 Dictionary definition of funicular: (of a railway, especially one on a mountainside) operating by cable with ascending and descending cars counterbalanced.   

When we were up...

 This week I had the opportunity to travel on this unusual mode of transport for the princely sum of £1.20. There’s a memory lurking somewhere in my psyche, I have been on it before, but not sure when.

 Thanks for your time.

The Old Crone xx  

The Oldest Tree in Europe?

Is the Preen Yew Tree in Shropshire the oldest tree in Europe? Well, yes according to the sign which stands beneath it. Whether this statement is true or not the tree is certainly a majestic sight. For over 1500 years it has stood surveying the scene, and who knows what sights it has seen and what secrets it could reveal.

 Measured in 1945 its girth came in at 21 feet and 10 inches at the five foot high mark. (6.6 metres and 1.5 metres respectively for those of you who deal in new money.) 

 

 The tree stands in the churchyard adjacent to Preen Manor, which was the site in 1150 of a small cell attached to the Cluniac Priory of Much Wenlock, a few miles away as the raven flies. (There were many croaking about as I snapped away at this amazing tree.)

 

 Thanks for your time.

The Old Country Crone xx

Silaging on St Swithun's Day...

Silaging was in full swing on the neighbouring farm yesterday. Huge tractors towing equally huge silage trailers hurtled along our narrow country lanes. This vital work, providing the animals with winter fodder, is usually carried out by contracting firms who move their fleet of machinery from one farm to the next as long as the grass continues to grow.

After rolling the grass, the ‘pit’ or ‘clamp’ is then covered with sheeting and secured down with redundant tyres.

Hope the brakes are good...

Silage making appears to be a science. All I can say is, after residing in the country all my life, I can tell whether it’s good or not by the smell of the finished product and its effluent!

Days of yore...

The weather was kind, even though it was St Swithun’s/Swithin’s day.

St Swithun/Swithin was a Bishop of Winchester born around the year 800. On his death he was buried outside where he could be walked and rained upon, as was his wish.

In 971 his body was moved inside the Cathedral and as you might imagine he was a bit mad. As the lightning flashed and the thunder roared it started to rain…and rain…

If it rains on the 15^th July, St Swithun’s/Swithin’s day it will rain for 40 days.

Thanks for your time.

The Old Country Crone xx

   

Great Spotted Woodpecker...

I am super fortunate to have woodpeckers visiting my garden. It is the second year running we have been lucky enough to have a juvenile visiting the peanut holder.

Woody Junior...2013

Cheeky Chappie 2012

The Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major is apparently common in Britain but that doesn’t detract from my pleasure at seeing them in my garden.

Beautiful markings...

 I usually hear them arriving by their sharp ‘chip chip’ call. Often in the day they can be seen flying between the numerous surrounding trees easily recognisable by their undulating flight, often accompanied by the aforesaid ‘chipping’.

Woodpecker feathers dropped last year...

 Luckily for me this species is easily identifiable. The male has a red mark on the back of its neck (the female doesn’t) and the young have a red cap.

At other times of the year I hear them drumming on the nearby trees.

Beautiful and amazing.

Thanks for your time.

The Old Country Crone xx

 

The Pound, Leebotwood

The Pound in Leebotwood (now a restaurant and watering place) has recently undergone a facelift. Its new thatched roof is a wonder to behold. What an art and craft!

The Pound, Leebotwood

I wandered down to the village with my faithful old camera and took some pics of the thatchers at work. (I did ask permission of the men! I thought it a bit rude just to snap away.)

Artists at work...

 The Pound stands on the side of the notorious A49.
(Close ups of the finished roof.)

The Pound, circa 1457, started life as a drovers’ hostelry. Early in the 19^th century it was rebuilt after a fire destroyed the original building.

One of its claims to fame is that in 1841, or thereabouts, it briefly contained William Davies after he had absconded from Westwood (near Much Wenlock) after murdering Nanny (aka Nancy) Morgan, The Wenlock Witch, with whom he had been co-habiting. He was apprehended nearby and after a short time at The Pound taken back to Much Wenlock in a spring cart. (A two wheeled sprung cart pulled by one horse or pony.) Exciting stuff!

Could this the THE springcart?

I have it on good authority that the upstairs area of The Pound has a ghostly atmosphere, not the sort of place to be alone at night! Aghhh!!!

Thanks for your time.

The Old Country Crone xx